The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1904-06-30

a u q maids need, IF necessity to
4 IA + be in anywise different
No~ from the rest Of the world.
Only Aunt Picklebury was different.
She had, as it were. a vein of original
ity running through her. She liked to
wear her broche shawl wrong side out.
and to tie her ribbons askew, and to
put the flowers on the right hand side
of her bonnet. while all the world was
wearing theirs on the left hand side.
And she could afford to cultivate as
large crop of peculiarities as she
pleased. for Aunt Picklebury had
money. It had been part Of her Pecu-
liarity to emigrate West and buy lands
Just when all her relatives were To-
Gated in a snug little Eastern town.
"Are you crazy, Melissa?" her mar
ried sister had plaintively demanded.
NO." Miss Picklebury lad answered,
''but I want breathing room"
The lands had risen in value with
almost fabulous rapidity; the West
ern settlement had grown into young
city, and Miss Melissa Picklebury was
rich.
She sat knitting, with magazine
open on her lap, one bright October
morning, when Harry Hayden came
in, the junior member of the firm of
Hoyt & Hayden. who transacted Miss
Melissa's legal business.
Crying, Miss Picklebury" he ex-
claimed, cheerily. "Why, what on
earth is the matter?'
"Was I crying?" asked Miss Pick
lebury, somewhat shamefacedly.
"Well, you couldn't help it yourself.
Harry, if you had been reading this
story. It's by my literary niece-the
prettiest little thing you ever saw
''The story, or the niece:"
''The story, of course. never saw
my literary niece. but I dare say she
is rawboned and sallow, with holes in
the elbows Of her frock and grease
spots on her apron. But she writes
well; there's no denying that. read
all her papel:, and I almost always
I laugh and cry over them. It's great
talent, Harry
$50 it is," assented the young man,
carelessly.
II have written East for one Of my
sisters girls to come and stay with
me-" said Aunt Picklebury; II told
them to forward her by express. She II
b, here this afternoon. I want sou
to go to the Office and meet her"
1.-The literary niece?" said Harry,
laughing.
Goodness forbid~ said Aunt Pick
lebury, with a grimace. II want no
ink spots on my chintZ bedroom furni-
ture, and fine frenzies about sunsets
and autumn leaves and things. wrote
to Polly to send me a homespun, sen.
sible girl, that would be companion
to me; not a full-fedsed fashionable
young lady"
'All right" said Mr.. Hayden.
Miss Picklebury looked after the
young man as he strobe away over the
dead drifts of yellow leaves that lay
in the road.
"A nice young fellow. that" said
she to herself, with no airs and graces
about him. I like him. Perhaps
Miss Picklebury was by no means free
from the feminine trait Of castle-build-
ing-''he will fall in love with my SEN
sible niece. If he does, he shall have
my blessing"
The niece by express arrived that
night just as Miss Picklebury was sit
ting down to tea. She was slight and
graceful and dark eyed, with a clover
pink complexion, and laughing, dim
pied mouth. Aunt Picklebury liked
the looks of her.
"What is your name, my dear?' she
said.
''Clara," said the newcomer.
"You are very pretty" said Miss
Picklebury. Il think I shall like
Sou"
"Ard I know I shall like you. Aun
Nelly" said Clara with great hug Of
the old laGy'S plump, cuSnlOny form.
LET me see," said Miss Picklebury
"there are three Of you-tle literary
one, the school teaching one, and tin
sensible one"
Il hope we are all sensible, aunt,
said Clara, coloring a little.
II hope so, too" said the old lady
''but I have my doubts On the subject
am afraid Of literary folks. and
don't like schoolma Can 20,
sew"
"Oh, yes, aunt dear"
"And darn stockings, and put o.
neat patches, and mend linens"
'.Of course I can" -