The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1863-08-27
Selling old Thimgs.

| Sell that old table? No; I'll not Sc IL 1t
It's only pine table, that's true, and it cost
| but eighteen shillings, twenty-five years ago
but vollrten dollar bill is no temptation. AND
I'll not swap it, either, for the prettlest mahog-
any or cherry table that you can bring me-
1t has plain turned legs, instead OF pillar
in the middle, with lions claws, and If the
marble top is only vanished paper, will not
sell or swap it. 1t has been to me very
profitable investment. From the day it came
home it has been earning dividends and III
creasing its old capital. My children made
a playhouse and drank tea in their toy cups
under it, for which / thank the four legs; and
when they got tired of that way, they turned
it upside down, and made four-post bedstead
with curtains, or pulled it round the carpet for
a sleigh. Then they climbed on it for an OBJ
servatory; and | never counted the glorious
romps they had round it. And also all along
for twenty five years it has paidfts dividends
of happiness to my family circle. These div
idends could never be separated from it until
its value is not told i'll money, 1t had its qui-
ct use, ALSO for nobody could tell it from a
round table Of agate and comedian, with its
salmon bordered green cover.
Nothing lasts forever. The top of rhe ia
bic was loosened by the hard use it got, so |
took punch, drove in the eight-penny nails
below the surface added a few screws, put
tied them over and pasted marble-paper check
ers over the top. Then it was a really hand
some table. 1t has had hard usage since, but
bears it all s; and the checkers want renewing,
which will make it worth more yet.
My watch is thirty years old. 1t is one Of
tn ese thick silver levers which some poor
wits call ''turnips" 1t has been several times
suggested to me that might exchange it for
thin modern gold watch, which wears east
er in the pocket. When do, you may set
me down for barbarian. No-the best gold
and jeweIed ''hunter in existence would not
tenn pit me to swap. That watch marked the
time when our children were born, and the
record is set down in the family bible. Ithas
licked on their ears when they could only
speak by laughing at it, and kicking up their
heels. 1t has marked the hours when the
doctors medicines were to be given, and count
ed their pulses when they beat low at mid
night, and when the hearts ached 1t has
made many records that are fast sealed up, to
be opened when another time comes.
Twenty-seven years have passed since my
wife and | went out one evening and bought
a tea-kettle. The fitting Of the lead was
shook it, and caused a peculiar noise, nearly
enough resembling the chipping of some in
sect to suggest the name by which it has now
been known in the family for long time
our cricket on the hearth" Like the table
and the watch, the kettle has been adding
dividends to its capital every day since its
first purchase, and, though nothing but ron,
it could not be bought for its weight in silver.
Il IL, 4
cheertuIly, that not only the kitchen, but the
whole house would be lonely without it. I'll
has given us its fragrant blessing morning
and evening, and come almost to be regard
cd as a living and talking creature.
1t is never u good fortune that sells such old
friends of the family, and takes in new ones
that have no history and no tongue In all
changes that have SO far:taken- place, / have
kept these silver bowls unbroken, and surely
no change in the future shall break them.
GCentury.