The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1905-08-12
WHEN anna LEFT.
~~~~~~~~~~

001 HEN our friends congratu-
WNW lated US, as they frequently
did, on our possession Of SO
rare q treasure as Anna, we accept
ed their Fluctuations with certain men,
tai reservations. Unquestionably Anna
as domestic was a paragon. The
household machinery went like clock
work, guided by her capable hand.
There was never any brain-wracking
puzzling over what we should have
for breakfast, luncheon or dinner
Anna always knew. She could dis
guise "left-overs" into creations of
culinary art. Nothing was ever
wasted, nothing was ever out of place.
The household appurtenances with
which Anna had to do were never less
than shining. Should we, in our pri-
vate domains, indulge ourselves in
temporary confusion, If discovered by
Anna, spurred by her accusing eye, we
hurried guilty to restore order.
Anna was painfully methodical.
AdIc UIcdhAdSlS were ucT dOOmlud-
ton.
II want my dishes done up by eight
o'clock, If they're not, I'm all throwed
out for the day." she said
Accordingly, no matter what the
exigencies, we complied with Annals
desire for an early breakfast lest she
be "throwed out"
Anna had lived with us for so many
years, conditions had drifted into a re-
version, and we were living with An
ma. She took keen interest in
all our affairs and was never back
ward about expressing her approval or
disapproval, whichever way circum-
stances appealed to her views. In
truth, Anna held us in thrall and some
times, out Of our ignorance of greater
evils, we felt, under her rigorous do
minion, we were paying dearly for
our home comforts.
Someway, we regarded Anna as a
fixture and the possibility Of ever los
Ing her was an undreamed dream.
She had no family ties, she was no
longer youthful, and never, since we
had known her, had she encouraged
attentions or intentions from the op-
posite sex. 1t was Annals habit to
speak disparagingly of matrimony
She commiserated her friends who had
married. comparing their situation un-
favorably with her own unattached
independence.
Let well enough alone, say l." she
remarked when her single state was
the subject Of discussion.
Momentous tribes sometimes alter
destinies, and brass band was the
momentous trife which changed the
face of Annals affairs. Appropriately
1t was in the spring when Cupid's first
dart was shot at her hitherto adaman-
tine heart. We had just finished break
fast one bright morning when we
heard a brass band playing Justify in
front Of the house. The family, led
by Anna, under the spell of music for
the moment forgetful Of 'her Dishes"
trooped to the door in body. Anna
was good deal like brass band her
self, as she always led the procession.
"Ump-ta-ta, ump-ta-ta," blared the
brasses, playing the Lauderbach with
the reckless disregard for harmony
common to street musicians.
Wouldn't that kill your exclaimed
Anna.
The leader, enthused by an appar-
emily appreciative audience, led the
ragged procession of sound to its aw-
full end with grand flourish of his
battered cornet, and after the impress
sive finale, he CALAMITY doffed his cap
to Anna.
Anna actually simpered.
Wouldn't that kill your she ex-
claimed again.
She listened, entranced while the
brasses brayed through their repertoire
of popular airs, all Of which were end
ed with the leaders grand flourish
and dotted cap.
We supposed the episode was ended
when. after receiving a small fee. the
itinerant musicians played themselves
down the street and out Of hearing dis
lance, but we were mistaken. They
came again and vet again until the
monotonous "ump-ta-ta" was famil-
lar sound in the neighborhood. Pres
emily we awoke to the fact that the
leader was wooing Anna. He was
small man with faded blue eyes whose
mild expression gave no hint Of their
owners capacity for dogged determine
ton.