The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1860-06-07


ming away the flies, not daring to ask
Nathan another question, but suddenly
she heard him say softly, Fanny"
"Fanny," said Uncle Joshua quickly,
without opening his eyes. ''some one
is calling you; run dear, it may be your
aunt; and Fanny, kiss me; good night
child, it is your bed time and you must
90 at once. You need not come back. !"
Fanny felt as though her heart would
break, but she did not reveal the truth
of the matter to Uncle Joshua, so
trusting that Nathan's excellent con-
stitution would survive his close i'm
prisonment she went away.
In few minutes Nathan heard Un-
Gle Joshua snoring again, and he made
up his mind there was no use trying to
endure this any longer. His clothes
were saturated with perspiration, his
brain was throbbing, and steam bath
was nothing to this horrid incarcera-
ton. He was getting nervous, too,
the dimensions of his bog were so like
a coffin |! He shuddered, and the pers
piration poured out faster than ever
Suddenly drawing up his knees and
pushing with the palms of his hands
he tried to lift the lid of the box. Ht
succeeded in raising it about an inch.
Hallo," cried Uncle Joshua, "hallo
within there, what's to pay? Is any
body in tight box?"
Nathan suppressed groan.
Halo, I say, are there any spirit,
in this lounge as would like to com
municate with me? If so, let them rap.
Nathan gave three very emphatic
raps. The hope suddenly entered hi
heart that he could frighten his tor
mentor off,
care you relation? ?" Three NOR
distinct raps.
,, care you dead relation ?"
"Almost," groaned Nathan in hi
sepulchral tones.
Uncle Joshua shuckled, 81 think
g know your voice, spirit" he said, "i
sounds to me wonderfully like m
6 nephew Nathan's, who used to be hang
ing round here after my Fanny hahn
!, seen him in some time-he's an homes
. fellow and kept promise be made m
to come here no more-he's an honor
able chap and sticks to what he says
. Well, spirit of Nathan, what do yo
E want?"
"Oh, Uncle Joshuar' groaned N;
than, in utter despair, ''don't fool wit
. me; let me out and forgive me-"
"But 1 owe you grudge for tryin
, to tilt me off the lounge a minute agt
Before let you out, tell me how yo
got in ?''
" l came to see Fanny and hid frol
you," said the voice of poor Nathan
n rendered sepulchral in spite of him.
d "And you and Fanny have agree
e to give each other up, 'spose."
A "No sir, We have agreed never I
# give each other up-we intend to 10,
4 on till we die"
"Indeed! Well, what if / give yo
T. Fanny, will you live here with m
o promise to give mp chewing tobacc
# work the farm and 60 to meeting ever
% Sunday?"
8 "With all my heart"
e "Upon your honor"
g eyes! Oh, for heavens sake L
me out.'' Fs @
IS every well. Shade of Nathan, con
u forth 7"
/ Uncle Joshua lifted up the loune
IF and poor Nathan crawled out, lookir
more like parboi.ed beet than spru,
}: young farmer beau.
s Uncle Joshua put his hands on h
e. sides and surveyed him. "You've hs
n warm season, l reckon" said h
e. "but there's one consolation, it sweatt
,e the tan off, / guess, and you'll look :
10 the better for it in the end"
d Fanny and Nathan were married
q and often now, when Uncle Joshua
n. a winters evening sits surrounded
m his merry grandchildren, every one
:. whom refutes the old saying that cou
in's children are always fools, he regal
70 them with the history of the nap
once took on the old box lounge.