The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1866-07-27
Misfellaueuns.
lFrom Once . wsek.l
4 SUNDAY A CENTURY AGO.

An old brown leather covered book, III,
leaves yellow, the writing scarcely legible
from time and decay: evidently an old
neglected Ms. To the fire or to my private
shclff Which?
These wero my reflections as lookct
over the papers Of my late uncle, the recto
Of u Somersetshire village.
liked the look Of tho book and decided
for the shelf; and had my reward, for
found in the grabbed characters simple
story. evidently written towards the close
Of the writer's life. This story now
trnnscribc into more modern style.
"Ho'll be fit for nothing AN awkard
BOBBY who holds his awl and cuts his food
with his left hand"
So said my father; and so, alas I felt
Twas awkward. ! was fifteen; thick.set
strong. but terribly clumsy. could no,
make collar, nor sew a pair Of blinkers
nor stuff saddle, nor do anything that
ought to be able to do. My fingers seemed
to have no mechanical feeling in them.
was awkward, and knew il, and all knew
Il.
Twas good.tempercd; could write fairly,
and read anything; but ] wus awkward
with my limbs; they seemed to have wills
Of their own; and yet could dance rs en-
silly and lightly as any Of my neighbors
sons.
"l don't know what he's fit for" said my
father to the rector Of the parish.-"l'ye SCI
him to carpentcring, and he This finger
nearly of with an axe then he went to
the smith, and burnt his hands ill he was
laid up for month. It's ull of no use he
spoils me more good leather in week than
his earnings pay for in a month. Why can.
not he, like other Christians, use his hands
as the good God meant him TOT There
Look ut him now, cutting that back strip
for the squire with his leh hand"
lheard him; the knife slipped, and the
long strip Of leather was divided in mo.
ment and utterly spoiled.
There now! look at that. A piece on,
Of the skin, and his finger gashed into the
bargain"
The rector endeavored to soo,he my
fathers anger, while ! bandagcd my finger
"You'd better let him come up for ,hu,
vase Mr.. Walters I should like case te
ftit, for its very ffugilc, as all that old ltal
ion glass is and line Il with the soites
leather, please"
And so went with The rector to bring
hack the vase, taking two cl'alnois lcathen
TO bring in.
We reached the house, and waited il
the passage while he went to fetch 1t. HI
came back with large vase, tendcrly wrap
ped in tho feathers. Alas /! At that mo
ment there came from the room, against tht
door Of which was standing, the sound o.
avoicc singing. A voice that thrilled IN,
through,-a voice ! hear now us I writ,
these lines, so clear, so sweat, 50 pure, i
was rs il an angel had revealed itself L
me.
tremblcd, aud forgot the precious bur
den in my hands il dropped to the grount
and was shattered to pieces.
How shall I describe the rector's rage
! fear he said something for which he woult
have blushed in his calmer moments, ant
she came out.
She who had the angcl-voiec niece
came out, and saw her. forgo, III,
disaster, and stood speechlessly gazing a
her face.
@You awkward scoundrcl! look at YOU
work. Thirty pounds! Fifty pounds
An invaluable treasure gone irrcpaabIe il
4 moment Why don't you spcakf WI,
did you drop III"
.Drop it." I said, waking MP "DoI
whatI" And then il flashed upon m,
again, and s,ammered out, .She sang'
"And if she did sing, was there any oc
casion TO drop my beautiful vase, you dOubl!
stupid bloctbsad' There, 30 out Of tn
house, do, before you do any further mis-
chief, and tell your father 10 horscwhip yot
for stupid dolt."