The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1908-02-29
AUNT
PATSY'S
NEW
GLASSES
D. ROSE WILLIS JOHNSON.
copyright. By Joseph B. Bowlea)

wen, what snail we 90 ABOUT ueE.
Jabex demanded grimly-Jabex. the
younger. who had tried and failed. 1T
10 useless to try to live with her-it
can't be done! Milly was patience It.
self. and the children never opened
their mouths before her. Shes reg
lar old cat! l toted her back to the
hollow. with meal and what not
enough to keep her awhile. and left
her to boot with the owls. But 1t
won't do! The neighbors will cry
shame II We leave the widow of our
Uncle Jabez to die alone. II they
knew her as we do
The rest of the sentence was lost In
growl. Sufficiently strong language
was forbidden Deacon Watkin. shin
ing light of little Mount Zion.
John. his brother. stood whiting.
making = litter on the neat hearth.
His daughter, slim and still. was wash
ing dishes at the sink, taking no part
In the family council, but ever and
anon her bright eyes darted eager
glances and her lips trembled with de-
sire. 1t was In the days when young
people waited permission to speak.
! John gave final fiirt to the bit Of
pine stick and shut his knife. There.
wife. I've made mess for ye-all on
account of Jabez' widow. don't
know what we can do. She sha'n't
come here again-not by q jugful! But
I'll do my part by the old lady. We
three boys can afford to keep her. and
we can AFFORD to pay girl to stay
there with her. We can get one for
six bits week."
You'll have to get new girl every
Saturday night" Jabez grunted.
There amt girl atop O. earth as Is
goin' to put up wi 'er tantrums."
And then Lyonette spoke. paling
sensitively: Let me go. mother! Let
me try Aunt Patsy
There was astonished silence, and
then her father whistled.
You try your Aunt Patsy, Trotkins!
Well. I'll be groomed!"
mo. SIR" soberly. But I've always
liked Aunt Patsy. and I'm sorry for
her. ! believe / can get along with
her-alone. And want the six bits"
She made the admission gravely.
She was 30 exquisitely truthful her
motives never clouded themselves, nor
took ON false colors. Was 1t silly to
long 10 Ardently for the trifies dear
to authorizations. laces, soft bright
garments to adorn her young pretti-
ness! Sometimes she gathered ferns
and flowers, twining them In her hair.
clasping them to her bosom, her eyes
bright and innocent as the eyes of
self-admiring infant. II vanity urged
her, surely the sin was not unpardon-
able.
None Of this at home. however. She
wore her holland and homespun apd
was staid and sensible, little maid
for staid, sensible parents to trust and
cherish.
1t took some time to win grudging
permission to TRY her hand" but
once given her spirits rose. She was
optimistic. perhaps bit self-confident.
But It seemed to her that she should
succeed-that the lonely old heart had
. hidden key. which 1t was possible
to ind. She meant to try.
Aunt Patsy" was q local figure.
For years-for half century-she
had terrorized the community. Al
though poor and ignorant, her will
was absolute and not to be questioned.
Children whispered the word witch.
She was q cross the Watkin brothers
found hard to bear.
Still, they tried to do their duty, for
Uuncle Jabez' sake. They paid the
tax ON her little place, contributed to
her support and would have made her
one Of themselves had her vile temper
permitted.
One bright June morning six weeks
later stranger approached the house.
He lifted his hat.
May see the lady of the house?"
he queried.
"Yes-if she'll let you. I'll ask"
answered Lyonette the truthful. and
her clear young voice rang out insist
emily: Aunt Patsy-Aunt Patsy! Do
you want to see man, Aunt Patsy?"
A tall, bent figure appeared In the
doorway.
IA mani" she said. What does he
want, Lyonette?"
The man" spoke for himself:
Il have spectacles here, grandma
won't you look through pair? I am
sure You need something better than
tAe things on your nose-they are
nothing but window glass"
Patsy shook her head. mo money"
she said. How should buy specta-
Giles. who am alone. always alone, and
too old to do aught but knit? But
can knit! Ask the whole countryside
who makes the best socks!"
But . knitter-the best knitter in
the country-needs glasses. Think Of
dropped stitches. grandma. Here, 1t
won't cost you anything to have your
eyes tested. Let me show you what
you are needing"
The old lady submitted. and in
few minutes he had selected . pair