Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1874-09-04

4
| want to see all these things, the more OF
| them he kept spreading out.
| Our young housekeeper was sorely
tried, She had very little money in the
house, and well she knew Toms purse
| was low just now. She took two aprons
| for Sarah and neat handkerchief that
was cheap; and no more. The polite
peddler talked and flattered all in vain
| Eunice was firm; she must not think of
those pink ribbons, that fine, neat
chintz. Oh, how she did wish for plenty
of money She could not bear to see
him folding up all those pretty things,
"and so cheap, too" AS the peddler,
with much remonstrance, finally put up
the last of his goods, he took out q small
tin case, and, opening it, showed a set of
very handsome silver teaspoons
The very things she had secretly
| longed fort The truth was, all their lit
tie store of plate was but Birmingham
plate, and she had so wished for just q
| few teaspoons in silver.
The peddler saw at once that the
| spoons had caught her eye, and he hand
ed them to her, saying; "Now, madam,
| here is the last set of spoons have, and
you shall have them at bargain. Feel
their weight-the best of pure silver
and there's place, you see, for the en-
craving of your name. Do you fear they
are not real? Look at the mark"
Mrs. Clinton did not fear that; she
knew silver when she saw it.
Yes they are very nice, very tempt
ing; but | have not the money" said
poor Eunice, looking longingly at the
much.coveted spoons.
"What of thatS" cried the peddler;
you can borrow of some one, surely.
Or will take any old silver or gold or
clothing you may have to spare"
Eunice caught at the words old sjtDer,
and thought of the watch she had discov
cred only an hour BEFORE. She went to
the drawer and, holdingS# out to him,
said: "What will you allow me for this?"
The peddler took the watch in his
hand and went to the door as if to exam
inc it better by the light, while Eunice,
trembling, she knew not why, gazed at
the coveted spoons.
81 cannot give you more than twenty
shillings for this" he said, "and it is not
worth that"
Eunice felt her heart sink; she had
but twelve shillings in the house, and
she must have the spoons. Tom knew
nothing of the watch; and, of course, he
would not care what was done with that
old battered thing. But the watch and
her twelve shillings would not buy the
spoons.
"Have you no old clothes?" said the
man.
No, she had no old clothes, she was
about to say; when all at once she re-
membered pair of heavy winter panta-
looms of Toms she had seen hanging up.
1t would he a long time before winter
yet; perhaps Tom might never think of
them again; she would get them; if the
peddler would only take them the spoons
were hersl
While she went upstairs the peddler
took another look at the old watch,
opened the inner case, and started to his
feet; but instantly sat down again when
he heard Mrs. Clinton descending. He
winter pantaloons. Flinging them over
his arm, he placed the case of spoons
within the eager, trembling hands of his
young customer, took up his pack and
departed.
Mrs. Clinton fairly kissed the spoons.
Now she could invite friends to tea, and
not feel ashamed when they surreptlti0us-
ly glanced at the mark on her silver.
Dinner time came; the table was laid,
and she stood at the window, looking for
| Tom. For the first time the thought
came to her mind, "Had she done rightY
| Could she tell Tom? He might not like
il about that watch. And would he make
Il fuss at her dealing with peddler? In
the old days she remembered her papa
had made a fine to-Go when his wife hac
bought a shawl of one.
Perhaps she had better not show the
spoons to Tom just yet. How strange
it would be to keep anything back from
himl
Eunice was thinking of the spoons
Somehow she did not take so mucl
pleasure in them as at first. She haC
laid the little case on the shelf in th'
cupboard. What if Tom should go ther
for a glass? He had often done so. Sh
left her seat, put water and glasses ol
the table, and sat down again.
"What is that water fory" asked MI
Clinton.
81 thought perhaps you might wan
some"
"And what has my little wife bee
doing all the morning.
"Oh, nothing muchi just stirrin
about, and
"And what?" said Tom, drawing he
; nearer to him. "Have you been ovel
hauling the old desk again, finding ol
: deeds and all sorts of treasuresY"
! 81 fear there will never come an
treasures to usw said Eunice, almo'
. sobbing.
: "Why, what's the matterg" cried Ton
E " Are you tired, my darling?"
{ Eunicc muttered something aDol
: loneliness" Any excuse to save tel
?. ing of the peddler and the watch.
= "You are tired and nervous, Eunic
C Shall we send for one of your sisters
c stay here week or tWOp"
: Eunice fairly burst into tears. 81
G was finding the secret heavy one, al
L vet she dared not confess. What wou
It her husband think of her folly? Tho
a horrid spoonsl She wished she had nev
l. seen them. And then, to account I
e her low spirits, she said she had hea
o ache.
1t They fell into easy conversatiC
rs Something led the topic to Toms fami
1t and he told her. for the first time, 10
4 story of his grandfather, his mothe
n. father, who had once been consider
er very rich indeed He was a great ira
n eler, and was seldom at home after
ID death of his wife, who had left him w
two children, son and a daughter,
81 the fifth year after their marriage.
10 "The children were left with an
nc housekeeper in beautiful cottage, 81
ny hNiAoi
ne trees and an extensive garden" said To
e. recalling "reminiscences as he went
yh "The garden was the care of the hou
he keepers husband, an old Scotchman, "
he took much delight in it, and was so fo
ng of symmetry that il was of him the ST.
he is told which has since become almos
as proyerb-"
IN. "What story?" interrupted Eun
ut growing interested in the tale.
an tell you" said Tom. This
Scotchman had son about the age
~ his masters son. One day while
lsc master was at home the young Scot
eel impudent or committed some mis-
lily meanor when his master seized him
ng the collar and locked him in the lodg,
Ied the gate. Coming out some hours al
in my grandfather was surprised to b
in his son crying out from the lodge on
On other side of the gate. He was
The locked in.
GlGNVlat Ioaa tl,io paaan9i ha