Aunt Amy

“ Aunt Amy says their hill will soon be white with strawberry blossoms, and blue with violets."
"And what of my friend, Eliza Brewster? I believe you told me you have never seen her."
"Aunt Amy always speaks of her in her letters. She has been a great comfort to them, so helpful and kind."
"Mrs. Fabian will have it that I am to see this wonderful island."
"You should go. It would be paradise for an artist."
"And how about yourself?" asked Phil. "You also have an aunt and a home on that green mound I hear about."
"Oh, I'm going for the whole summer," replied Violet. ”

“ She found Aunt Jenny imperious, Aunt Mary dull, and knew that Aunt Amy was thinking of her sweet smile as she smiled. For Martha was outside of it all, a mere spectator of this life of peace and quiet and plenty, and she secretly hungered after something to care for—something to take the place of the little brothers and sisters who had always run to her to have their faces washed and their aprons buttoned. They expected her to play with dolls, she, Martha Clarke, who had had real work to do and had learned to push and crowd her own way. ”

“ Do let her tell us what is coming. You know she always tells right when she wrings her hands. Go on, Auntie—"
"Jane, be quiet! I'll tell you why afterwards. Auntie dear, sit down."
'Aunt Amy's hands relaxed and the strange look faded. "It's nothing," she said. "It's gone! I must be more careful. Do not mention it to your mother, children. She might think me queer again, and I am not at all queer any more. You have noticed that I'm not, haven't you, Esther? I'll do anything you say, my dear."
"Then lie out in the hammock while I get supper. The berries are all ready. Then we'll all get dressed. ”

“ I fancy your uncle knew from the first that the attack would be fatal whenever it came. Do you know why he asked for you so often, Bertie?"
"No, aunt, except that he always loved me, and was very, very good to me."
"Yes, dear, and he trusted you too; almost his last words were, 'Tell Bertie he must take care of you and Agnes: he must be the "head of the family" now!' Uncle Harry's death will make a great difference to us, dear."
"I'm so glad he said that, Aunt Amy; and I will take care of you all," his glance including even Eddie, who sat silent in a corner. "It was good of him to trust me!" ”

“ It took only a moment for Esther to decide that here, at least, she had done the right thing. She waited only long enough to see the frightened look in Aunt Amy's eyes replaced by one of timid confidence and then, murmuring an excuse, slipped away, leaving them together.
Callandar also waited while the startled eyes grew quiet and then lifted the fluttering hand into his own firm one.
"Creatures of habit, we doctors, aren't we?" he said, smiling. "Always taking people's temperatures."
Aunt Amy ventured upon a vague answering smile. ”

“ Amy knew it was to get her out of the way, and felt rather disappointed that the proposal was not seized upon at once, and applauded.
"She's a good girl," said Aunt Rose.
"Well, so she is, and I don't like to stand in her way," said Aunt Charlotte.
"But to pitch on old Sally Long of all folk in the world!" said Rose.
"There's no doubt but she does want something done for her; but I misdoubt me if she will choose our Amy to do it. Besides, I don't like her tongue. That's what daunts me most." ”

“ Aunt Amy was like many other easy-going folks: when she got started she never knew when to stop.
"I don't want you, Agnes—I mean Vevette, or whatever your name is—I don't want you turning my girls' heads with romances and plays and stories of London gaieties and London fine gentlemen and ladies. If you have a taste for such matters, it is a pity you had not stayed with your uncle, and married some fine gentleman about the court, instead of poor Andrew, whose estate will stand no such doings, as I warn you beforehand. ”

“ Aunt March never petted any one; she did not approve of it; but she meant to be kind, for the well-behaved little girl pleased her very much, and Aunt March had a soft place in her old heart for her nephew's children, though she didn't think proper to confess it. She really did her best to make Amy happy, but, dear me, what mistakes she made! Some old people keep young at heart in spite of wrinkles and gray hairs, can sympathize with children's little cares and joys, make them feel at home, and can hide wise lessons under pleasant plays, giving and receiving friendship in the sweetest way. ”

“ Minnie and her aunt now left the cottage. The little girl had learned a lesson, by what she had seen, which she did not soon forget. Her gentle nature was charmed by the love her aunt had shown to the poor woman. After walking in silence a while, she said,—
“Aunt Amy, I guess you are the brightest sunbeam that ever entered Mrs. Button’s cottage! Why, her pale face brightened up and looked almost cheerful before you left.”
“You see, then, Minnie, how little it [29] costs to do good. Our visit has really made the misery of that woman less, and it has done us good. ”

“ Aunt Amy never saw through these manœuvres, but when Rosamond recovered, she would talk to her seriously about the necessity of governing her temper, and Rosamond would listen humbly and meekly promise to try and do better. There was always more real worth in her little finger than there was in Betty's whole person, but her timidity and absent-minded ways often made her appear at a disadvantage. ”

“ Her changing humors were so marked that Aunt Amy was gravely perturbed. She felt that Ethel was becoming “eccentric,” which was the worst thing any one could be, and she attributed it all to this annoying obsession with singing. In all good faith, she did what she thought best for the girl—she stopped her lessons.
Ethel wept and stormed and entreated and argued until she was almost ill, but without moving Aunt Amy.
“No!” that lady said firmly. “If you’ll put all that nonsense out of your head, and lead a normal, sensible life like other girls, I’ll let you take up singing again in a year.” ”

“ Eddie started from a reverie, and looked questioningly at his brother. "Aunt Amy? what put her into your head, Bert?"
"I don't know, I'm sure, unless it's Uncle Frank. Don't you think it's very funny to have a lot of relations you never see, hear from, or speak about—very exciting, too, to have cousins drop in on you when you least expect it. I hope, Ned, when you're master of Riversdale, you won't banish me, and forget my very existence till I'm dead. What did Aunt Amy do, I wonder?"
"She married some one papa did not approve of—an artist, I think: that's all," Eddie said gravely. ”

“ If not, you can make smiles serve for sunbeams, and gentle words will do for gold.”
“It makes me so happy to be kind, aunt Amy, I think I shall try to be so always,” said Minnie.
“Do, my dear child, and be kind to every one with whom you have to do.”
“I must speak kindly to my enemies, too, mustn’t I, aunt [63] ?”
“Yes, Minnie, you must; for so Christ has taught us, you know. And there is nothing like kindness to change enemies into friends. It melts away their enmity when they see us returning their evil with good.” ”

“ At this word Aunt Martha did look up, and her eyes met Amy’s. Amy Waring burst into tears. Her aunt laid aside her work, and gently put her arms about her niece. She waited until the first gush of feeling had passed, and then said, tenderly,
“Amy, it is by the heart that God leads us women to himself. Through love I fell; but through love, in another way, I hope to be restored. Do you really believe he loves Hope Wayne?” ”

“ But I will take her to Emmerton in about a week, or ten days' time, if Mrs Harrington would like to see her."
"Do have her," whispered Amy to Miss Morton, feeling extremely anxious that the affair should be settled at once, and, in her eagerness, forgetting her shyness.
"It is not for me to decide, my dear," said Miss Morton. "I am afraid your aunt will hardly be inclined to have a stranger."
"But she is so good," continued Amy; "and she has such a nice manner." ”

“ To die, while I live; to be buried alive close to my nearest and dearest; to know that my sister thinks of me as dead, and is glad that I am so—”
“Stop, Aunt Martha, stop!” cried Amy, with the same firm tone in which, upon a previous visit, in this room, she had dismissed the insolent shopman, “how can you say such things?” and she stood radiant before her aunt, while Lawrence Newt looked on.
“Amy, dear, you can not understand. Sons and daughters of evil, when we see that we have sinned, we must be brave enough to assist in our own punishment. ”

“ We can now think of our walk with pleasure, because it has been useful.”
“Well, aunt, I wish I could be a sunbeam to somebody before I get home.”
“Perhaps you may be. Look down yonder lane. There is a little boy crying. He looks as if he was in trouble. See if you can comfort him with a kind word or two.”
While Minnie ran to see what good she could do to the weeping boy, a girl came along, very poorly clad, and carrying [30] a bundle of dry sticks on her head. Aunt Amy’s kind heart pitied the poor child. She stopped her and said,—
“What is your name, little girl?” ”

“ Jane laid a childish cheek to her sister's hand.
"Nice Esther," she cooed. "I'm sorry I called you a pig." Then, in a change of tone as they left Aunt Amy resting in the hammock, "Esther, why is Auntie so afraid of mother lately? She says such queer things I don't know what she means."
"Neither do I, dear. But I think it is just a passing fancy. She was very much hurt about the ring being sold. When she gets it back she will forget about it."
"She looks at mother as if she hates her." ”

“ My dear mother was—no disparagement to her either—a bit of a gossip; though, as we had few friends among our French neighbors, she had had little opportunity of indulging her tastes; but now she grew more animated and interested than I had ever seen her, in hearing all the news my Aunt Amy had to tell.
"And what about our cousins at Stanton?" asked my mother presently. "From what Andrew tells me, I suppose the present lady is not much like the one I knew."
"No more than chalk is like cream cheese," answered Aunt Amy. ”

“ The trouble was that Aunt Amy kept on being Aunt Amy, while the childish Ethel and the nineteen-year-old one were entirely different persons. Aunt Amy wanted her to come out, and to be a nice, happy débutante like other girls; but something in Ethel’s blood rebelled against that. She called it a “modern spirit,” and never realized that instead of being modern, it was the old Mazetti strain, come down to her from people who for generations had not lived by bread alone. ”

“ Aunt Amy admitted that she could not locate any particular pain.
"Weakness is the predominating symptom," went on the doctor. "It is, in fact, a very simple case. All the more serious, of course, for being so simple, if we did not understand it. But now that we know exactly what is wrong we need have no fear."
Aunt Amy's vague eyes began to shine.
"Shall we get the better of them again?" she asked eagerly.
"We certainly shall," kindly. "Miss Esther, I am going to leave some medicine for your aunt; these little pink tablets. She must have one every two hours and two at bedtime. ”

“ It won't be so bad when they come, but it is dull at home these long evenings."
"It does me good to see Bertie: he's always so happy and cheerful," Aunt Amy said, after she had kissed him, and watched him a little way down the street. "I wish, Eddie dear, you would try to be contented and happy."
"I do try, Aunt Amy, but I can't while I have to do so many unpleasant things," Eddie replied, drawing near her. One comfort was, he was always sure of ready sympathy from her, while Uncle Harry sometimes laughed at his fretful impatience. "If uncle would only let me begin a picture!" ”

“ That look is familiar to me.
"My aunt is dead," said I, proudly. "And she left me——"
"But it won't be more than two or three thousand," pursued Lady Amy, sadly.
"Not a bit more," said I. (It was two or three hundred really.)
"Still it would just help," said Lady Amy; and she bowed most graciously to Stevenage.
Matters standing thus, I thought I would do it after all. It would relieve my feelings (for she was looking atrociously pretty) ; it might also be healthy for Lady Amy.
"One mustn't think of money," said I.
"Of course, one oughtn't to think too much of it," agreed Lady Amy. ”

“ It was only this morning they were saying what gay times you would have at Gore House now your cousins are at home, and that you would not think of us; but I knew better, Bertie."
"Why, Aunt Amy, I've scarcely ever spoken to my cousins: they're always out enjoying themselves; and I was longing to come here. Was it not good of Uncle Gregory to let me come, and give me such a long holiday? and look, auntie, two sovereigns for a Christmas present, and" (dragging in the hamper and parcel) "Aunt Gregory sent these—a workbox for Agnes, and a book for Eddie, and such a knife for me! ”

“ All I ask is for you to take the baby to see her this afternoon—that's Emma's advice—and let things settle themselves. Aunt Westlake loves babies. Of course, you saw her only a few times, you can't be expected to feel as I do; but when I think of all she did for me, Amy—sent me to college and everything after father and mother died—it does hurt me to have it go on like this. She acts as if she didn't care, but she does; and she's getting pretty old, Amy.”
“I don't think it's any better to be disagreeable when you're old than when you're young; I think it's worse,” said Amy. ”

“ Amy came with the tears standing in her eyes into the back kitchen, vexed, angered, and ready to be cross. Her aunt set her to prepare the dish for the Irish stew, while she said, "Father was at his jokes with me, Amy. He don't like you to be running in and out to old Sally Long by yourself; no more does your Aunt Rosy nor I; but the poor old body didn't ought to be neglected, and [22] the sermon was just as much for me as for you, so I've made up my mind to look after her a bit, and you may come in with me sometimes if you like." ”