The Wife's Stratagem; A Story for Fireside and Wayside

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1862 Excerpt: ...large, the apples three times, and the gentlemen bowed four times lower and twenty times more respectfully. The dearest of all my elderly relatives is my mother's aunt, my great-aunt Mary. I wish you could see her sitting in a corner of the fireplace, in a funny little black rocking chair of hers, that is no one knows how old, with a mosaic patchwork cover on the back, always busy with her knitting or sewing, and just the sweetest, dearest, little old soul in the world; though she is my great-a.mt, I am so much larger and stronger, that I could, if I pleased, catch her up in my arms and run all over the house with her, without her being able to help herself. I mean to try it some time. Aunt Mary's face is wrinkled; but her blue eyes are still clear and bright; her soft gray hair is parted over a placid brow; her smile is very sweet, and her voice so pleasant and kindly, that you feel as though you could never do enough for her, and you love her instinctively the very first time you see her. I believe that is the reason everybody calls her Aunt Mary. It seems as if they could not help it; but / think it is a great liberty. Aunt Mary is not one of those old old ladies, who think little folks should sit upright on a hard wooden bench, with nothing to rest their poor little spines against, and nothing to do but stare at the fire and twirl their thumbs. She took a great nephew of hers to church, not long ago; a little bit of a fellow, and I think a perfect darling. Stanny had never been to church before, and he was'so surprised with the great painted windows, and the quantity of people, that he sat up, in wondering silence, as grave as a judge; and Aunt Mary was just thinking to herself How well Stanny behaves! really I am quite proud of him!...