The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1866-01-12


and SEQ what 1t was."
"Strange how children will ketch thing
sometimes, best ye can do to prevent F" sale
Mr.. Ducklow.
I" But did ye buy?"
:" You better jest take them matches and pu
'em out o. the why. fust thing, fore ye forgi
it. Matches are dangerous To have layinlnl
around, and never feel safe till they're safe.
And Mr.. Ducklow hung up his hat, and laic
his ovcrcoat across q chair in the next room
with carefulness and deliberation exhaustinl
to the patience of good Mrs. Ducklow, and ne
less trying to that of Master Taddy, who wal
waiting 10 hear the important question an
swered.
"Come =" said shc, after hastily disposnl
Of the matches, "what's the use OF keeping
me in suspense? Did yc buy?"
"Wlere did yc put 'em 2 \" asked Mr.. Duck
low, taking down the bootjack.
"In the little tin pail, where We alway'
keep 'em, Of course! Where should pu
emf"
You needn't be cross! asked, cause
didn't hear yc put the cover on. don't DO
lievc We did put the cover on, either; and
sha'n't be easy till ye do"
Mrs. Ducklow returned to the pantry; ant
her husband, pausing moment, leaning ovel
u chair, heard the cover go on the tin pail will
clink and clatter which betrayed, that, i
ever there was an angry and impatient cover
that was.
"Anybody been here to-day" Mr.. Duck
low inquired, pressing tho heel of his righ
boot in tho jack, and steadying tho toe under
round of the chair.
Nnip replird Mrs nucklow
"Ye been anywhere?"
"Yes!"
"Wherc?" mildly inquired Mr.. Ducklow
"No matter!" said Mrs. Ducklow, will
decided i'll temper.
Mr.. Ducklow drew deep sigh, as he turned
and looked upon her.
Wall, you be about the most uncomTtabl'
woman ever see! " ho said, with dark ant
dissatisfied countenancc.
"If you can't answer my question, dom
see why need take the trouble to answer
yours. land Mrs. Ducklow returned will
compressed lips to her patching. Yer supper
is ready; ys can eat 1t when ye please"
:" was answerin' your question rs fast as
could" said her husband, in tone OF cxces
sive mildness, full Of sorrow and discourage
ment.
81 have mt seen any signs Of your answer
ing it,"
And tho house wife's fingers stitched ava,
energetically at the patch.
Wall, wall! ye don / see anytbing!"
Mr.. DucklOw, having already removed one
boot, drew gently on the other. AS it came
of, something fell out on the floor. He picked
it up, and handed Ii with u triumphant smile
to Mrs. Ducklow.
"0l, indeed! is this the -
She was radiant. Her hands dropped their
work, and opened the package, which consisted
of a large. unscaled envelope and folded paper
within. These arc unfolded and examined
with beaming satisfaction.
But what made 70 carry 'cm in yer boot
so?'
To tell the truth said Mr.. Ducklow, in
n suppressed voice, | was afraid o. bcii,' rob
bed never was 30 afraid o. bein' robbed in
my life So, jest Us got clear out o. the
town, took it out o. my pocket, (meaning not
tho town. but the envelope containing tho pa
pcrs) an tucked it down ny bootleg. Then,
all the way home, was scaret when | was rid
in alone, an still more scaret when ] heard
anybody comm after me. You see. it's jest
like 81 much money
And he arranged the window.curtan in a
manner to prevent tho sharpest.eyed burglar
from pecping in and catching glimpse of the
papers.
lie neglected to secure tho stairway. door
however. There, in his hiding-placc behind IL
stood Taddy, shivering in his shirt, but peeping
and listening in fever of curiosity which moth
ing could chill. His position was such that be
could not see Mr.. Ducklow or the documents
and his mind was left free to rovcl in the most
daring fancies regarding the wonderful pur'
chase, He had not yet given up the idea of a
new drum, although the image, which vaguely
shaped itself in his mind, OF Mr.. Ducklow''
: tucking it down his boot-leg,' presented diff
cultes.
This is the bond. you sce.' Mr.. Ducklow
explained 'and all these little things that
fll out the shce, are the cowpons. You have
only to cut of one u these, take it to the bank
when il IL due, and draw the interest on it il
gold!'
But suppose you lose the bonds? querieC
Mrs Ducklow, regarding, not without awe
the destructible paper representatives OF sc
much property.
That's what Two been thinkin' of; that
what's made INC SO naryous. suppose 'twOult
be like so much railroad stock, good for nothin
to nobody but the owner, and sumthin' thu
could be replaced, If lost it. But the man t,
the bank said no.-'t was like no much cur
rcncy, and nust look out for it. That's wha
filled the bushes with robbers M | comc along
the road. And tell ye, t was II releai to fec
I'd cot sale home ut last; though ! don't SCI
how we're to keep the plaguy things ~ VI
sha mt feel uneasy ubuut 'eIu
Nor heather = exclaimed Mrs. Ducklow
turning pale. Suppose the house should take
fire or burglars should break in! | dom
Is Dear me! shalt be frightened to death
perty! shall be thinking of frcs and bur
glars !-O-h.h h!!'
Tho terrified woman uttered a wild scrcam
for Just then door flew suddenly open, ant
there burst into the room trghtful object
making headlong plunge at the precious pa
pers. Mr.. Ducklow sprang back against the
table set Tor his supper with force that made
everything jar. Then he sprang forward acnir
instinetively reaching to grasp and save iron
plumber the coupon bonds. But by tins tim'
both he and his wilc had become aware OF tn,
nature Of the intrusion.
Thaddcus!' CALCULATED the lady. How
came you here? Get up! Give an account u
yourself!
Taddy, whose abrupt appearance in the room
had been altogether involuntary, was quite in
nocent Of any predatory designs. LcannS Tor
ward farther and farther, in tho ardor OF dis
covcry, he had, when too late to save himself
experienced the phenomenon Of losing his bal
ancc, and pitched from the stairway into TIT
kitchen with violence that threw the doo'
back against the wall with bang, and lait
out, q sprawliug figure, in scantity, ghossiy
apparel, on the floor.
What do you want? What aro ye her
for p sternly demanded Mr.. Ducklow. snatch
ing him up by one arm. and shaking him.
'Don't know, faltered the iucklcss young