Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1906-02-08
AUNT SALLY'S CONSCIENCE.

from the roof of his barn. Aunt Sal
ly had no children Of her own, but
did have half a dozen nieces and
nephews, and among the latter was
the rolicking, frolicking Joe Hender-
son, who was 20 years old at the time
the great calamity fell upon the house
of Warner. Reference is not made to
the fall from the roof of the barn, but
to a calamity that overlook Aunt
Sally's conscience.
One day Nerhew Joe, whose pa
rents lived FIVE or six miles away, ar
rived at Aunt Sally's on an errand.
She was about to set out for the viii
LACE of Rawsonville to do some trad.
ing" and Joe volunteered to go along
as driver of old Dobbin. Aunt Sal.
" had not been over that road for a
month, and she was surprised to see
circus pictures pasted on every barn
on the route. Since childhood she
had had a fondness for circus pic
lures, but had been brought up to be-.
lieve that eternal punishment awaited
everyone who passed the doors of the
circus itself. During his lifetime Jo.
alb had discharged various hired men
for staying day off to 60 to the cir
Gus, and he had refused to deal with
certain men who had accepted free
tickets for the privilege of posting
pictures on their barns.
AS the good aunt and her nephew
logged along the dusty highway and
came to barn after barn decked out
in gayest colors of printers ink Joe
heard her sighing. He didn't stop
to ask himself whether she was sigh
ing over the death of Uncle Joab or
the fact that she couldn't attend a
circus promising so much entertain
ment, but he forthwith proceeded to
concoct pan.
If single person could conspire, it
would have been called conspiracy
as well as a plan. He made no COM
ment on the bareback riders, on the
women jumping through hoops. on
the rhinoceros grazing along the banks
of the African river and the hyena
sneaking about in the Indian tticket.
He lust sat still and chuckled, aud
when he wasn't chuckling he was
talking about going to Alaska to dig
for gold.
When they reached town and found
things in hustle he had to make
some explanations. He explained
that an exhibition was to be given
that afternoon for the benefit of wild
ows and orphans, but he didn't say
too much. While Aunt Sally was
making her purchases the merchant
might have referred to the "exhibi-
tion" and called it by some other
name if Nephew Joe hadn't given
him the wink.
When 10 yards of calico, Is Of
sheeting, 8 towels, l tablecloth and
thread, pins and needles had been
bought Aunt Sally suddenly remem-
bered something and turned to Joe
and said
IF there is anything going on for
the benefit of widows and orphans |
ought to be interested, being as 1 am
a widow myself. Is it spelling bee
or anything Of that sort
"Oh, no. They have got tent
and a collection of wild animals. 1t
is what you might call natural his
tory exhibition. Did you ever see a
lion OF tiger, Aunt Sally3
"No, never did"
"Ever see an elephant or a zebra
or giraffe ?"
mo"
"Well. you can see them now and
help the widows and orphans at the
same time. It's so cents apiece, but
I've got the money for my ticket.
"But l shall pay for both of US,
replied Aunt Sally as she handed
over dollar. "When / act out toCdo
anything for the benefit Of charity
I'm not one to scrimp at it. There
won't be any gambling or horse rae.
ing, will there2"
MERCY. mol The bills say there
will be nothing to offend the most
fastidious. Come on.
They had q quarter Of mile to g
to reach the tent. and during the
walk Aunt Sally was puzzled that sc
many people should have turned out
in the cause of charity. If she hac
had her glasses on she might have
read signs on the gayly painted wag
ons to arouse suspicion, but she pass