Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1906-11-09
Vow AUNT KITTY GOT
II THE BLUE RIBBONS
BY MATTE DYER sar1s.

There were two Mehitabel Per-
kinses, pretty young one, and an
old one almost as sweet. The young
one was always called Mabel, and no.
body in the neighborhood ever
thought of calling the wife of Josiah
Perkins anything but Aunt Kitty.
Mabel lived on the farm next Uncle
Josiah's, and not many days passed
tt at her small feet did not trip
through the lane to see if Aunt Hit
ty didn't have a TT of sewing to do,
ribbon to fix, or some little trifle,
such as nice girls are fond of doing
for their elderly aunts, especially in
these modern days when the young
folks are really the chaperons, and
tell their elders just what to do.
1t happened that soft September
morning that Mabel found her aunt
standing in the door of the sweet,
clean springhouse with a very sober
face, and the butter paddle held idly
In her plump hand, the fresh golden
butter waiting in the wooden bowl
on the cedar table close by. That
wasn't Aunt Hitty's way of working,
so Mabel quickly asked:
"Aunty, what's the matter? Some
thing, 1 know, you look so sad"
only little disappointment,
child, that's ALL" and the sweet old
face lit now with smile, Uncle
Josiah says can't send my jellies to
| the Fair, and did want to, so bad. "
Mabel opened her brown eyes wide
in surprise aid cried out:
ooh, Aunt Hitty! All those lovely
| jellies! That beautiful crab apple,
and the green grape, and the red
currant, and the blue plum, and al
the rest! Oh, my! what is Uncle
thinking about! You made them on
purpose, and l know you would take
lot of blue ribbons! Why won't he
let you send them?"
"le says he's got to go see after
calf he wants to buy, and hasn't
got time to run up to enter them.
Says there amt any money in such
fooli7hness anyhow"
There isn't? Well, take notice
he's mighty ready to eat his share of
the jellies on the table. It's too bad!
I'm real mad at Uncle! I mean to
tell him so, too"
No, don't, dear, it would only get
| you a scolding. Josiah means well
but he don't think a woman's work
amounts to much I'll just have to
let the premiums go-maybe
wouldn't take any, if 1 sent the jelly
Did you come over to help me with
NY dressing sacque, child?"
Yes, 1 did, Aunty. If it's ready
can put the sleeves in for YOU"
All right, I'll be glad of your
help. Mabel, who's that stopping at
the gate? somebody N buggy"
Mabel glanced, and a half blush
came over her soft cheek.
It's only Ben Allen, Aunty, l ex-
pect he wants to see me for some
thing. III just run down to the gate
a minute"
Ben did want to see Mabel-he had
been in a state of wanting the same
thing for sometime, and had asked
her once If she wouldn't come and
live -itn him, so he could see her all
the time. But Mabel had not YET
mad up her mind to marry, so she
wouldn't say yes, and Ben had told
her that he wouldn't ask her again
until she told him he might. He had
/ been over to her house now, to ash
her to drive in on Thursday and at
tend the State Fair with him, an
Mabel willingly consented to go.
Where are you bound for this
morLing?" she asked as SHE turned
back to the house.
well, had some notion of going
Ito town to-day" answered he, 81
want to look after a new set of har.
ess, and I'm not specially busy this
time"
Mabel paused, and a light came
into her eyes.
ooh, Ben, wonder if you would
like to do something for-for me anC
Aunt Hitty?" she said.
up in town? Yes, if 1 go, Ger
tainly would. What is it girlie?"
Mabel told him about Aunt Hitty':
appoi'tnent, and added:
Il feel so sorry for her, and jus
wondered if you would be willing tx
take the box out to the Fair Grounds
and enter the jellies in her name"
why, indeed l will, with tn,
greatest pleasure Aunt Kitty is tn.
one best womao in the world, and i
/ can do anything to help her, vol
just count on me, Mabel. I'll go u,
to the city, sure thing, and if sh,
don't get several blue ribbons i
won't be our fault! Has she got tn,
things ready?'
Il think so-she wanted Uncle tt
take them and he wouldn't, for feal
he might miss calf sale he's after
"Old Tightwad! Beg pardon, Ma
bel, I know he's yo1r uncle, but l d.
get so mad at him because he does 81
little for Aunt Kitty. If she belonged
to me, you bet I'd see that she hat
more comfort than she gets"
He gave Mabel : look which mad,
her cheeks pink again, but to cove
her confusion she said:
"I'll run see if she's got then
rna-y." and few up tie path like
young deer.
Mabel stayed all day with Aun
Hitty. Ben stopped as he drov
home in tt afternoon, and told taen
that the jellies were entered al
right, and SO far as he saw, Their
wouldn't be any there to beat them.
Are the folks going in to tn
Fair?" he asked. and Mabel an
swered
Eyes, Uncle always goes on Thurs
day, and takes Aunt Hitty."
All right then. / thought if h
WASH &C ng, we would just tax
her with us-I knew you wouldn'
mind"
''Of course would not! It's goo
In YOU to think of it. Ben-som