Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1913-01-10
AUNT PATS PROPOSAL
BY sULIA GREENE.


neglected by d bashful sutton into her
own hands and wound up the busi-
ness so neatly and In SO novel man
ner that she won plaudts from every
body who ever heard the story.
This woman was known the coun-
ty over as Aunt Patsy Mitchell Aunt
Patsy lived alone in big red brick
house that was set down in the mid
die of an immense yard The yard
at one time was well shaded, but the
trees had been felled 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 thSk
part of the county, and Aunt Pa0
had always been very proud of it. It's
a 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, ths
surprise Of the neighbors was UNI
bounded when It was learned that
Aunt Patsy had sent for two wood
cutters and had 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 I was walk
ing past Aunt Patsy's house with
Walter Craig. Craig was 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,
but 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, 4 don't.
want to be pryin', but I'd like to know
what you had that tree whacked over
'or?'
az reckon she said, there's
whole raft of people hereabouts q
ike to know that very same thing
I reckon, said Craig, there is
"'Wer,' returned Aunt Patsy r
lon't wish any Of 'em any harm, so
do hope they won't hold theix
,reath till they find out Not but
What they're goin' to some day. for
hey are, but they'll have to bide my
lme."
Craig nodded respectfully. And
that you goin' to do with the stump
unit Patsy?' he asked You ought to-
ave that drug up by the roots.
II oughtn't do anything Of the
ind retorted Aunt Patsy I've made
Il my callations regardin' that
lump, and certainly don't cal'late to
ave it drug out
THAT was in the fall All winter
lie oak stump stood in Aunt Patsy's
ont yard, bleak and drear, but
lrly In the spring two men who were
sed to clearing Off were called in
n consultation, and Aunt Patsy gave
lem instructions to burn out the
cart of the stump. week later the
lly thing remaining of the prize oak
as an outer shell about four inches
lick
I'm goin' to get some bees said
unit Patsy when Craig and | stopped
her gate soon afterward and asked
IT about the skeleton. I've always
anted a swarm, and l cal'late to
IN this stump into a hive for EN-.
| have the top rooted over It
ems to me it'll be real handy place
r EN-
THE following day Aunt Patsy went
to town. She was gone week, and
len she returned she was provided
tn box full of chisels and other
DIS, OF whose use even the village
rpenter WAS ignorant When the
st warm spring days came Aunt
tsy began her work on the unique
ehive. For two weeks she labored,
ting and chiseling the hard wood
tn rare skill and patience. By and
1t became apparent that the side
the hive facing the turnpike was
ling on the semblance of human
10. Aunt Patsy smiled grimly when
aig leaned over the fence one night
4 asked her whose portrait she was
wing.
It's the face OF the man I'm goiH>
marry she said
That report spread rapidly ana
reafter Aunt Patsy's open-ai1
do was thronged with people am
Z to discover through the linesr
nts OF the sculptured face soma
e to the identity OF the intended
band. don't know anything about
work of professional scrlptoz
we saw bsfors US, az IL In life,
squirting eyes, the faring ears,
high forehead and the gaping
,th of Craig. Ny bare feet scarce
touched the turnpike AZ ran
ae to ten the news found Craig
back Of the orchard blowing
Craig / gasped. its you Aunt
~ has been carving your face. IT'S =
she's going to marry
Craig dropped the lines and hts
It'll few wider open than ever
She's left your mouth open just
that I screamed. She says that's