The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1866-01-26
Histellaneons.
COUPON BONDS.
IcoSCLrpsD,l


been hollern' like fury
| 'It's nothin' but Atkins brush
That air. And Taddy appeared very much
| disappointed. Il thought there was son 10 oc
some fun. wonder who Was such fool As 10
yell iro Jest for darned old brush.heap!
pueklow did not inform him.
| 'ryc got to drive over to town and GIT Renbens
trunk. You stand by the mare while step In
and brush my hat =,
Instead of applying himself ut once to the res
toratiou Of his beaver, he hastened to the sitting
room, to see that the bonds were sale.
| 'Heavcns and 'arth' said Duckiow.
| The chair which had been carefully planted ON
| the spot where they were concealed, had been re
novel. Three or four tacks had been taken out
aud the carpe, pushed from the wall: There was
straw scattered about. Evidently Taddy had been
| interrupted, in the midst Of his rsnsack'ng, oy
the alarm IL FIRE Indeed, he was even nov creep
ing into the house to see what notice Duck.ow
would take of these evidences Of his mischief =.
In great trcpiJation the farmer thrust in his
hand here and there, and CROPPED, until he i9und
the envelope precisely where 1t had been placed
| the night before with the tape tied around IT,,
which his wife had put ON to prevent its contents
| from slipping out and losing themselves preM
was the 10y of Ducklow. Great also was the
wrath Of him, when he turned and discovered
Taddy. ,,,,
'She won't STIR said Taddy, shrinking away
.Come herc!' And Ducklow grasped him by
the collar. What have you been dom! LOOK
at that!'
'Twa'n't mel beginning to whimper. and
ram his fists into his eyes.
'Dont tell me t want you!' Ducklow shook
him till his teeth chattcred. what was you pull.
in up the carpet for
Lost marblc!' snivclled Tatdy. =,
Lost a marble! Ye didn't lose II under the
Garnet, did YEP Look Mt all that straw pulled
l., l,n,
'Diln't know but it might n got under the
carpet. marbles roll So. explained raddy. as soon
as he could get his breath.
wall, Sirl' Ducklow administered n rcsound-
inc box ON his ear. Don't you do such thing
again, If you lose million marblcs!' "
.Ih'n't got million!' Tadly wept, rubbing
his check. liant got but four! Won't you
buy the some todayi'
:Go TO that mare, and don't you leayehcr again
till I come. or I'll marble yc in a way you wont
like!'
Understanding, by this somewhat cquvocal
form of expression, that hagellatUn was threat:
encd Taddy obeyei, still feeling his smarting anu
burning ear.
pucklow was in trouble. What should he do
with the bonds! The floor was no place Tor !hem
after what had happened; and he remembered too
well the experience OF yesterday To think Tor one
| moment ofcarrying them about his person with
unreasonable impatence, his mind re'erted 10
Mrs Ducklow.
.why amt she to homer These women are
forever a-gaddin' wish Reubcn's trunk was III
| .Iericho!'
Thinking of the trunk reminded him of one in
| the csrrct, filled with old papers Of all sorts.-
newspapers letters bills OF sale. children's writ.
ing books accumulatons OF the past quarter OF
n century. Neither fire nor burglar nor ransack.
ing yOungster had ever molested those ancient
records during all those hye-anu-twenty years. ~
bright thought struck him.
'I'n slip the bonds down into that wuthless
heap ~ rubbish, where no ono 'u'd ever think
loukin' for 'em, and resk EN-
Having assured himself that Taddy was stand
ing by the wagon, he paid hasty VISIT 10 the
trunk in the carrct, aud concealed the envelope,
still bound in Its band OF tape. among the papers
| IIe then drove away, giving Taddy final charge
| to beware Of setting anything tre.
| lie had driven about half mile when he met
peddler. There was nothing unusual oraiarm,ng
in such a circumstance, surely; but as Ducklow
kept on. il troubled him.
Hell stop to the house now, most likely, ana
want to trade. Findin' nobody but Taddy,
there's no KNOWN what he'll oc tempted TO DO
But amt q goin' to worry. III DEFY anybody
to find them bonds Besides, she may be home
by this time guess shell hear OF the fire alarm
AMI hurry home it'll be Jest like her. She'll be
there and trade with the peddlcr thought MIR.
pucklow, uueasly. Then u frghtful fancy pos
sessed HIM. She has threatened two or three
times to sell that old trunkiul OF papers Hell
n
him have 'em. Why didat think ont! What
a stupid blunderbuss be!
As Ducklow thought of it, he felt almost certain
that Mrs Ducklow had returned home, and that
Sue was bargaining with the peddler at that mo.
nent. lie fancied her smilingly receiving bright
tin-ware for the old papers and he could see the
| tape tied envelope going into the bag with the
rest The result was, that he turned about aud
whipped the old mare homo again in terrific haste
to catch the departing peddler.
Arriving, he found the house as he had LETT 1t,
and Taddy occupied in making kite frame.
Did that peddler stop here!
Il ha'n't seen no peddler.'
And ha'nt yer Ma Ducklow been home, nei-
| ther?'
NO.
And with a guilty look Taddy put the kite
frame behind him.
DuckIow considered The pedllcr hal turned
up u oross. street; he would probably turn down
again and stop ut the house, after all; Mrs Duck
low might by that time be Mt home; then the sale
Of old papers would be very likely To take place,
Ducklow thought Of leaving word that he did not
wish any old papers In the house to DC soid, ou'
fearei lest the request might excite Tadlys sus
Il don't see no way but for INC to take the
bonds with me- thought he, with an inward
groan.
envelope out Of the trunk, AMI placed 1t IN the
breast t-pockct of his oyercoat, to which he pinned
il, to prevent it by any chance from getting out
lie uscl six large, strong pins Tor the purpose
| aud was afterwards sorry he did not use seven
There's suuihin' losin' out OF ser pocket!
bawled Taddy, as he was once more mounting the
wagon.
Quick rs lightning. Ducklow clsppcd his hand
| 10 his breast. pocket. In doing 50, he loosed
his hold of the wagon box and tell, rakins his
shin badly on the wheel. =,
Yer side pocket! lis one o yer mittens!
said Taddy.
You rascal! how you scared me-
Seating himself in the Wagon, DIcklow gently
pulled up his trousers-leG to look at the bruis
ed part H.,
Got anything in yer bootleg to day. Ia Duck
low - asked Taddy, innoccnly.
Yes, a barked shin.-all on your account, too!
Go aud put that straw back, and fix the carpet,
and don't ye let me hear ye speak OF my boot les
again. OF III boot leg ye!'
So saying, pucklow departed.
the sitting. room Taddy devoted his time and tai.
ents to the more interesting occupation OF con-
structng his kite.frams. He worked ut that, un
ill Mr. Grantley. the minister. driving by stop
ped to inquire how the folks were -
Amt TO home: may l rider cried Taddy, oil
In breath.
Mr.. C;rantley was an indulsent old gentleman,
fond of children; SO he said, Jump in; and in
a minute Taddy had scrambled to seat by his
side. ,,n
low had forcsesn. The alarm Ct FIRE had reached
Reubeus; and although the report OF Its talseness
followed Immediately, Mrs. Ducklows innamma
bic fancy was 50 kindlei by II that she could hnd
NO comfort in prolonging her visit
'Mr. Ducklcw III be GaiaD(pr the trunk, and
musi go home and see toa 6rs, Taddys such q
fellow for mischief! | can foot Il; sha'n't mnd
| it,
And of she started. walking herself out Of breath
in her anxiety.
She reached the brow Of the hill just In time to
see chaise drive away from her own door.
Who can that be! | wonder III Taddy's there