Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1908-05-14
AUNT HANNAH'S PARTY
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Dear me, Ezra!" said good Aunt
Hannah, Il do wish something would
happen! Land o. liberty! l get so aw-
full tired of this monotonous life-not
single neighbor less than a mile away
an NOT q chick or child at home. l
ought to be ashamed to complain, and L
am! But | do wish something would
happen right here In front Of our house
Something to look at ~
Aunt Hannah. good soul, little
dreamed that before three hours had
passed something would happen.
The one great event in her monoto-
nous life was the daily passing OF
the overland passenger trains, which
brought their eager tourists to Califor-
MIA or carried home returning wander
ers back toward the rising sun.
In Aunt Hannahs daily life this sim
pie passing of the trains grew to be an
event of Importance. She could catch
tantalizing glimpses of women's fair
faces and the laughing eyes of little
children as the Overland flashed by,
not three rods from her own front door.
Sometimes she waved n snowy dish
towel at them as they rushed past, and
looked wistfully after them till the
long cut hid the curving train.
But on this particular day Aunt
Hannah's heart almost stood still in
her ample bosom. For the Overland
came into sight. running more and more
slowly. and finally coming to a labor
ing. clanking stop almost at her very
door
Such n thing had never happened be-
fore. and Aunt Hannah was filled with
wordless excitement. Something had
happened at last. Uncle Ezra was stir
ring around near the house, keeping
watchful eye upon old Dobbin, the
white horse, which was patiently walk
ing never ending miles in the treadmill
which pumped water for the house and
garden and the neighboring orchard of
young orange trees.
Aunt Hannah speedily informed him
of the great event. and Uncle Ezra, as
wonder-filled as she, walked down to
the railroad track to see what might
be wrong.
Aunt Hannah. from the porch. heard
him say Hospitality to the conductor:
why. yes, we've got telephone. Come
right in an use it."
And in few moments that Won
derful creature-the blue-uniformed
brass-buttoned conductor of the Over
land was standing on Aunt Hannah's
bright rag carpet and talking in crisp.
curt, mastery tones to some unseen de-
linuuent at the city ten miles behind
1t appeared that some one had blum
dered.
The passengers swarmed out of the
cars and wandered aimlessly along the
track. Then the women and children
began to stray into Aunt Hannah's
front yard. looking with genuine tour
lat curiosity at every little common
place thing that met their eager gaze.
For this was q trainload Of brand-new
tenderfeet from the far East. most OF
whom were stepping upon California
soil for the first time In their lives.
Aunt Hannah was radiant and over
flowing with hospitality. Before ten
minutes had passed she had discovered
an old lady from her own town In
Iowa, and a young lady from Boston
who had known a second cousin of
Ezra's first wife's nephew or some such
near relative. Aunt Hannah was In her
element. Every rocking chair she pos
sessed and every straight backed one
as well, she brought out into the front
yard under the great dropping pepper
tree, and her unexpected guests sat
around and asked highly intelligent
questions of every official they could
waylay Noon came, and the long
train stood powerless TO move. I'm
accustomed rivulets of perspiration
trickled down the portly conductors
face as he walked up and down in Ill
concealed impatience.
AUHs Hannahs hospitable soul e1-
banded. I'll fry every egg on the
place." she said. land steep that five
pounds Of coffee I've just got, and cut