The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1874-04-17

moments nOtlce. Ii you throw tnem
away, you would see them advertised in
the next days paper they would be
traced to you, money would be de-
manded-there would be bother of some
sort. No, it wouldn't do to throw them
away.
"Look here, we're going on the river
tonight /; we'll drop the keys overheard
and make an end of them"
Before this doom, however, had been
carried into effect, a claimant appeared
for the bunch of keys. They were no!
mine, it seemed, but nurse's-Nurse
Maycock's.
Nurse came in with her youngest
charge quite breathless at the danger
she had escaped, "Lor! whatever
should I have done if master had
thrown my keys away?"
She is a comedy old lady, of dignified
presence, with a brown face and hand
some double chin, aquiline nose, which
approaches the chin more closely than
of old, owing to her lack of teeth a
very dramatic woman, mind you, full of
action and gesture; with it all, a very
comfortable, motherly body.
you're quite sure they are your keys,
nurse ?" said my wife.
"Bless You, yes, man," said nurse,
sinking down into a chair. She is not
strong on her pins, and We don't exact
rigid ceremony from her. "Why, l
can tell you the history of the whole
f EN-"
Mrs. Maycock, like other story-tellers
| know, requires very delicate handling.
If you let her see that you expect a story
from her, she either shuts up altogether
or spoils her tale by over-effort. She
must be left to herself and gently in
clined to discourse of her experiences.
To he heard in full perfection, her narra-
tive must flow naturally from surround
ing circumstances.
With the late lamented Maycock l
had no personal acquaintance but l
formed vivid mental picture of him
from his widows occasional descrip-
tons. He was thin and small, rather
lame, a reserved, fiery-tempered man,
who had n vivid sense of his own dig
nifty and a rather contemptuous opinion
of the female sex. He was an upper
workman of some sort, earning good
wages and laying by a little money!
valuable man in his own way, and well
thought OF by his employers.
To return to nurse. Her attention is
diverted for a moment blythe youngster
on her lap, who makes a desperate pull
at her cap-strings, and almost succeeds
in demolishing hat elaborate fabric.
"Bless his little art" cried nurse /;
"ain't he playful, sir. He DO take after
you, do Master Ralf."
81 don't see it ALL" said the wife, 81
don't see the least resemblance"
But look at his eyes, ma'am, and
then at his little ways oh, he do take
after master, surely. Then he is SO
ond of books"
Fond of books, is he q said l, with
a dawning interest in the little chap.
"He is fond of books" continued
nurse, with pride. "He's tored all the
leaves out Of mine"
His father shuddered, and thought he
had better be taken away.
"But about the keys, sir, as 1 was
telling you the way 1 knows 'em. This
here one with the ole in it is the key
of my chest of drawers. And these two
Just alike--ah, you sees them two to-
gether, sir?"
"Yes, l see them"
"Well, n of them was poor May
cocks key-the key of his box. where
he KEEP all his treasures !; and, sir, he
Just were careful of this here key and
this one" went on the nurse, with a
twinkle i'll her eye, 81 had made a pur-
pose exactly like the other, Sc that I
could get at Maycock's box whenever 1
pleased"
Mrs. Maycock laughed a jolly laugh,
in which 1 joined. Perhaps if 1 had
owned a bunch of keys of my own, I
should not have laughed so freely.
The wife looked doubtfully at the
eldest daughter. Was there any fear
Of such loose principles being infec-
tious?