Year: 1863

Aunt SItty's Wuu.


Aunt Sally, as the villagers usually
called her, had received the bulk Of her
property from a deceased aunt, which her
shrewd business qualities had enabled
her to invest so edvantageously that she
increased in wealth as she did in years,
and like many other rich people well nd-
vanced in life, had scores of oflectiona.c
young relatives. Her grey eyes were too
shrewd not TO see through their eager at
tentions to the very sclfshness OF their
source.


One nephew, however, did not belong
TO this class OF schecmers. On the con-
trary the old lady was very otter the vic
tim of his Jokes, aud he would dispute
with her Just for the fun Of having a hot
argument. Yet, for any real service, she
would apply to him oltener than to any
one else. She had even lent sum suf-
ficient te stock fine store, but still this
Frederick so oftened annoyed and vexed
her that public opinion was pretty equally
divided as TO whether he would be the
favorite heir or be cut off without a shil-
ling.


One evening upon the meeting Of the
parish sewing circle at the house of the
clergyman, this nephew perpetroted joke
upon his aunt, the result Of which she
never forgot. She unlike many maiden
ladies, considered these gatherings a sort
of fashionable nuisance, but usually was
present for the sake Of indulging in her
sarcastic remarks. Her nephew was
there osten sibly to wait upon his aunt,
but the fair Lucy, daughter of the worthy
practitioner DIR. Blood particularly allured
him with her charms.


The evening passed of pleasantly, and
when the party broke up, as Frederick
was taking leave Of his friends, with his
aunt upon one arm, and Lucy upon the
other, the old Indy suddenly remembered
that she had left her mufr.


40, never mind aunt" said the young
man, )" will get it and send it up to you
in the morning"


"But do mind, Fred. Strong, for il is
not my way to leave things around in this
ma But where can it be GER.
tainly left it with my bonnet and cloak"


Search was Immediately made and af-
ter while it was found stuffed into q
deacon's hat.


40, fie upon you aunt Such a hint,
and the deacon only recent widower! I"
exclaimed her laughing nephew.


Aunt Sally seized her mufF, but the hat
adhered most efiectually to il. BY an
angry wrench it was liberated, and the
unoffending hat flew across the entry,
projected by the incensed maiden. When
il arrived at the terminus Of its short
journey, it had assumed n most question.
able shape. and It's condition might GER
bad"


will pay you for this young man,"


Don't trouble yourself, dear aunt. So
far as | am concerned, you are entirely
welcome"


"You will perhaps tell me that you
have had no hand in this matter 7"


No, | will tell you no falshood about
il but intended il rs joke upon our
st iff deacon, as much or more than your
self"


AT best il is but an i'll trick you have
played upon me, and now mark my words
you shall have reason TO remember this
muf to the latest days of your existence"


:" As you please, aunt, since you take
it SO seriously I; but didn't think a silly
joke would this have offended YOU"


Time passed on and young Strong
prospered famously in his business. He
had amused sufficient means to be ona-
bled to pay his aunt the sum she had lent
him, but she declined receiving it, alleg-
ing that she preferred 10 have il remain
ing on Interest. In the mean time, he
had also persuaded the gentle Lucy to
share his fortunes. As Tor AuntS ally, /,
a singular mania seemed to possess her.
In the matters Of real estate, stocks, etc, 4,
she had become perfect alchemist, turn
ing all into gold.


The neighbors looked on and wondered
but none yentured to demonstrate with
her. She was often seen to visit the
Office of Squire A., and il was rumor-
ed she was making her final arrange
ments for the bestowal of her property
after her decease. The affair OF the muff
was not forgotten, and it was current
with the villagers that Fred would have
TO pay dearly for his joke.


One morning the village was oil in uc-
ton. During the night the spirit of the
redoubtable lady had quietly taken its
flight. She was found dead in her arm
chair, and died as she had lived, alone.
She had alarmed no one during the night,
nor had she suffered previous illness.
Curiosity, of course, was intense upon
the subject Of her will, and ii was pro-
duced as soon as decency would allow.
All her connections were present, and
their eager, hopeful, anxious countenan-
ces would have furnished rare subject
for the pencil OF an artist. The readingl
OF the will proceeded until L was finished,
except single codicil. Each OF her re-
lotives, excepting her nephew, had been
remembered-some to a greater extent
than others, but none considerably.


At all events not one third of her for
tune had been dispensed, and only the
codicil remained, All eyes were turned
10 Frederick Strong as the lucky one, sf.
ter all. But what was their surprise
when they found il only made him the
recipient Of her old sable muf and con-
tents. The word" contents y again ex-
cited their curiosity, and, to satisfy them,
the article was produced and found only
TO contain q simple paper sewed upon the |
lining. When detached and opened. In |
the bold handwriting Of Aunt Sally were
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