The Storyteller

New Zealand Tablet, 4 May 1911, Page 795

The Storyteller

THE METHODS OP AUNT SUSANNA

Troubles never come singly/ groaned Mrs. Saxton, looking up from the one sheet of paper covered with cramped, angular writing. Here's the spring work pressing, and your father in the condition he is, and now Aunt Susanna writes that she is coming to spend a month or six weeks. It' it would do any good, I would sit down and cry.' This was so foreign to the disposition of the bravehearted woman that her son and daughter looked really alarmed. ' I'll give up my school and stay at home to help you/ said Ethel Saxton, promptly. ' 1 can't see you working yourself to death.' all her determination coming to the surface once more. • It isn't the work that worries me, but I'm afraid Aunt Susanna will make your father worse. We have hard enough work to keep him from becoming despondent, but she will persuade him he is much worse. We must manage to keep her mind occupied all the time she is here, and not leave her with papa a minute alone if possible.' ' I'll coax her out to see my work/ said Edward Saxton-. ' She's very much interested in farming, and that may help. Don't give Tip, mother; we'll do our best to help you.' It was an open secret in the Saxton family that the head of the house had nothing the matter with him. But openly no one ever spoke of that fact. A man selling patent medicine had once boarded with the family a week while working in the neighborhood, and from that time Mr. Saxton began having ' symptoms.' Urged on by the shrewd vendor of drugs, he imagined he had every disease in the catalogue, and his sudden cessation from active work, as well as the medicines he eagerly swallowed, did give him much discomfort. It is really astonishing what a glib tongue and a hi tie book on the subject of aches and pains will do for men and women otherwise sensible, and Howard Saxton was no exception to the general rule. His family physician, who laughed at him, was termed a heartless ignoramus, and his wife, who tried her best to get him to exorcise and to look on the bright side of life, he felt sure was only anxious to" be rid of him so she could enjoy the property alone. And on top of all these tribulations Aunt Susanna was coming for a long visit; Aunt Susanna, who had taken Howard Saxton when his parents died and reared him to manhood along with three other -homeless relatives. It was well known that of her little family Howard was the favorite, so she would only add to the troubles of the household by sympathising with him and helping along his imaginary woes. _ No wonder Mrs. Saxton prepared the spare chamber with a sinking heart, listening as she ran up and down stairs with clean linen and fresh water to her husband's complaints and desires for this or that to make him more comfortable. ' Well! Well! How do you all do ? Have you been sick, Howard? You look rather peaked!' was the greeting of Aunt Susanna, as she came into the house rather unexpectedly. Mrs. Saxton had planned to meet her at the station and warn her about her nephew, but the depot carriage brought her out three hours before she was expected, owing to a sudden change of plans. ' How are you, Emma? My, but the wind is strong to-day!' All this time the vigorous old lady was removing her veil, and shaking hands, and telling the driver where to put her luggage in her old breezy fashion. 'Well, I'm not as well as I'd like to be,' said Mr. Saxton, limply shaking hands, 'but it's all I can expect, I suppose. 1 never hope to be well in this world.' His tone was a hopeless whine, and he looked despondent. 'Won't you come upstairs and rest, aunt?' asked Mrs. Saxton, hurriedly. ' I have your room all ready for you. You must be tired from your trip.' ' Not a bit tired,' said the old lady heartily. ' I want to sit right down here and hear what is the matter with this boy. Why in the world didn't you tell me long ago? I'm real scared about you.' " ° What's the use?'" returned Mr. Saxton, sighing deeply. ' Emma and the doctor are all the time arguing with me that there's nothing wrong with me, so I thought you d say the same thing. I've often heard about sick folks not being understood, but I never dreamed that would be my fate. Even John Floods, who used to call himself a, good friend of mine, said yesterday that I ought to be out ploughing corn, that the work was too heavy for Edward. Maybe when I'm in my grave they'll realise how I suffered. Why, I can't go upstairs without losing n v breath.' * _ ,y 'Something's got to be done/ said Aunt Susanna with decision, and that right away. By the looks of your complexion you need a hot foot-bath and some bone-set tea. You just lie down on the lounge, and I'll have things ready in a hurry. Emma, you just go on with your work and I'll look after this boy. I've had many a case to deal with about like his, and I don't take a back seat for trained nurses and doctors,'

Mrs. Saxton did 1 weep in dead earnest as she set about making preparations for dinner, and- saw through the open door what went on. Aunt" Susanna tied on a huge gin g- ■ ham apron, got the invalid's feet in a hot bath, and had him making a face over the familiar drink of his uoynobd before' half an hour went past. When dinner was on the table she had him snugly tucked up on the lounge and the shades' down so he could take a nap. fi'l feel as if I could eat something,' said the patient feebly, as the odors of stewed chicken, fresh rhubarb pie, and warm biscuits floated in through the open door. ' Not right after that tea,' said the nurse in charge. 'You take a nap, Howard, and then I'll prepare something special for you. I know Emma is a first-rate cook, out sick people need nourishing things that are not too heavy." : So he dutifully drifted off to slumber, while the family enioved the delicious things in the dining-rocm and talked in subdued tones. : The hot bath, the tea, and the quttt kept him asleep until the middle of the afternoon, when he woke up ravenously hungry. Aunt Susanna was reaay for him, and appeared with a dainty tray set forth with a tiny bowl of chicken broth, two crackers, and a spoonful of boiled rice. Mr. Saxton looked at the meagre outiit with dismay, but there was no use protesting. His elderly relative had said he must stay on the lounge, n\A he was forced to obey. . .„ ' All the afternoon Mr. Saxton really enjoyed himf-eii talking about his complaints, but at supper time he was not allowed to partake of the good food with the. fami'y. It was simply maddening to.smell the fned ham, and to know that fresh doughnuts were served with the f.ne coffee, when his own repast consisted of a little custard and a soft-boiled egg.: Hot milk was the beverage, and Aunt Susanna said doubtfully that she felt she might be giving him too much to eat. 'How did you sleep? How do you feel?' asked Airs. Hume next morning, pouncing upon her nephew, as he was trying to steal from the bedroom to the pantry. 'I don't think it's best for you to be up walking around. You just go right back to the lounge or the arm chair, and I'll bring you a drink of fresh water. That is what you need first thing in the morning.' ' I feel rather faint,' said Mr. Saxton, truthfully. ' Seems to me a little coffee and a doughnut would' ' Coffee and doughnut! Man alive! Do you want to commit suicide? Didn't you tell me just last night how your heart fluttered when you did any work? I'm astonished at you. You can't take airy thing as solid as a doughnut. I've always known it was ono of the features of disease to ask for unreasonable things, but you can't have them. Surely you know me well enough to be sure I won't let you injure yourself.' Mrs. Saxton was worried almost to distraction to see Aunt Susanna fuss after her nephew all day, and encourage him to tell his troubles. She sympathised with him in his woes and pottered after him constantly, making little dainty dishes for him and coddling him until the poor wife wondered how she could exist once the old lady was gone. ' Emma,' said Aunt Susanna solemnly the second morning of her stay, as Mrs. Saxton came into the kitchen, ' I think things have come to the place where you'll have to make some sacrifices for your husband. Last night I heard a noise, and what do you think I saw? Howard was coming down to the pantry_ to get some cookies in spite of everything, but I caught him just in time. Now do you think you and the children could do without cake and rich food until he gets better? It is a constant temptation to him to smell these things.' ' Why, yes, if I thought it would do any good,' said the bewildered mistress? of the house. . 'lt's either that or locking the pantry, Emma. He'll get all. right in time if he doesn't eat unsuitable food.' So the cooky jar was allowed to go empty, and the doughnuts no longer tempted the master of the house. Once his wife caught him guiltily rummaging the pantry, but there was nothing visible but a few crusts of bread, so no harm was done. Anything that could be cooked and eaten at once Mrs. Hume approved of, so no one suffered at the table from hunger, and she saw to it that her- patient's tray was supplied with only small portions of food. 'I think I'll go to town this afternoon,' announced Mr. Saxton one beautiful day. ' A ride in the fresh air will do me good, and Ethel has some letters she wants mailed. I'll get Edward to put Nellie to the little buggy and get back before it is cool in the evening. 'l'm glad you said that, Howard,' said Aunt Susanna promptly. ' I've been wanting to do some errands this long time. I'll be ready in a few minutes.' Mr. Saxton groaned inwardly, but there was nothing to be done but submit to the guardianship of his aged relative. He had been fondly hoping to slip into" a restaurant on a back street and got a steak or something his appetite craved, but if she went with him no such proceeding would be tolerated. _ In silence he sat beside her all the way to town and in silence he returned, though she asked all manner of questions in regard to his health and the effect of the drive upon him. For two weeks Mr. Saxton endured the continental attentions and the restricted diet as best he could, but one day. when his wiie was ciarning stockings in the sittingroom and his aunt out in the garden getting sage leaves for fresh tea, he-asked abruntly, ( How much longer is Aunt Susanna going to stay hare?'

' I -really: don't know,' said Mrs. Saxton. ' She said when she came she would probably be with us six weeks or so. I hope she will stay as long as possible, for she takes care of you so nicely.' "' '' " ■ .You wouldn't think so if you had her pottering after you,' said Mr. Saxton bitterly. ' 1 can't say my life's,my own for her miserable rules and the, things she makes me eat. If she don't go home pretty soon I'll die.' Howard, I think you are very ungrateful. When 1 tried to clieer you up and get you' to take exercise, you complained that I wanted to see you suffer. And now that your aunt is looking after you night and day yo'i growl about her. She is alarmed about you, and—' ' She can save herself the worry,' said the man <f the house, throwing off the blankets and getting to his feet. ' Where are my shoes? I won't be cooped up here a minute longer when there's nothing the matter with me.' That last sentence slipped out unawares, but it was too late to recall it, so he hurried into his shoes and coat to make his escape. ' I'm going to mend that hole in the fence where the pigs get through.' The liquid diet and the long stay in the house made him weaker than he expected, but he rfsolutely stuck to his task. Mrs. Hume tearfully begged him to come in and lie down, but he said in no uncertain terms that he had been fussed over long enough. If you really want to do something for me, get me something decent to eat, for I'm starved,' he said grimly. 'No more dishwater for me!' Mrs. Hume declined to have anything to do with the solid food her nephew demanded, and sniffed audibly when Mrs. Saxton set out good bread and butter, some cold roast beef, and the remains of the dinner dessert, a baked apple with cream. She also made remarks about people trying to rush to their graves, but the hungry man paid no attention to anything but the delicious food to which he had been a stranger too long. When the little, repast was ended he possessed himself of the wheel hoe, and set out to cultivate the onions in the garden. Edward Saxton was speechless with astonishment that evening as he returned from the corn field and found that his father was not on the lounge. A look from his mother silenced him, and presently a very tired, pale man appeared from the garden. The high fence hid him from view and no one saw how many times he had to rest that afternoon the few hours he was in the garden, but his face had lost the old sad look, and his step, in spite of the hard work, had a spring to it long absent. 'How do you do, Mr. Saxton? How are you?' called a voice from the shady lane, as a light buggy drove into the yard. 'How about getting a night's lodging?' ' Not to-night, I think,' said" Mr. Saxton stiffly. 'My wife has been working very hard lately.' the smooth voice. ' I've been hurrying all around to get here, for I thought you might be out.' 'I am out and I intend to stay out, Mr. Golden. I don't blame you for taking me in. That's your business to hunt for easy people, but you can't do it again. I'm done with patent medicines and complaining. I'd rather die in the harness than lie about the house" wearing out my family talking about complaints I never had till I let you persuade me I had them.' 'Why, Mr. Saxton,' said the agent pleasantlv, 'I can see from your talk that your liver is out of order. Now our extract of—' 'lf it is out of order it will stay out of order. Good day! Supper is ready, and I'm hungry.' 'ls that the young man who sold you the stuff that helped you so much?' said Aunt Susanna from the door behind him. 'Why don't you ask him in? I'd like to meet him.' There , as something in her tone that reminded Mr. Saxton of the bygone days, and turning in a hurry he caught the flicker of a smile in her kind, keen eyes. 'Aunt Susanna, are you at your old tricks?' he cried springing iip. <I might have known you were joking all the time, for I have never forgotten how you bandaged my toot the day I wanted to go to the circus after running away from school on account of a little sore. You dear old fraud ! Well, I'm glad you came, anyway, for you've saved this whole family a lot of misery. The only thine that will induce me to forgive you is the promise of a cherry pie and a lot of doughnuts to-morrow.' 'mi ' BIeSS . i VOUr - hear t ! , I don,t want t 0 be forgiven, sonny I 1. II make ihe pie and doughnuts this very evening if you'll only promise never to disgrace your bringing up any more. I thought all my boys had been taught never to pity themselves, and it almost broke my heart to see my biJ brave boy a winning coward Forgive me, dear, but it was the truth. I know it will never happen again, so my heart is mended. And now let's help eat Emma's good supper and be friends for ever and ever.' supper, ' And to think I dreaded to have you come!' said Mrs Saxton wiping away the happy tears. Auntie, I can never thank you enough.' ' n 'NoUSeUSP'' ooirJ +liq r>lrl l n J„ .—•j.l- _ t, , i t v„„" j tl ~ . ulu *"" J ' wiui a nine iaujrh Xou don't owe me anything. I enjoyed doing it «<>„; 'StVd&r m - said her nei>w