The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1874-11-03

me the box.N lie turned It over and point
ed toa double row of silver nails that
thickly studded the lower edges
"This box" said he, "is itself Of little
value but be careful of the contents. /
don't mean the threads and needles and
that truck" So saying, he directed her
attention to two nails in opposite corners
little smaller than the rest, and pressing
hardly upon both at the same moment,
false bottom started up with spring,
which he Immediately closed, saying,
"Keep that secret-don't open it your
self till am gone, and promise me that
nobody else shall know this secret, and that
you will never let the box go out of your
possession" a.t4 1ai ,sod
Mary eagerly gave the promise, and un-
Gle Ben, opening the cover of the box, took
something from his pocket, tucked it in
among the sewing utensils and handed box
and key to Mary. a1odl
They returned together to the little par
lor, and, after chatting few minutes with
the rest of the family, the captain took his
leave, with the cheerful remark,
"Look out for me in September"
Allthree Of the girls followed him to the
gate for last goodbye, where they re-
mained some time, watching his progress
down the street, and dreading to lose sight
of one whose presence always bought with
it an indescrbable charm.
What pity everybody is not like uncle
Ben-never so happy as when imparting
happiness to others But ga good deed in
a naughty world' would not seem half SO
good but for the naughtiness. Mary and
her cousins were leaning over the gate in
silent reflection, when she suddenly be-
thought herself Of her precious box, which
she had laid on the parlor table. She ran
back to take care Of it, but it was gone
She looked around in amazement at first,
but Immediately quieted herself with the
thought that it had, perhaps, been re-
moved to some other room, or at worst,
been hid from her for moment, just to
tantalize her.
"Aunt, do you know where my box is 20
said she, as that lady came in from her
own private room. ,..a
81 know where my box is replied she,
with dignified air. "You would never
know how to use it if you had il, and it
would be pity for such a useful thing to
be kept as mere toy. There, added she,
dropping half eagle into Mary's lap,
"that will be better for you than cart
load of boxes.'' q har alq. AVS f
This generous price was offered, partly
because she hoped it would reconcile Mary
to the loss Of her gift, and partly because
irw only one of twenty just su ch pieces
which she had found in beautiful purse
in one corner of the box. Mary's anger
was infiamed, and her first impulse was to
hurl the coin across the room but that
golden precept of her mother rushed into
her memory, "Never truly happy till you
learn how to forgive" and she quietly
dropped the money and tear on the table
and retired TO the kitchen. She was fully
determined, however, OH seizing her prop
erty at the very first opportunity, and de-
livering it Immediately to the care and
keeping of her dear William, as the surest
way of fulfilling her promise to her uncle.
Poor Mary will her troubles never end |?
Oh, that uncle Ben could only step in to
help her recover hertreasure | She had food
enough now for reflection and her curiosi-
ty concerning the box was intense. What
could there be in that secret apartment so
precious that her uncle should be so earnest
to have kept secret 70 What could it beP 10
While Mary's head was busy planning
schemes for recovering the box, her aunt's
was equally busy devising means to keep
it out Of her reach and she succeeded.
The next day lady called on Mrs. Cur
tbs, and in the course Of conversation, an
ingenious plan came into the mind of the
latter for disposing of the troublesome
possession. For, in reality, her conscious
guilt in connection with it had become so
great that the very sight Of the box was
growing irksome to her. Why not restore
it to its rigbtful owner, then? Because that
would be doing real kindness to Mary
and such thing had gone out of practice
with Mrs. Curtis. She preferred to cover
up, rather than undo the wrong, forgetting,
reflective reader, that however long and
deep an evil may be buried, it will one
day sprout up and bring forth fruit after
its kind. tr.
By the way, Mrs. Todd" said she, 81
have something very pretty to show you"
So saying, she went into another room, and