The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1873-12-24

ears of sick persons, when the inquiet- |
ude Of fever made them toss about
upon my cushion. An So it happens
that, though my words make pretty
strong impression at the moment, yet
'hyauditors invariably remember them
only as dream. Ishoud not wonder
if YOU, my excellent friend, were to do
the same tomorrow morning"
"Nor /, either,' thought Grandfath-
er to himself
However, he thanked this respecta-
BILE old chair for beginning the conver-
sation, and begged to know whether it
had anything particular to communi-
cate.
81 have listened attentively to your
narrative of my adventures" replied
the chair; "and it must be owned that
your correctness entities you to be held
up as pattern to biographers. New
ertheless, there are few omissions
which should be glad to see supplied.
For instance, you make no mention of
the good knight Sir Richard Saltou-
stall, nor of the famous Hugh Peters,
nor those old regicide judges, Whal-
ley, Goffe, and Dixwell. Yet / have
borne the weight of all those disiin-
guished characters at one time or an
other" .-...
Grandfather promised amendment
if ever he should have an opportunity
to repeat his narrative. The good old
chair. which still seemed to retain a
due regard for outward appearance,
then reminded him how long time
had passed since it had been provided
with new cushion. 1t likewise ex-
pressed the opinion that the oaken fig
ures OH its back would show to much
better advantage by the aid of little
vtrnish.
"And l have complaint in this
Joint" continued the chair, eDdeavor-
ing to lift one of its legs, sever since
Charley trundled his wheelbarrow
against me-"
at shall be attended to- said
J Grandfather. "And now, venerable
chair, | have favor to solicit. Dur
ing an existence of more than two cen,
turies you have had familiar inter
course with men who were esteemed
| the wisest of their day. Doubtless
: with your capacious understanding
you have treasured up many an inval
! liable lesson of wisdom. You certain
3 ly have had time enough to guess the
J riddle of life. Tell us poor mortals
then, how we may be happy"
The lions head fixed its eyes
thoughtfully upon the fire, and the
t whole chair assumed an aspect Of deeI
meditation. Finally it beckoned t,
S Grandfather with its elbow, and mad,
a step sideways towards him, us if i
had very important secret to com
;, municate.
u GAS long as / have stood in tn
e midst of human affairs, SAID the chai
d with very oracular enunciation, Z"
h have constantly observed that Justice
It Truth and Love are the chief ingredi
ents of every happy life"
a Justice, Truth, and Love p ex
v claimed Grandfather. ave need no
5, exist two centuries to find out tina
i these qualities are essential to our hap
n piness. This is no secret. Every hu
l. man being is born with the instinctiv
Y knowledge Of it,"
a "Ah p cried the chair, drawing bac
# in surprise. "From what have obser,
st ed of the dealings of man with MAJ
j. and nation with nation, / never shoul
m have suspected that they knew thi
= all-impOrtant secret. And, with TIL
al eternal lesson written in your soul, d
Is you ask me to sift new wisdom for yo
RS OUT of my petty existence of two c
n three centuries 2"
Ie "But. my dear chair" sal
Grandfather.
Le mot a word more," interrupted II
d. chair; "here | close my lips for ii
next hundred years At the end {
.I that period, if | shall have discovere
8 any rev precepts of happiness bette
"a than what Heaven has already taugl
ar you, they shall assurcdly be given
a the world"
s. In the energy of its utterance Il
nF oaken chair seemed to stamp its foo
~ and trod 1--WE hope unintentionally
y. n upon Grandtather's toe. The old geI
ra tleman started, and found that he ha
or heen asleep in the great chair, an
=. that his heavy walking-stick had fal
=, en- down across his foot.
II