The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1863-03-18
Cousin neborah's Legacy.
From Chamber,s Journ.ll


lady, who had no other property than a
moderate life annuity. The furniture of
tho house was faded and antique the linen
was well darned the plato was scanty. and
worn thin with use and frequent securing:
the books were few, and in no very good
condition. She had no towels or trinfets;
her days were passed in u dreary state of
tranquility, stitching stitching forever, with
her beloved huge work-box at her elbow.
That wanted nothing, for it was abundantly
httcd up with worsted, cotton, tapes, buttons,
bodkin, needles, and such multiplicity of
reels and balls, that to enumerate them would
bo Il tedious task.
Cousin Deborah particularly prided herself
on darning carpets, house linen. stockings.
all bore unimpeachable testimony to tl!is
prahch oil industry. Holes and thin places
were hailed with delight by her; and il
was whispered-but that might be more
matter of scandal-that she even went 40
Tar as to cut holes in her best table cloth.
Tor the purpose of exercising her ingenuity
IN repairing the fractures. BE that as it may.
lhe work-ooS was as much q companion to
her as cats and dogs are to many other sim
gle ladies'. She was lost without it her
conversation always turned on the subject
OF threadpaper and needle-cases and never
was farming cotton more scientifically rolled
INTO neat balls, than by the taper fingers
OF cousin Deborah
The contents of that wonderful work-box
would have furnished u small shop Asa
child, always regarded it with q species
OF awe and veneration and without daring
10 lay finger on the treasures it contained
my prying eyes grecdily devoured its mys-
| teries, when the raised edge revealed its
mountains of cotton and forest of pins and
needles. And have no doubt that cousin
Deborah first regarded me with favor in
consequence of being asked by my mother
TO give Inc lesson in darning-a most
| necessary accomplishment in our family. as
| was the eldest OF many brothers and sis
ters and though very happy among our
! selves, the circumstances OF our dear parents
rendered the strctest industry and frugal.ty
absolutely Indispensable, in order to axe
both ends meet"
She was proud of me, on the wLole. as n
! pupil, though she sometimes had occasion
to reproVe Inc tor idlcness and skipp;ug
stitches; and between us, it il impossible
to say how many pairs of stockings we
made i'll tho course of the year We re-
sided near our cousin Deborah and many
time was invited TO take tea with her.
and bring my bag in hand, rs "A matter of
course, and sit with her long hours without
speaking, intent on our needles, the silence
unhrok ken, save by the ticking of tho eight
day clock.
| sometimes found it very dull work. |
confess. Not so with cousin Deborah She
needed no other society than that of her
work-boX, and do not believe that she
loved any human being so well Her
whole heart was i'll it and the attachment
she ovinccd towards me, as time went on.
was tostcred and encouraged by our mutual
zeal IN performing tasks i'll needlework.
Not that | shared in her devotion was
actuated bya sense OF duty alone, and would
lar rather, could have done SO conscien-
tIously, have been dancing and laughing
with companions of my own age But ply
the needle did, and so did cousin Deborah;
and we two became, with tho huge old
work-box between us, quite pair of loving
friends and at least two evenings in every
week | went to sit with the lone woman.
She would have had me do so every evening,
bus though there were 50 many OF lis ut
home, our parents could not bear to spare
any OF us out of their sight oftener than
they deemed Indispensable
Al last cousin Deborahs blameless life
came to an end. Having shut her work.
box, locked it and put the key in u sealed
packet, she turned her face to the wall and
fell asleep.
When her will was opened it was found
that she left her books. furniture and plate
to family that stood in the same relation.
ship to her that we did, but who were in
mucA more prosperous circumstances than
we. 10 me she devised the huge old work
box with all its contents, in token of the
hIgh esteem and affection with which |
was regarded by the deceased. | was to
inherit the well-stored work-box, only on
condition that it was to be daily used hy
me IN preference to all Others. Every
ball OF darning cotton, as it dminishes shall
bring Its blessings" said cousin Deborah;
" Tor Ada Benwell (that was my name) is
good girl, and has darned more holes in the
stockings OF her little brothers and sisters.
than any other girl of her age. Therefore,
particularly recommend her to use them
up as soon as she can, and she will meet
with her reward in due season."
Mother was little disappointed at the
conclusion of our kinswcmans will. and
expressed ner displeasure i'll a few sharp
remarks, for which my father gently re-
proved her. The subject of the legacies
was never again discussed by us. The
work-box was in constant requistion at
my side, and the balls of darning cotton
rapidly diminished One day, as was sit
ting by nay mother, busy with my needle,
she kindly remarked:
You have followed your poor cousins
N''NN'iOi'oi my uchI Aua. enc particularly
recommended you to use up the balls of
darninS cotton, and look, there is one lust
done. "
As my mother spoke, | unrOlled a long
need!etul, and came to the end of that bali.
A piece of paper fell to the ground which
had formed the nucleus upon which tho
yarn was wound. | stopped to pick up.
and was Just about throwing it into the
hire, when it caught my mothers eve, and
she stretched out her hand and seized it.
In moment she unfolded it before our as
tonshed gaze; it was a bank note for fifty
pounds.
80, dear, misjudged cousin Deborah !"
she exclaimed " this is our Adas reward
IN due season. It's just like her. kind, queer
old soul. "
We were not long in using up all the
other balls of darning cotton in that mar
yelous work-box; and such reward as
found for my industry sure was never met
with before or since. Truly, il was fairy
box, and my needle the fairy's wand.
Not lesS than ten fifty-pound notes were
thus brought to light, and my father laugh.
ngly declared had wrought my own dover
with my needle. No persuasion could in.
luce him to appropriate the treasure he
said It was my reward and belonged to
ne alone.
BEINGS asked Jomima, a few days since,
u she had seeu her vegetable friend"
Ny vegetable friend-who is that?"
WHY tina wanna, man I NOT 80, .,.:.I