Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1857-03-28
339G8IBA33OD3
From The Olire Branch.
TIE MYSTERIOUS BOX.
BY CLARA AUGUSTA.

Mrs. Tabilha Prynose had the most full
ly developed bump" of curiosity in the
whole world. 1t is known fact among
understanding people, that if a mysterious
neighbOr had lived on the farther exreml-
ty OF the much talked of North WesI Pas
sage, Mrs. PrynOse would, long ago, have
monopolized DR.. Kane's well.deseryej
honor, and discovered the veritable pas
sage itself, provided the neighbor at the
other end patrOniZed news messages and
believed in green tea and short-cakes.--
We don't wish 10 be understood that this
was anything to the disadvantage OF Mrs
PrynoSe--fsr from it; we mention II mat
the reader may know that We deal only in
distinguished characters.
Once upon time "a pleasant June NOR
ming of course) Mrs. Prynose and her a.
miabe daughter, Sallie Prynose, were en-
gagged in the praisewoEhy employment OF
washing the family linen, (for Mrs. Pry-
nose was thoroughly American, and dld
not believe in foreign importatIons. ana
so. as all of that belief should, she did h'r
own work, and no thanks TO the "hrsl gem
of the sag !'') the horse-team, which pas
sed oy the Pryn)se place every day, on
its way to the city, drew up at the from,
door of the aforesaid place, and Prynose
hearing the noise. hastily left her labor and
ran TO The window, where, through hole
in the curtain (''kept there purpos for a
peep. hole" as she confidently informed
her dsughter) she saw strange and soul
absorbing spectacle The teamster
climbed to the top OF his load and brought
down small black box, eighteen inches
in length by one foot in height and breadth
and very carefully deposited 1t on the mont
door step. Then with an air OF one famil-
lar with such performances, John mount
ed his box and drove off again.
Mrs. Prynose could scarcely wait TIL
he was out of sight-she was diving,
sle said, "to examine that box y Saiie
took her red hands out of the suds, and al
ter wiping them on soft towel (Sailie
was afraid of freckles) she joined her
mother on the door step.
"Gracious me, what a strange looking
thing. Paddock as sure as I'm llvin
critter. Don't tech it, SailIe, Con T.
There's no good about it in my opinion
like as no. It's an etarnal machine-such
as we read about in the Olive btancf last
week. Blowed up man and his wife
and barn, YOU know. What if it should
happen TO be one Done Sally. Don't
tech it, say. Nobody knows but you d
be in the clouds the next mimi. Come
away from it, and be conlented TO look.
But Salie was endowed with no small
share Of the Prynose propensity, and moi
being allowed to feel Of the box, and nav.
ing used her sight as much as she deemed
profitable, she knelt down on the ground
at short distance from the box and snuff
fed with considerable emphasis.
Don't smell of nothin' that can see,"
she said, rising and facing Mrs. PIynose,
"and I've alters heard il said that gun
powder had strong smell to it--so its
plain enuff that it sin't gunpowder !"
"Ah, Sallie, child, tbere's no trusting 10
appearances-they'r deceitful things
Just as if a man that know'd enough TO
make an elarnal machine couldn't take the
smell out of the gunpowder. You amt
lived in the world long enough TO know
everything yet." And Mrs. Prynose, in
the full realization Of tie awful response
bility resting upon her as the Possessor oi
so much knowledge, heaved deep sigh.
"Mo,her." said Saiie. ronsing herself
from a fit Of abstraction. AMI her hands
from the pockets Of her capscious apron at
same time. ''I've just thought what's
in nit--i,'s present OF something or other