The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1871-03-31
From the Southern Farm and Home.
THE RATCHET on THE MASTEL.
BY MRS. W. q. M'ADoo.
l"Mary Faith Flo. al


lived in quiet struggling village
where / was poor, obscure ana uh-
known. / enjoyed all the veXing C ares
that usually attended that situation;
butsuch cares, il may well be imagined
weM not much in unison with my /
taste. / did not resemble Dean swift
or his ancestors IN regarding Labor as
nain.n / had love for all kinds of
work: and unfortunately for myself,
and for the world, differed from the
learned doctor in all other respects. L
was neither learned nor witty. Tn
fortunately; because wit and learning
are both pleasing when not intermin-
gled with arrogance and peaahtry.
consoled myself for these, defeats by the
reflection that my industry would COM
pepsate, in some measure, for the alb.
sence of other qualities, and hoped
might get through life with this need
of praise-that was2 useful member
of society.
There was one happiness had, which
| was fond of enjoying as often as my
numerous duties would allow.
Not far from my house there resided
Q sprightly, tidy, little lady. Faceti-
Gus and intelligent, with many of those
nameless graccs that adorn woman,
she never failed to fascinate all whom
she met. had the honor of calling
this lady friend; and although ! some
times reflected that an uninterestiDg
companion like myself annoy by such
frequent visitations, so selfish was L
that could not relinquish the comfort
and pleasure ] experienced inrepeating
the offence of thrusting my company
upon her.
Her home was essentially the oppo-
site of mine. Without being wealthy
she owned all the comforts of life; and
the pleasing aspect of her well arrang-
ed uarlor with its white walls, its SIM
pIe furniture, and tasteful ornaments,
delighted me. / felt no envy that my
possessions were of more meagre d.
mansions than hers. / rejoiced that
my friends was exempt from the priva-
tions | daily experienced.
Upon the mantel ofmy friends par
Tor was an unsightly stone Ratchet,
made after the fashion of the red man
before his ideas were modified by con-
tact with European civilization.
wondered what freak induced my
friend to keep this disfiguring OrDa-
ment for such ostentatious display
among her otherwise tastefully selected
articles. j did not like TO make any
inquiries, fearing | should appear pry-
ing and impeTtinent. Being woman
curiosity repressed became more wide
awake the more | struggled to lull il
to sleep 10y those anOdynes, good man
ners, reserve and Notwithstanding
Every time heheld the broken, rude
tomahawk, the edge of my Investigate
ing qualities grew far more keen than
that of the mysterious weapon itself
cutting deep missions into all those
weak shields OF defence with which ]
had enveloped myself.
Time, the great mOdi;ier, might hav,
enabled me to triumph over temptation
but for one circumstance. 1called one
afternoon and found my friend sweep
ing and arranging her room. She
looked very cha. ming, with her saucy
little white apron, her sleeves rolled VI
displaying a finely moulded pair o
white arms. Her delicate hand handled
the broom with Inimitable grace. Hel
face was flushed from the exercise, anC
paused at the doorway to admire the
domestic picture, saying inwardly
"Mr. WhitemaTsh indeed has a treas
ure in his wife
Ny friend greeted me kindly and &C
cepted my offer of aid, saying that
might dust and arrange the mantel.-
Ny eye fell on the grim, battered stone
batchet, and instantly my curiosity
Guivered with lively and irrepressi
Die desire to learn the history of the
horrible relic. | could not avoid re-
marking that the stone was a queer
one, and added no beauty to the effect
in the mantel arrangement. My
friends face bianched, and her voice
tremhled, as she mentioned that 1t was
an Indian relic of some antiquity con-
nected with De Soto's expedition.
] ventured the statement that L wa:
MT sufficiently antiquarian in my taste
to treasure ugly broken stones: ant
that the mantel would he much i'm
proved if tie relic was discarded.
My friend with much embarrassment
said it was valuable in her eyes; anC
there ensued an awkward pause.
/ felt that | had been led intO'unwar
rantable impertinence. Arranging The
ornaments, babe adieu to my neigh
boT, and returned 10 my solitary home
but my peace was gone.
was a prey to torturing curiosity
Ny friends mysterious deportmen
was gunpOwer that had exploded al
nv inYeStiture of self control.
The wild desire to penetrate the Sc
cret pushed aside all other considera
tons. | could not sleep. How to elu
cidate the mystery was the tantaliz
ing question.
dared not approach my frieni OF
the subject again: and was sure cOulC
not enter her house and restrain my
self. | kept closely at home; but tn,
hatchet haunted me like a spectre. My
brain sprang into the most torturin.
activity.
Tired natures sweet rcStorcr."
notwithstanding all the coaxing in IN,
power, persisteI tly refused her balm
no sooner closed my wear eyelidS thai
shapes of hideouS SavageS with clef
and CORY heads appeared, traced in fer,
lines, and gibbered at me. | could al
most hear the rattle of their skeleton
Jaws as they opened AID closed with :
snap in their panIomimiC efforts t,
speak 10 me
became so timid that the though
of being alone at night was intolerable
lost my appetite and felt as if ny
sanity was fast departing. Ithad beer
week or two since ! saw my friend
when received note inquiring WHY
had deserted her, and expressing
hope tia: was well and would visi
her very soon. | replied to tie billet
saying was not i'll, ana would call err
long.
The weather was inciement, impris
oning me ut home for several succeed
ing days. Then came vernal day.
Forest trees and flowers smiled il
bright colors beneath their weight o
rain drops, as children sometimes laugh
with tear-dewcd eyes, Twitterin:
birds sung in the branches, and flew
from twig TO twig in their abandon o
happiness. The air was soft with deli
cate odorS. ! was weary of home ant
of myself. y sudden inclination seize,
me TO visit my friend. had slept bu
little for several nights, and / though
walk in the air might prove an anO
dyne
threw on my hat un lis i'm
pulse, and fastened TO my friend:
mansion. Rapping quickly at her doc
was annoyed at no response. | wait
Ell few moments and concluded {,
enter the dwelling unannounced
Again Trapped, and walked into th'
parlor, hoping my fricrd would sooI
make her appearance. | glanced
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