The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1867-02-21

in town, and that, on his return, he daddy,
was to be surprised by the presentation Of
what he had long coveted aud leased for,
a new drum.
To lie quietly IN bed under such circum-
stances was an act that required more self
control than Master Taddy possessed. Ac-
cordingiy be stole down stairs and listened,
feeling sure, that, if the drum should come
ill., Mrs. Ducklow, and perhaps MIR. Duck
low himself, would be unable to resist the
temptation Of humping it softly to try its
sound.
Mrs. Ducklow was busy taking her bus
bands supper out Of the oven, where it had
been keeping warm for him, pouring hot
water iuto the teapot, and giving the last
/ touches to the table. Then came the famil-
lar grating noise of boot on the scraper
Mrs. Ducklow stepped quickly TO open the
door for Mr. Ducklow. Iaddy, well aware
! that he was committing an indi5cretion,
but inspired by the wild hope Of seeing a
new drum come into the kitchen, ventured
| to uulatch the stairway door, open it a
crack, and peep.
Mr. Ducklow entered, bringing number
Of parcels containing purchases from the
stores, but no drum visible to Taddy.
''Did you buy?" whispered Mrs Duck
low relieving him Of his load.
Mr.. Duck low pointed mystoriousIy at the
stairway door, lifting his eyebrows inter
negatively
I'Taddy p said Mrs. Ducklow. ooh,
he's abed, though | never in my life had
such time to get him off out Of the way
for he'd somehow got possessed with the
idee that you was to buy something, and lie
wanted to set up and see what it was "
Strange how children will ketch things
sometimes, best we can do to prevent p
said Mr. Ducklow,
''But did you buy ?''
''You better jest take them matches aud
put 'em out O the way, fust thing, fore We
torgit it. Matches are dangerous to have
ayin' around, and never feel safe till
they're safe
And Mr.. Ducklow hung up his hat and
laid his Overco9t across chair in the next
room, with carefuIness and deljberation
exhaustipg to the patience Of good Mrs
Ducklow, and no less trying to that of
Master Iaddy, who was waiting to hear
the important question answered.
Come said she after hastily disposiug
Of the matches, what is the use Of keeping
me in suspense? Did ye buy?"
'.Where did you put them?" asked MIR.
Ducklow, taking down the bootiack.
in the little tin pail, where we always
keep EN-, of course! Where should | put
emp
You needn't be cross! asked 'canse
didn't hear We put the cover on, don't be-
lieve ye did put the cover on, either; and
sbant be easy till We do. "
Mrs Ducklow returned to the pantry,
and her husband, pausing a moment, lean
ed over chair, heard the cover go on the
tin pail with click and CHATTER which be
trayed, that, if ever there was au angry
and impatient cover that was
Anybody been here to d1y?' Mr. Duck
low inquired, pressing the heel Of his right
boot in the jack, and stoadying the toe IN
der round Of the chair.
mol replied Mrs Ducllow.
"Ye been anywhere ?!
Yes :"
Where? mildly inquired Mr. Ducklow |
No matter! said Mrs Duckow, with
decided ilI-tenper
Alr. Ducklow drew deep sigh, as he
turned and looked upon her
Wal, you be about the most uucomforta
Die woman ever | see !! he said with dark
and dissatisfied countenance
Ifyou can't answer my question, don't
see why need take the trouble to answer
yours, and Mrs Dncklow returned with
compressed lips to her patching Yer sup
per is ready; We can eat it when We please.
1 was answering your question as fast as
/ could, said her husband, in a tone Of ex
cessiye mildness, full of sorrow and discour-
agement
/ haven't seen any signs of your answer
ing it!'
Aud the housewives fingers stitched en-
ergetically at the patch.
Wal, wal! ye don't see e7erything,'
MIR. Dueklow, having already removed !
one boot, drew gently on the other AS it |
came Of, something fell out on the floor -
lie picked it up, and handed it with tri-
umphant smile to Mrs. Ducklow.
Oh, indeed; is this the
She was radiant. Her hands dropped
their work, and opened the package, which
consisted OF large unsealed envelope aud
folded papers within These she unfoIded
aud examined with beaming satisfaction.
'but what made ye carry EN- in yer boot
so 2
TO tell the truth said Mr., Ducklow, in
a suppressed voice, 4 was afraid Of being
robbed l never was SO afraid Of being
robbed in my life! So, jest as | got clear Of
the town, | took it out of my pocket,
(meanipg not the town, but the envelope
containing the papers,) and tucked it down
my bootleg. Then, all the way horne I
was scared when was riding alone, and
still more scared when | heard anybody
comm after me. You see, it's jest like so
much money
And he arranged the window-curtain in
a manner to prevent the sharpest-eyed bur.
glar from peeping in and catching glimpse
of the papers
He neglected to secure the stairway door,
however. There, III his hiding place behind
it, stood Taddy, shivering in his Shirt but
peeping and listening in fever of curiosity
which nothing could chill His position
was such that he could not see Mr.. Duck
low or the documents, and his mind was
left free to revel in the most daring fancies
regarding the wonderful purchase He had
not yet fully given up the idea of new
drum, although the image, which vaguely
shaped itself IN his mind, of Mr.. Ducklow
'tucking it down his bootleg, presented
difficulties.
This is the bond. you see, Mr. Dacklow
explained; and these little things that fill out
the-sheet are the cowpous. You have only
to cut off one OF these, take it to the bauk
when it is due, aud draw the interest en- it
in goid!
But suppose you lose the bonds? queried
Mrs DuckIow, regarding not without awe
the destructahle paper representatives of so
much property.
That is what I've been thinking Of; that
is what made me 50 nervous I supposed
| 1t would be Ike so much railroad stock.
good for nothing 10 nobody but the owner,
and something chat could be replaced, if f
lost It. But the man 10 the bank said 20, -
1t was like 50 much currency, and must
looG out for it. That is what filed all the
+ bushes with robbers as I came along the