The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1864-11-19
THE
OLD ARM CHAIR.

oscssn am chair, which stood Gloss 81 my elbow,
and confess, rsther startled me by the sudden.
ness OF It's sddress-"My good friends the respect.
able weapon that spoke last, own. has amused
me- a. dare say he has you ALL by his deeds OF
osss'e' love and rotribution; but still he as been
doomed like many another noisy fellow, TO become
the TOOL OF others, and 70 carry death wherever ho
used.
wow my fate has been far different and I con-
sioer more TO Be enued, for u has been 10 carry
nothing but lifc-and such lie the bcsuufu, the
young, the beloved. But of that more anon.
will begin from the beginning, that you may know
what style Of thing addresses you.
Know, then, that I am q descendant Of =. noble
oak that once spread its gigantic arms and reared
It's kinsy head over An immense space Of earth,
end far above all other less arstocrNtc trees In It's
neghhorhocd. We bore on our arms The acorn, 10
show that we were truly par, parcel. and branch.
% OF the grea, stem progcnitor, whose firs. TAX
ing Possession Of the land which he there occupied,
wss beyond the memory Of man consequently our
r,spcctsbilty WAS undoubted.
As centuries 70 led on, parent stem, althou IN
he supplied us ibcrslly with leaves, began to show
symptoms ~ decay Our strong attachment 10
hin, made us Gsnble for ourselves o. we'll a. for
hin Tor, II he were W fall, heaven only know
what would become Of tie numerous branches Of
the noble family. then all perfectly dependent on
him for support. Tho vigor daily lcn his gigantic
trunk, and bis means sometimes werc veiy I'M
pleasant 70 listen to no tottrred very much when
there was anything Of . storm, for his feet were
very much swollen and distorted. From Is high
connexions we called IL govt, but govt or no govt
u materially aided in his rapid decay and ono
stormy night n shall never forget IT, tho wind
howlcd around ua the lightning flashed, the
thunder rolled, and, IN fact, all thS elements
seemed combined for the destruction of the family
In the midst Of the deafening hubbub crash--oh,
horrible found us oil struggling In one gigantic
ruin Fallen! fallen fallen The fall Of the
great brings tie self same tribe Of the ungrateful,
lie the ALLEN men or trees. Tho next morning ut
daylight swarms Of dcspoilera men that we had
sheltered from the storm, women and children
that We had shaded from the nooday sun, oil came
bent upon our destruction. Need say, that oil
the branches OF our noble family were very much
cut up. We were torn from each other, and we
never met again. Ihave hoard TINT some Of the
biggest Of us were sent to sea, whilst others were
forced into all manner of situations degrading and
Incompatible with their birth.
But II Is Of my own fortune arm bound 10 speak
was Of very respectable size, having been l!v.
ing on my parsnt for some ye,rs, who was worry
much attached to me, and had always thought me
too green to b sent away into the world. I con-
sidered myself ornamental, and, therefore was in
no hurry to be useful, % stuck 70 the old gentle.
man. with the other equally lazy brsnches aud
have heard II said that our continual drag upon
him brought him and ourselves to premature ruin
But this look upon as merely the censoriousness
Of an il-judging world, and treat 1t with the con-
tempt II deserves
Twas dragged away through The dust and the
mirc to an obscure shed where some low-boru ruff.
fans set upon me and stripped me Of my clothing.
There lay, naked and helpless, ponderng upon
what would be my future fate, since Il appeared 10
begin SO scurvily.
was left there for some length Of time, when one
morning quiet old man came and measured me
with rule, and marking me OF into quantities,
soon set 70 work 70 divide and shave me In the
most brutal manner
After fortunes innumerable found myself Ia my
present shape and all my clothes In their newest
gloss. confess n you that feit proud. rested
my arms upon my kneca snd stretching out my
four legs looked down with considerable COM
plscency upon the rich velvet apron tina, covered
my lap.
I was conveyed with much care, and placed In
splendid old chamber, the like Of which never
bchcd before. II WAS full OF wonders to my rustic
and unworldly eyes for, though OF high birth, my
father being called the monarch Of tho wood, he
hold Is court In the open air. which gave me little
knowledge Of civilized lfe. But believe that that
rank is equal " any. think we are also called
We struck out right and left TO grasp as much rs
could, and used up great portion Of the aiorc-
said soil belonging 10 other trees, which really
necessary 10 support the many branches belonging
10 so noble Q stem.
Iu my new form was called q chair there were
. great many so-called IN the room they looked
very dark at me, for suppose was considered n
pdrpsnu but little needed them, for my atten-
ton was attracted TO beautiful child, who, ct that
fair locks aew wildly about her angelic face, and
with light and airy motion she sprsng towards
me She stood and gaxed upon me with childish
delight admirng my graceful form 4; I really felt
ss n my velvet bhished deeper crimson beneath
her dove-like eyes.
bad noble heart Of oak, ani felt Il bound ~
II were TO the fair child; q moment moro-guess
my confusion-envy me my delight she sp-sng
Into my extended arms md held In close EN-
brace the beautiful child, whose life will form the
subject OF my recital; aud although the facts may
be wanting In Interest to you, " me they are hall
lowed by sweet remembrance OF one OF earth's
fairost creatures. Heaven knows am not given to
sentmentalize, do intend to barrow your feel
ings by scenes Of boodshed or hairbresd escapes;
II Is In verify simplicity, the very sweesness Of
which makes 10 me Its best sentiment
I Ua - -Il .l.z,.A A.