The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1874-05-29
Frvm Max Adeier. New Bcok, Hurry Barly
Life w an Odd Corner

u.
Life w an Odd Corner
When Mr. Chdbb, the elder. returned from
Europe he brought with him from Geneva a
miniature musical-b -box, long and very narrow,
and altogether Of hardly greater dimensions,
say, than a large pocket-knile. The instfu-
mcnt played four cheerful little tunes for the
benefit Of the Chubb family, aud they enjoyed
H. Young Henry Chuhb enioycd IL To such
m extent that one day, just after the machine
hal been wound up rady for action, he got to
sucking the end Of II, and IN a moment OF
inadyertencc it slipped aud he swallowed il.
The only immediate consequence Of the acci-
dent wss that a harmonic stomach ache wss
organized upon the interior of Henry Chubh,
aud he experienced a r~tlcssness which he
we'll knew would defy Peppermint aud pare
soric.
Henry Chubb kept his sccre, in his own
soul aid in his stomach also, determined to
hide his misery frum his father, and spare the
rod 10 the spoiled child--poilod, at any rate,
rs far as his digestive APPARATUS was con
cerned.
But that evening at the supper table, Henry
had eaten but one muuthiul Of bread when
strains Of Wild, MYSTERIOUS music were sudden
" waited from under the table. The family
Immediately made an effort To discover from
whence the sounds came, although Henry
Chabb sat there filled With agony and ren,or-e
and brad and tunes, and desperately asserted
his b<iief that the music came iron the cellar,
where The sxrvsnt girl vas concealed with a
E6gS iss veil knew thss MARI Ann Sas un'
faaiiias wish the harp, but he was frantic with
anxiety ~ hide his guilt Thus IL Is that one
crime leads to another.
But he could not diruise the truth forever,
and that very night, while the family was at
prayers, Henry all at once began 10 hiccough,
A "A. -. l.. a Al III
ing, with Way down upon the Scwancc riv
er," with variations Whercupou the ps,ern-
al Chubb arose from hs knees and grasped
Henry kindly, bu, firmly, by his hair, and
shook him up and inquired what he meant by
such conduct And Henry asserted that he
was practicing something for a Sunday school
celebration, which Old Chubb intimated was
rather n thin explanation. Then they tried
TO get up that music-hox, aud every time they
would seine Henry by the lec- aud shake him
over the sofa cushion, OF would pour some
fresh variety Of emeiic down his throat, the
instrument within would give a fresh spurt,
aud jOyously grind out, Listen to the Mock
ing Bird" or "Thou'lt Never Cease to Love"
At last they were compelled 10 permit that
musical-box to remain within the ~epulchral
r,oessss Of young Chubb To say that the
unfortunate victim Of the disaster was made
miserable hy his condition would be To ex-
pres in the fecblest manner the unfortunate
state Of his mind. The more music there was
in his stomach, the wilder and more complete
ly chaotic became the discord in his soul. As
likely as not il would occur that while he lay
ssleep In the middle Of the night the works
would begin To revolve, aud would play,
"Home, sweet Home" ;" lor two or three hour,
unless the peg happened to slip when the
cylinder would switch hack again to Way
down ulop the ~ewanee river" and would rat