Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1857-03-28


do him much good, reckon. Gracious !
| hope this amt baby, COR TO tell the
truth | can't bear baby--keeps folks 10
home so But law ! guess | needn't
worry, there's no present lhere--that box
is either full of gunpowder, or else there's
snakes in it! Ugh it makes me crawl
! Ill over to think of il -! I'll bet anything
that lis some of old Pelnngil Booby's
work. hates me because said the wild
der Sanbnrn gave him 'the mitten, 'twas
nolhin' out The truth, and he knowed it !;
ihat's what made it cut so close !! and
he's been and sent me this box of snakes
out of spite. He thought I'd be fool E.
nough to open it, Ell? guess he'll find
he's mistaken afore he gets through. |
won't open it-not but do wish |
knoWed what aUaS in it,
i mean to find out how heavy lis, any
how said Miss Salle, decisively, 'the
leamsle, ,eched it, and | mean to. Iii
get fathers long 'pinchers' and hist it up,
see If | don't and agreeable to her ceter-
minaton, S4Ilie proceeded 10 test the spe-
ci6c gravity of the mysterious object before
her.
LA faint very heavy-there can't be
much in lt--but snakes is light critters, all
tail so, faint as if they had great orkard
body, you know. shouldn't wonder if
there was snakes in it, not might
I've an orful great mind 10 burst i,
open and see what's in it, said Mrs. Pry
nose, walking cautiously round and round
the object of her curiosity. but on the
who'e, dassent. But it amt a gwine to
sci here, that's sartin. Like as not its
got the smallpox shut up in it. I'll war
rant it has, for dreamed last night Of
white hosses and black trimmin's, and
that's a sure sign of sickness. Seems TO
me, now think OF it, that heard the
smallpox was over to the city but law !!
Pm so flustered that can't remember
whether it was this year or last that
heard it. Somebody's been and sent it TO
us now, and if don't make 'em smart for
il lhen my name amt Tabitha Prynose.
I'll give 'em home in stone Jug for
spell. I'll have 'em fined and quartered
for it. Good-for-no,hin' degraded seu of
old scape-graces. | wish had hold Of
'em, and that teamsier, too you need noI
squIzzle up your nose, Sallie, It's no use,
Jim Larpout shall suffer for this, if he as
your sweetheart If had hold of him,
I'D make him see daylight out Of t'other
side, | would. Salie, I'm gwine to
berry this box in the earth {; they say that's
all the way you can git the Infection out
of anything, and you jest go and dig hole
down in the lower tater patch for 1t, and
| I'll bring il down with the pinchers. We
won't say word about il TO anybody, for
fit gifts out that we've had The smallpox
sent to US in box, we can'tgo visI'in'
down 10 Mrs. Lovejoy's tomorrow after
noon, and want to 90 orful bad. because
! shall be likely to hear if Jane Warney Is
guin' off TO work in the Falls Facrry.
Salie Prynose was an obedlent girl, so
she did as her mother commanded, and III
less time than one would be likely TO sup
pose, the box was consigned 10 the keep
lug Of the 'ia,er patch, and he impromp-
tie sections returned to finish their wash
ing, talk over the occurrence, and smoke
the house thoroughly (he d Dor stone in
particular, with such lumigators as old
rags, cobs, worn shoes, and broken
'whalebones.'
Just as the family were sitting down TO
their noon-day meal. Mr.. Benjamin
Cushings, Mrs. Prynose's brother, made
his appearance and after the af'ectionate
salulary greetings were over, and Mr.
Gushing was comfortably seated by the
table with big pitcher Of cider before
him. he said:
sWtll, Tabilha, | 'spose you misrusted
was a coming, when you seed Id sem!
my baggage on afore me ?
Baggage on afore ye! What do you
mean, Ben? hAin't seen no baggage
MY box didn't LarpouI leave II this
morning p asked Uncle Ben, looking saw
age, and slipping ferociously at The cider
.Lor why that was Ben's box--lhe
elarnal machine = said Mrs. p.
The present of baby ! said Miss
Ssllie, giggling.
The box of snakes = put in Mrs. Pry-
nose.
.rhe smallpox, and it's buried ? ex-
claimed Sallie, determined to tell The prln'
cipal part of the news herself
.Etarnal machines, babies, snakes our
ied--what do you mean Do talk reas-
enable = said Uncle Ben, getting netlieo'
After great deal of circumlocution, the
matter was satisfactorily explained. Sal
lie exhumed the box, and Uncle Ben ap.
piled key and opened it. Wonders OF
Pompei and Herculaneum hide your d.
minished heads. THE bor contained
quart bottle filled mith brandy!
Il wanted 10 bring il TO you,' said Un-