Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1860-05-19

did not want him to have the qualification
even Of knowing that he had touched him.
SELLING OLD THINGS.
Sell that old table? No; I'll not sell
it. It's only pine table, that's true; and
it cost but eighteen shillings % years ago
but your so bill is no temptation. And
III not swap it either, for, the prettiest
mahogany or cherry table that you can
bring me. If it has four plain turned legs,
instead of pillar in the middle, with L.
on's claws, and if the marble top is only
varnishcd paper, still will not swap it
1t has been to me very profitable invest
mcnt. From the day it came home it has
been increasing its own capital My chill
dren made a playhouse and drank tea in
their toy cups under it, for which l thank
the four legs and when they got tired of
that way, they turned it upside down, and
made IL four post bed with curtains or
pulled it round the carpet for Sleigh
Then they climbed on it for an obscrvato-
ry; and never counted the glorious romps
they had round it. And so along for %
years it has paid its dividends of happiness
to my family circle. These dividends nev.
cr could be separated from it; but they
have become added to it, until its value is
not to be told in money. 1t has had its
quiet use also; for nobody could tell it
from round table with its salmon-bord-
cred green cover.
Nothing lasts forever. The top of the
table was loosoncd by the hard use it got,
so | took a punch, drove in the eight penny
nails below the surface, added few screws,
puttied them over, and pasted marble pa
paper checkers over the top. Then it was
really pretty table. 1t has had hard
usage since, but bears all and the check
ers want renewing, which will make it
worth more yet.
My watch is 30 years old. 1t is one of
those thick silver levers, which some poor
wits call "lurnips." 1t has been several
times suggested TO me that [ might exchange
it for Il thin modern gold watch, that wears
easier in the pocket. When do, you may
set me down for barbarian. Not the best
gold and icwelod "huntcr " III existence
would tempt me to swap. That watch
marked the time when my children were
born, and the record is set down in the
Family Bible; it has licked in their ears
when they could only speak by laughing at
it, and kicking up their little heels. 1t
has marked the time when the doctors
medicines We're to be given, and counted
their little pulses when these were low at
midnight, and when the heart achcd. 1t
has made many records that are fast sealed
up to be opened only when another time
comes
Twenty-scycn years have passed since
my wife and | went out one evening aud
bought our tea kettle. The fitting of the
lid was Il little imperfect, so that the os-
cape Of steam shook it, and caused pccu-
liar noise, nearly enough resembling the
chipping Of some insects to suggest the
name by which it has now been known in
the family for very long timc-our "crick-
ct on the hearth" Like the table and the
watch, this kettle has been adding diyi-
dends to its capital ever since the first day
of its purchase, and tho nothing but iron,
it could not be bought for its weight in
silver. 1t has sung its song SO regularly
and cheerfully, that not only the kitchen,
but the whole house would be lonely with
out it, 1t has giveX us its fragrant bless
ing morning and evening, and has come
almost to be regarded as living and talk
ing creature,
1t is never Il good fortune that sells such
old friends out of family, and takes in
new ones that have no history and no
tongue, In all the changes that have so
far taken place, l have kept these silver
bowls unbroken, and surely no changes in
the future shall break them.