Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-12-02
AUNT PATS PROPOSAL
BY JULIA GREENE.

idea that women ouSnt. 10 propose,
said the red-headed man. Still, I
known one woman who took matters
neglected by a bashful sutton into her
own hands and wound up the bust
ness 50 neatly and in SO novel man
nor that she won plaudits from every
body who ever heard the story.
"This woman was known the coun.
tv over as Aunt Patsy Mitchell. Aunt
patsy lived alone in a. big red brick
house that was set down in the mid
die of an immense yard. The yard
Of one time was we'll shaded, but the
trees had been feiled one by one until
nothing remained standing but few
cedar trees and one monstrous oak.
This oak stood in a corner not far
from the front fence. 1t was the
most perfect specimen of fine, SYM
metrical forest tree to be found in that
part of the county, and Aunt Patsy
had always been very proud Of it. It's
g grand type of endurance she had
often been heard to say. Why. per-
feet as that tree is, it ought to be
standing 500 years from now Know
ing those to be her sentiments, the
surprise of the neighbors was un.
bounded when it was learned that
Aunt Patsy had sent for two wood
cutters and hcd ordered them to
chop down the oak tree three feet
from the ground.
"a few days after the tree had been
felled and dragged away was walk
ing past Aunt Patsy's house with
Walter Craig. Craig was q man who
had managed my fathers farm for
several years. From the top Of his
head to the sole Of his foot Craig
presented a very peculiar appearance
hut his most striking single feature
was his mouth. That organ was
kept wide open day and night, sleep
ing or waking. AS we neared the
house we saw Aunt Patsy standing
at the front gate. We went up and
stopped on the other side.
Aunt Patsy said Craig. Y don't
want to be pryin', but I'd like to know
what you had that tree whacked over
for?'
% reckon, she said, there's a
whole raft OF people hereabouts d
like to know that very same thing
"I reckon said Craig, there is
"'Well.' returned Aunt Patsy, I
don't wish any OF 'em any harm. SO
7 do hope they won't hold their
breath till they find out. Not bnt
what they're soin' to some day, for
they are, but they'll have to bide my
time"
Craig nodded respectfully. And
what you goin' to do with the stump
Aunt Patsy?' he asked. You ought to
have that drug up by the roots
az oughtnt do anything Of the
kind retorted Aunt Patsy. I've made
all my callat;ons regardin' that
stump, and I certainly don't callate to
have it drug out
That was in the fall All winter
the oak stump stood in Aunt Patsy's
front yard. bleak and drear, but
early in the spring two men who were
used 10 clearing Off were called in
for consultation, and Aunt Patsy gave
them instructions to burn out the
heart OF the stump. A week later the
only thing remaining Of the prize OAK
was an outer shell about four inches
thick.
Tin goin' to get some bees said
Aunt Patsy, when Craig and l stopped
at her gate soon afterward and asked
her about the skeleton. I've always
wanted a swarm, and I cal'late 10
turn this stump into hive for EN-.
I'll have the top rooted over. ic
seems to me it'll be real handy place
for EN-
THE following day Aunt Patsy went
into town. She was gone a week, ard
when she returned she was provided
with a box full of chisels and other
tools, of whose use even the village
carpenter was ignorant. When tho
first warm spring days came Aunt
Patsy began her work on the unique
beehive For two weeks she laborcd.
cutting and chiseling the hard wood
with rare skill and patience. BY ard
by it became apparent that the side
Of the hive facing the turnpike WIS
taking on the semblance of human
face. Aunt Patsy smiled grimly when
Craig leaned over the fence one night
and asked her whose portrait she was
carving
"Tts the face of the man I'm goia'
to marry she said.
"That report spread rapidly ard
thereafter Aunt Patsy's open-a;r
studio was thronged with people anI.
ious to discover Through the linea
ments of the sculptured face some
clue to the identity Of the intended
husband. l don't know anything aboIt
the work of professional sculptors,
but we saw before us, as if in li:9r
the squirting eyes, the faring ears,
the high forehead and the gapiTe
mouth of Craig. My bare feet scarce
ly touched the turnpike as I lrcn
nome TO tell the news I found Craig
-. IL - Tho orchard D1ouioo