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

1T is very nice to be married and set
tied in house of ones own"
So spoke young Mrs. Clinton the first
week she was settled in hers. Her hus-
band, a struggling young lawyer, whose
Office was in the heart of the quiet country
village that had been the home always of
both of them, was away at the said office,
and the young wife was alone.
Neither of them was over-burdened
with this worlds goods. But they had
resSysd 1d t2 tS2n9 pnEEEH anEcE He 'ts9G WoR sQRg to
stoadily make money; she to be econom-
ical and saving at home, and so make
both ends meet. 1t might not be amiss
if some other young ladies and gentle
men of the present day tried the same.
Tom Clinton took his wife home; and
here she was setting about her duties
with good heart, and intending to be-
come the most active little housewife in
the world. OF course she began by
superintending the cookery; the young
maid seemed good for little but to make
| beds and stare at her pretty new mis-
! tress.
Such meals! Such dainty little dishes
put upon the table, made up after the
| best recipes in the new cookery book!
| Why is it that these said cookery books
tell so little, compared with what they
might? They run after this fashion:
ITO cook salmon Boil it till it's done.
Serve with lobster sauce and sliced Gu
cumber."
GOOD graciousr' cried poor Mrs. Gin.
ton; "EwOnder hOlo long itmust be boiled
and whether it should be put into cold OF
hot waterl"
Neither maid nor mistress knew. But
difficulties are soon surmounted when
hearts and hands are willing. Sometimes,
though, the young wife caught herself
wishing that she and Tom had rather
more ready money.
Very active was she; untiring and full
of hope and spirits. All the best of the
. furniture she busted herself, and ther
there was no fear that their pretty orna
ments and presents would get broken.
One piece of their rather small stoci
of furniture was an old bureau, or rathe
, bureau and desk combined, which wa
, filled with small drawers, pigeon-holes
= etc. This had belonged to Tom Gin
tons grandfather and was handed dow
+ to Tom as an heirloom. Eunice Clintol
D had looked through it every day sine
;. she came home and yet found something
9 to admire and wonder over For sh
+ liked those capacious old things o
: carved oak, which must have been valu
v able in their day, if old-fashioned nov
n Tom had shown her two secret receI
|. tacles for papers placed beneath tn
d small drawers; and one day Eunic
G found prize. She had taken out n
;, mote drawer for the purpose of dustin
Y it, when she noticed small drawer "
S behind it. OF course she opened this /
IS once, and there found, wrapped in
piece of old yellow paper silver watc
II was very old and battered, IL
hands were broken of, and it had I
glass. She took it up and shook it, bl
Il did not tick in answer to the shake,
r no doubt well-regulated watch ougl
% to do; it only ratified as though the i
le side works were all loose and broke
DC She tried to open it, and got the out
case off without trouble; but the watC
le itself resisted all her efforts. 1t seem'
Is never to have had an opening yet.
le How was it Tom had never found thi
n she wondered But Tsm Clinton had
In genius for exploring old places as s
If had. The probability was that Tom h
nc never looked thoroughly into 1t since I
is piece of furniture came TO him; and |
of sides Tom could never see thing thou
a it stared him in the face. How s
wished Tom had been at home when S
he found this watchl 1t would be so 10
re to wait until dinner time. How s
Ial would plague him! To be sure, 1t W
he no treasure such as she had read of, CO
TX cealed in just such places-nothing
Iu- an old turnip-shaped silver or perhap
ne pewter watch.
'el- Eunice quilted the watch and the
m- reau, and went singing about the hol
for an hour or so, trying hard not to +
of dull; but the day appeared unusua
so long She had no sewing to do-you
.he wives seldom have; and she wisl
lge again that the hours would pass and
Ike ner time come. Looking from the "
ng, dow she espied a peddler, with m
or strous pack on his back, coming up
sak village street.
nee Now, did you ever know woman v
did not like to deal with a peddler II
had a sly chanceY At any rate n
rise Clinton, so much at loss what To
! in with her time that day, did not send
&c q away when he came TO the door. Sa
Dod wanted some new colored aprons,
the perhaps he had just the print that VIC
rae suit. Peddlers in country districts
'Tce no uncommon visitors, and are not q
ian gether unknown In superior houses.
The peddler was allowed TO enter