Page:New Peterson Magazine 1853 Vol. XXIV.pdf/233

PETERSON'S MAGAZINE.

Vol. XXIV. THE OLD MAID AND HER PETS.

BY MES. COROLLA H. CBISWELL,

Aunt Manta lived in an old-fashioned house ja the country, where nobody ever visited her ' except her. neighbors, who generally came on business—that is to say, they came to abies from her, advice hath for bodily and mental ail-? ments, She waa quite a physician in her way, November, Aunt Maria was alone in her pleasant sitting-room. No, not exactly alone—for all her and certainly her remedies were very efficacious. } peta surrounded her—the parrot, the canaries, Besides, she was reputed & sybil—a true pro-} and the squirrels Im their respective gagea, the yheteas—for her predictions seldom proved false} white rat and the Guinea pig sleeping quieily -~and mony a love-lorn awain and sighing lassie } together in « little box upon s sheif, the monkey dent their footsteps at carly morn or late at eve, } playing with the rabbits in a corner, the poodle to Aunt Maria’s lonely dwelling. sitting In his mistress’ lap, the eats aud kittens Now, she was as kind-hearted and good an old $ snoozing together on the hearth-rug, and the maid as any ove ever knew. All ber neighbors} grest Newfoundland squatting before the fire, loved her sincerely, and in return for her many} hia red tongue lolling out with the heat, and kind offices, did all in their power to render her} locking very sugaciously in Aunt Maria’s face.

wondered whet mads her look and act so strange as she continually did—but although ticy won- dered, she wondered a great deal more.

One night, just after sunset, in the month of

life easy and comfortable. Indeed, it would have made an interesting picture Her chief happiness, and I may say delight, was { —thie “ happy fanily”—even Barnum might have in her pets, which I shall enumerate: three oats, { envied, had he lacked on. two Maltese kittens, one parrot, ons monkey, tre There was silence in the room, until some one canaries, Bix rabbits, two squirrels, one poodle, gently tapped at the door. Aunt Maria started, one Guineas pig, a white rat, and a great black } but sald, ‘come inl” Newfoundland. That is all I remember—thore A modest, smiling, oountry Iaasia then glided sight have been more—but these will do to itlus- } to the side of the aybil, as the villagers called trate my atory. her, snd, dropping upon her knees, said in « Well, something new happens everywhere every { fairy voice, ‘tall my fortune, please.” day--and it sc happened that a strangettime to} The goad woman laid her hand caressingly on dwell in the little village I am telling you of; and{ her young head, ‘Yes, Phebe.” in truth, be was the strangest stranger that ever! ‘Oh, hol” sereamed the parrot, winking one ‘was acon by the good people of that place. Hej aye, “7's tall your fortune.” waa @ tall, thin, middle-sged man, had 8 bump “Hush, Poll! Your hand, Phebe, Ah! you on his back, and waa blind of one eye—and of bava quarreled with your loyer---jeslousy—ak! all the countenances you ever caw, his had the$ have a care—what’s this? Phebs! you are queerpst, most grotesque expression, wrong—make up with him aud yonrs shall be 5 Well, dear reader, this strange stranger, who {happy lot That’ all I can tell you now—leave called himseif John Btrangs, settled down very} me!” quictly in a little dwolling, about a hundred} “Go awsy!” cried Poll Phebe, kissing the yards from that of Aunt Maris. This good} sybil's hand, departed. lady, dating from the arrival of asid stranger,; Tap! tap! om the window shutter—tap! tap! became very unsettled in mind me body, people t tap! Vou. XXIV.—14