Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1856-03-08

her husband overcame her objections So the
ladies called in, and Mrs c. was once more
on ncttles."
AT five O'Clock, they left, and shortly after
wards, Mrs. Crosby stole away to her cham
ber Tom had been watching her, and he stole
after her, and watched her movements through
the key-hOle. She first threw herself upon the
bed, and there she lay some time Next, she
arose and went to the fire place She removed
the gaudy screen, and then reached up and
took down the little leathern bag. She took
out the stone and placed it upon the hearth
Within the fire place stood q pair of small sill
yer andirons, and with one of these Mrs. c..
deliberately smashed the stone to atoms. With
peculiar chuckle Tom hastcned below, and
attended himself to preparing his wife's tea
The meal to be eaten was denominated dinner,
but when Mrs. Crosby came down, she distinct
ly said supper ?
She could eat but little, but she drank free
y OF the tea, and within half an hour after
wards, she felt so sleepy that she could not
keep her eyes opened, and she went to bed, de-
spite her husbands urgent arguments to the
contrary. Of course she was not long in fall
ing asleep and she slept soundly too.
"Tom Tom !" cried Mrs Crosby, when
she awoke "Tom Tom For mercy's sake
look. The sun was shining brightly in at the
little vine clad window, and the old cat was
purring costly upon the foot of the bed. The
enraptured woman turned her eyes to the little
crib that stood by the bedside, and there laid
her darling Efiie fast asleep.
" Goodness gracious !" said Tom, starting
up, somebody's stolen our stone Our magic
stone is gone y
" Ho, ho Twas that did it :" the wife
shouted, leaping from her bed, and dancing
about on the painted floor
With that she opened the door of the little
bedroom, where, in the cot he'd lay young Tom
and Willie, and in the truckle bed Lizzie was
sleeping
Tom was up by this time, and he professed
to be greatly alarmed
Alas Our wealth is gone :"
Then let it go !" retorted Hannah 1" For
my part, I've had enough of it. 0, Tom, doesn't
this place look grand ?"
But how long will it be before you will
be moaning after carriages and silks once
more ~
Never never :"
At this moment Effie walked up, and gave
cry of joy as she saw mamma"
Mrs Crosby, as soon Us she could collect her
senses, began to think she had only been dream
ing, but when she heard Tom and Willie talking
about the new school, and saw how the dust
had collected about the windows, she feared it
was, after all, reality. But by and by she
heard a bell ring, and when she found it was
really Sunday she knew that her past expe-
rence had been a substantial thing of real life,
for it was on Wednesday that she had first
seen the magic stone And then her headache
and other bodily pain yet remained to admon-
ish her Of the misery she had suffered
1t was over two years before Mrs Crosby
discovered the secret of that three days expe-
rience she had in high life," and even then
discovered it by accidentally overhearing a
conversation been her husband and Mr.. Newton.
Until then she had firmly believed that she
owed the experience to deed of magic. She
now realized the many blessings she enjoyed,
and no more gave way to discomfort.