The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1869-06-17
The Three Warnings.

'a The Three Warnings. +
1t was in the days of our grand
mothers, when there were brick ovens
in the land, that Mr.. Hubbard bought
his house; and bought it very much
against his wife's will. 1t was lone
ly house and reported to be haunted.
1t was next to the grave yard, which,
though unused, was not cheerful, and
which had likewise the reputation of
a ghost. However, Mr.. Hubbard did
not believe in ghosts, and was too
cheerful to beqdepressed by warnings,
and never intended to be lonely.
"Mrs. Hubbard" he said, when his
wife shook her head over the purchase,
"I got it cheap, and it is good one.
You will like it when yon get there.
If you don't why then talk,
So the house was bought, and into
it the family went. There was scarce
ly chance for ghost TO show his
face amid such a family of boys and
girls. Mr.. and Mrs. Hubbard count
ed ten of them and noisy ones. @A
Having expostulated and spoken
out her mind as to the house, Mrs.
Hubbard gave up the point. She
scrubbed and secured, tackled down
carpets and put up curtains, and
owned that it was pretty. AS not q
ghost appeared for q week. she made
up her mind that there were no such
inhabitants; she even began not to
mind the tombstones. So the house
got to rights at last, and baking day
came about. In the press of business
they had great deal of baker;
bread, and were now tired of it.
Mrs. Hubbard never enjoyed setting
batch of bread to rise as she die
that which was to be eaten for thu
first time in the new house.
p" For can not get up an appetite
for stuff that nobody knows who hat
the making OF" said Mrs. Hubbard
"and puffy and alumy besides - :
So into the oven went the bread
and out it came at the proper time
even and brown and beautiful a
loaves could be. Mrs. Hubbard turn
ed them up on their sides as she drew
them forth, and they stood in the Ion:
bread-tray, glorious proofs of he
skill and the excellence of the oven
when Tommy Hubbard bounded in
Tommy was four; and. when at tina
age we are prone to believe that any
thing will bear our weight. Tommy
therefore, anxious to inspect the new
ly-made bread, swung himself off hi
feet by elutehing the edge of TIL
bread tray, and over it came, loave
and Tommy and all. ssV0t's'."S
Mrs. Hubbard flew to the rescu
and picked up the loaves. All wer
busted and put in the tray again bu
one. That lay bottom upwards unde
the table.
GA bothering child, to give me s
much trouble!" she said, as sh
crowded under the table to get it.
"A-O--ah dear, dear, dear, dear
oh my" -a.,g
And there on the floor sat Mr.
Hubbard, screaming, wringing he
hands and shaking her head. TIL
> children screamed in concert. Nj
Hubbard rushed in from the garde
where he was at work. ASH =
"What's the matter, mother?" h
gasped.
Mrs. Hubbard pointed to the bot
/, tom of the loaf lying in her lap. Y is
"Look there and see ~ she said, g.
is a warning, William am going t
be taken from them ALL" ia. ie4ee=.f .l,.e
And he looked; and he saw
deaths head and cross-bones, {
plainly engraved as they possibl
could be.
yHI Its an accident said Mr. Hui
bard. "such queer pranks do com
n you know"
: But Mrs. Hubbard was in a trouble
= state of mind, as was but natural
aFhe stories about the haHnte
: house were trHe," she said; sand Il
spirits have marked the loaf. l al
afraid it is warming"
And the loaf was put aside, for eve
Mr.. Hubbard did not dare to eat al
g of it,
r. Mrs. Hubbard got QVep heF fright
, last, but the news of the awfully mari
elk loaf spread through R, al
the people came to Hubbard's all Il
week to look at it. 1t was death
head and cross-bones certainly; evel
IS ono saw that at q glance, ,but-as to i
II meaning, people differed. Some b
ID lieyed that it was q warning of a
e preaching death; some thought tn
Or the spirits wantcl to frighten Il
Hubbard's away, and get possessiC
of the house again all to themsclvc
This latter supposition inspired MI
Hubbard with courage; finally, beil
brave woman, she adopted the h
, lief, and when another baking arrive
put her loaves in the oven, once mo
prepared for cross-boncs, and not
he frightened by them. The loav
baked as before. They eamc q
brown and crusty, as Mrs. HHbba
turned each in her hands. The