Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1856-07-17
B. R. COWEN EDITOR & PROPRIETOR.l

were left, size being ';literary;" to Miss
Arabella, the gimcracks, chimney tournaments
and paper-screens, and SO on, she being a
clover OF art;" to Master Pas,ymount, the
only son of this rich aspiring family. Dame
Nodiekins left the few ounces of silver de-
nomi mated her plate-Masier John being
";hrifty;" TO Mrs. Passymount was beuueatl-
ed the household linen, and to Mr. Pdssy-
mount the household furniture, because "they
had exhibited so fine taste in adorning
their own fine mansion;" to Ada Benwell--
that was myself-the huge old work-box,
along with III its contents, was left, "in
tokeh of the high esteem and affection with
which she was regarded" by the deceased.
was to inherit the well-stored work-box,
only on con dtion that it was to be daily used
by me in preference 70 all others; "every
ball Of darning- cotton, as it diminishes shall
bring its blessing" said Dame Nodlekins;
'.for Ada Benwell is a good girl, and has
darned more holes in the stockings of her
little brothers and sisters than any other
glrl of her age. Therefore | particularly v
commend the balls of darning-cotton to her
notice; and particularly recommend her to
u,e them up as soon as she can, and she
will meet with her reward in due season."
my poor Ada" sobbed my mother, rath
er pettishly, "t is rather hard, must con-
fess, on'y to have few balls of darning-
cotton, and needles, and tapes; when the
Passymounts. VINO want nothing; and will.
;urn up their noses at such trumpery as
Dame Nodlekins could leave them, have ALL
But, my DEAR" interposed my father
smiling, "if it is such trumpery, why covst
it for our Adal"
at may bring one or two hundred pounds,
Joseph" replied my mother meekly; 'for
there's furniture, and plate, and linen, and
books, you know. And, of course, we should
have sold everything of, which, no doubt,
the Passymounts will DO; ari only think Of
the dame leaving Ada nothing but her work
box"
rBut, mamma" ventured to remark,
"we must not forget that poor Miss Deborah
placed more value on this work-box that on
any thing else she possessed in the world.
And it is great proof of her affection for
me---and, besides, how very useful it will be;
shall love it, am sure, quite as much as
she did, And here is tie key, all sealed up
and directed to me-"
"Well, we'll, my dear child, we must be
content, of course. am sure do not wish
to be grasping or covetous, or to foster such
unworthy feelings in any of our dear chill
dren," replied my mother, with an air ofre-
| 7 tLo f,,I tb .h
old lady found comfort in your companion
ship, Ada, my dear, which she evidently did;
and also that she does you justice, mysdear
child, by naming you so handsomely. But,
dear me! how the Passymounts must laugh
at their legacies! Only fancy Miss Passy-
mount, with her brilliant harp and grand
piano, turning to Dame Nodlekns' spinet,
by way of change, being 'mysical;' or Miss
Laura quitting her sllken-bound volumes,
lettered in gold, for the torn, dusty, dirty
books on the two shelves in the danes
dining-room; and then that riddled old linen
for Ms Passymount-why, they haven't
darned duster in the house, | war; ant"
"Never mind, my dear-never mind,'' said
my father; let them lauga-it's better
than crying. Dame Nodlekins meant to be
just-she was an honest, just-meaning wo-
man; the Passymounts and ourselves are
the only relatives she had, and she wished
to leave us all alike, if possible, quite ire
ievant of our circumstances. and, as Ada
remarks, the work box being left to her,
proves the old lady loved her the best"
Then she might have shown it," mur-
INJURED my mother, "by giving the silver, IN
stead OF darning-cotton."
But mild reproving look from my father
made the speaker blush, as she quickly came
i-1o his side, kissed him, and lett the room
From that day we never discussed the sub
ject again of Dame Nodlekins' testamentary
arrangements; the work box was in con.
) slant requstion at my side, and the balls OF
darning-cotton rapidly diminished. The
!, Passymounts made much un,amongst them
selves and their neighbors, about the grand
: legacies which had fallen to share. Moth
7 ing was removed from Dame Nodlekins
: house, but well-attended sale cleared the
premises speedy. Mrs. passymount laugh
} ingly declared the proceeds had actually
bought an India shawl for one oil the girls
| and gold bracelet for another; and Master
: Passymount handed about small gold snuff
: box--"hs share," he was wont to boast
7 "of the old girls rubbish" saw the brok.
e ers carrying away the tables and chairs
which knew SO well, and which for so very
d many years had rested securely III Dame
: Nodlekins' peaceful house. could no
: help sghing sadly as one relic after another
t was rudely flung into the Istreet; anc re
: ioiced that the dear old ..work-box at leas
e was safe in my keeping. Painters and pa
g pers were.soon busy in the dingy house;
y new family became the tenants; and moth
= ing was left to remind US of Dame Nodle
:; kins, save the huge work box. That, show
e ever, never was idle; and, as l have said
If the balls of darning cotton grew gradual,
l. smaller and smaller, until at length one da,
as / was sitting beside my mother, bus.
: with our needles, she remarked, "You hav
5 followed poor Dame Nodiekins' injunctions
h nv Ada. She particularly recommends
Is YOU to use up the balls of darning-cotton a
e SOON as possible; and look, there is one JUS
y done."
Il AS nv mother spoke, ] unrolled Ion
y needleful, and came to the end of that bal
5. A piece of paper fell to the ground, whic
I'd had been the nucleus on which the ball wa
of formed. stooped to pick it up, and wa
e, Just about throwing it into the fire, when
er caught my mothers eye, and she stretche
Il out her hand and seized it. In a momen
n she unfolded it before our astonished gazs
to i: was bank note of fifty pounds!
so, dear, misiudged Dame Nodlekins
er she exclaimed; "this is our Ada's reward
e. due season. It's just like her-kind, quet
In old soul!"
's- We were moi long of using up all Il
er other balls of darning-cotton in that ma
y vellous work-box; and such reward as
us found for my industry sure was never M
a. with before or since. Truly, it was iail
lat box, and my needle the fairy's wand.
nd No less that ten fifteen: pound notes we
nj ,h,, brouoht to iiyht. and nv father lauu