The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1872-05-31

term"
Mrs. Gurney wished another in
strument would follow the fddle's
example, but she refrained from say
ing so, and began to wonder little
herself at the unusually early hush
that had fallen over the upper reg
ions. Presently Mr.. Gurney came
in, and seated himself comfortably
by the fire.
"Another days work. done, su-
san"
"Mine isn't" she answered, rath-
er shortly.
swell, some folks can contriye to
make a little work stretch good
ways, he suggested mischievously.
"What are you busy with nowP"
Patches, of course. It's always
mending.
eyes, Iexpect so. It's wonderful
how boy can go through things,
isn't it? Used to to be just so my
self. Well, if they weren't tearing
their clothes to pieces, they'd be do
ing something else, suppose" he
added, carelessly.
"And 1 might find chance to do
something else, too,'' she said, pro-
voked at such q comfortable view of
the case.
But Mr.. Gurney had opened lit
tie notebook, and was too intent up
on it to heed the remark,
"What day of the month is itT' he
asked, looking up.
"Twenty-fourth. Tomorrow is
my birth. day, Stephen"
"Eh! is it2 We're both growing
old, amt we, wife?" And he plung-
ed into his accounts again.
There was nothing very very con-
solatory in that. Mrs. Gurney made
no further observation, only stitch
ed on in a silence that had some
thing of bitterness in it.
In the rooms above slumber had
nothing to do with the quiet-only
Jimmy, the youngest of the quin-
tette, had discovered tEat his eyes
would go shut, and generously yield
ing to their inclination had sought
his pillow. David seemed to have
been waiting for such an occurrence,
for at the first heavy breath from the
inner room he unlocked q drawer,
and began to tumble among its con
tents with the air of one having i'm
portant business on hand.
"What are you after?' asked sgd,
attracted by his manner.
David laid out roll of wire, piece
Of sealing-wax, and a shingle.
"Pll show you directly" he res
ponded at last, drawing forth a
curious something, that, when fairly
out and right side up, proved to be
small gray owl. "Therep'
"Heilo! reg'lar old owl! Where'd
you get himP demanded Bob.
"What are you going to do with
himP" interposed Mark.
David surveyed the bird compla-
Gently.
"Nice, ant he?" Bought him Of
Bill Jones for rabbit-only rabbit
I ever caught in my trap, too; but l
thought this would look nicer"
"Nicer for what? What'l you do
with it?' persisted Mark.
"Fix him up and-Pll tell you
what it is, boys" said David, leaning
back against the chest of drawers,
and deciding to begin at the begin
ming, "to-morrow's mothers birth
day, and she's just as good a right
to birthday presents as anybody,
and I Imean to give her this. Do you
see?"
"What do you s'pose she'll do with
itY' asked Bob, rather doubtfully.
"Do? Why, keep it." responded
David. -"Put it in the parlor to look
at, of course"
can owl, without any legs, and it's
eyes out" began sgd, slowly survey
ing the purposed gift.
Bother! can't you wait until fell
low can say what he means'to doT'
interrupted Dave, impatiently. "No-
body said it looked like much now;
but it ant done yet. Bill Jones on
ly got it half fnished-stuffed you
know-and then he got tired Of it, |
and sold it to me. 1 don't know
how the legs came of, but it'll have
to be fixed up on something, so that |
won't show, and have some sealing
wax eyes put in and then it'll be all |
right. Mother thinks lots of having
things round to look at, such aB 9th
er folks have. She's always telling
how nice they are, and this'l be a |
sight prettier than any Of the wool |
en- worsted cats and dogs that the
Davis girls make on cushions and
things, for they ant natural, any
how, and this is"
The three pairs of eyes began to
scan David admiringly, and his pur-
chase less critically. Pleasing moth
er was considerable, to say nothing
of outdoing the ''Davis girls" Be
sides the project had the charm Of
novelty. Dave saw that he had pro-
duced an impression, and gathered
up his wire and wax for work.
"If you had a little tree to put it
on now" suggested Syd, sit would !
look better"
"But it would all wither, you see,
and l want something that'n stay. |
Guess I'll have to stick it on to this
shingle and paint it green or some
way, to look nice"
"Look here! 1 know something
better'n that" announced Bob, max
ing a sudden dash for a clumsy old
trunk in one corner, that was his
mothers adherence and his own
especial delight-the receptacle of
valuables unnumbered. "Hold on
minute" And with vigorous pok- |
ing and sitting, he brought to the
surface an antiquated, tall bras can
dlestick.
Grub this up bright and stick him
on it; it's handsomer than an old
shingle, anyhow"
That's so,'' said Mark approving
". "Wire him on.
The young taxidermist's eyes
frightened. He saw nOobjection to |
his owl perching on a candlestick if
it wanted tor rather if he wanted |
it to-and considered in itself, the
candlestick was certainly a more