Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1907-11-28
T was "demeanment," and Aunt
Creecy's scorn for the arguments

the day of her abasement drew near.
She had nursed Faith through all the
vicissitudes of infancy and childhood,
thereby earning the inalienable right
to badger her for the natural term of
her adult existence. Faith had just
been going over the threadbare reasons
for her violent departure from all the
traditions of the Bateses. Aunt Creecy
refused to see any extenuating circum-
stances In the situation.
TITS nothin' short of a affront to
them which is dead an gone. It's a
advertiser of the fac that the Briars
can't get along no longer on its own
hook; that's what it is" she summed
sullenly.
The Briars had always been looked
upon as one of the solvent estates in
an almost universally insolvent neigh
borhood, and Aunt Creecy groaned in
spirit at this making public Of the
sorry makeshifts they really were put
to. The mistress of the Briars sat
meekly on a low hassock, with her
hands clasped about her knees. She
was scarcely more than child in
years or in appearance, but her slen-
der shoulders had borne the burden OF
leadership for several years now. Her
nerves were getting on edge. She
spoke fretfully.
.'If you would only sit or stand still
for half a second, Aunt Creeey, might
get myself in hand again-at least get
over this paroxysm.'
.'Parixosms, indeed! Eff yo' is feelin'
of parixosms comm on this early in
the action, yo' viii have regular 'vul-
sions befo' the winter is out"
s'Oh, suppose will get used to
them-these people I mean, not the
commissions. If don't, and they real
~ do throw me into fits, Aunt Creecy,
you win have to treat me as you used
TO when was cutting my teeth"
"Tooth cuttin's bad enough, an yo'
sho'ly did cut yourn by the hardest,
but tooth cuttin' is dispensation of
Providence, an what is ordained from
above is got to be submitted to. Yo'll
fin tooth cuttin' were frolic to what
this is goin' to be-
Miss Bates Of the Briars, as the girl
on the hassock was locally referred to,
experienced a growing sense of resent
ment at Aunt Creecy's hostile attitude
"Try to look the situation square
~ in the face,H she went on, with ris-
ing heat. Here we are house full
Of stupid, helpless girls
Stupid! No sech of thing" Aunt
Creecy angriIy interpolated.
"Neppie, almost sixteen, with no edu-
cation beyond what have given her,
and those terrible twins just coming
to an age when a stronger hand than
mine is needed to hold them in"
"What grantee yo' got that strong
er hand is comin'?"
mo guarantee" Faith admitted
YEARLY, ssbut you know how her ad-
vertisement read"
81 disremembers the exact wordin'."
"Oh, the exact wording counts for
nothing. She is a teacher of some
years experience who wishes to get
away from the rigors of northern
winter to recuperate and, in considera-
ton of a home for herself and her
mother, is willing to give years serv-
ice. Think of what chance it is for
the girls, Aunt Creecyw
Creecy had made her way to front
window, attracted by the mingled
sound of girlish laughter and yelping
dogs.
"Them twins does suttinly need
somethin' done to 'em. Thar they both
go c'reerin' BAREBACK on that colt Corey
pintedly tol' 'em to keep way from
He's JUS broke. The beast amt never
felt the touch of a petticoat befo'."
Faith reached her side just In time
to catch the last 1utter of flying skirts
and shining curls. She stood there alb
stractedIy gazing out on landscape
serene enough to have won her back to
smiles If she had not looked upon it
with the Indifference born of famil-
iarity.
at will all look lovely to their New
England eyes, I expect. Who knows"
she added wistfully, 1--WE may gather
figs from this thistle, grapes from this
thorn
(Which is askin' for Scripture to be
reversed for yo' special benefit. 70
always was toploftical In your expecta-
TONS"
Faith glanced over the room she had
prepared for the strangers with a
tightening about her throat. 81 hate to
give them mothers room, but she
writes that she must have plenty of
sunshine"
EFF plenty Of sunshine is all she
wants, we kin supply her demand
easy, but 1t strikes me that young
woman which puts as many musts In
one letter as she put in hern is goin'
to give trouble of some sort er other
sooner er later"
"Aunt Creecy, don't persist In looking
on the dark side. Who knows, we
may be entertaining an angel I'M