The Union. [volume] (Georgetown, Del.) 1863-1866, 1863-09-11
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, twenty-five years ago;
but your ten dollar bill is no temptation.
And I'll not swap it, either, for the prettiest
mahogany or cherry table that you can bring
me. If it has plain turned legs, instead Of a
pillar in the mi9dle, with lions claws, and if
the marble top es cog 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 in
creasing its old capital. My children made
playhouse and drank tea in their toy cups
under it, for which l thank the four legs;
and when they got tired Of it that way, they
turned it upside down, and made four-post
bedstead with curtains, or pulled it round the
carpet for Sleigh Then they climbed on it
for an observatory; and l never counted the
glorious romps they had round it. And also
all along for twenty-five years it has paid its
dividends of happiness to my family circle.
These dividends could never be separated
from it, until its value is not told in money.
It had its quiet use, also; for nobody could
tell it from round table of agate and corne-
liam, with its salmon bordered green cover
Nothing lasts forever. The top of the table
was loosened by the hard usage it got, so l
took a punch, drove in the eight-penny nails
below the surface, added few screws put
tied them over, and pasted marble-paper
checkers over the top. Then it was really
handsome table. 1t has had hard usage since,
but bears it all; and the checkers want re-
newing, which will make it worth more yet.
My watch is thirty years old. 1t is one of
those thick silver levers which some poor wits
call turnips." 1t has been several times
suggested to me that l might exchange it for
thin modern gold watch, which wears easier
in the pocket. When l do, you may set me
down for barbarian. No-the best gold
and jeweled 90 hunter" in existence would not
tempt me to swap, That watch marked the
time when our children were born, and the
time is set down in our family Bible; it has
licked on their ears when they could only
speak by laughing at it, and kicking up theil
heels. 1t has marked the hours when the
doctors medicines were to be given, and
counted their pulses when they beat low at
midnight, and when the hearts ached. II
has made many records that are fast sealed
up, to be opened when another time comes.
Twenty-seven years have passed sincy my
wife and l went out one evening and bought
a tea-kettle. The fitting of the lid was q
little imperfect, SO that the escape of steam
shook it, and caused a peculiar noise, nearly
enough resembling the chirping of some in
sect to suggest the name by which it has now
been known in the family for a long time
our cricket on the hearth" Like the tabl,
and the watch, the kettle has been adding
dividends to its capital every day since it
first purchase, and, though nothing but iron
it could not be bought for its weight in silver
1t has sung so long, and regularly, and cheer
fully, that not only the kitchen, but tn,
whole house would be lonely without it.
has given us its fragrant blessings morning
and evening, and come almost to be regarded
{ as living and talking creature.
; 1t is never good fortune that sells sucl
old friends of the family, that have no his
, tory and no tongue. In all changes tina
have so far taken place, have kept thos
| silver bowls unbroken, and surely no chang
. in the future shall break them.