The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1874-12-03
Where the Silver Went.

ALMOST innumerable are the devices of
housckeepers to guard against the depre-
dations Of burglars; yet the cunning
thieves manage in most instances to cir
cumvent the shrewdest plans for the
nrntertinn of <aluables. Two sisters,
not far removed from the Hub, bearing
in mind this popularity of the common
foe, when leaving their home for sum-
mer sojourn, selected queer hiding
place for the silver that had descended
to them from their ancestors. Though
the idea was not particularly original, it
was deemed a lucky hit by the fair pair,
and when suggested by the elder was
adopted by the younger without an If"
They deposited the valuables in the sit
ting-room stove. taking care to cover
them with little paper rubbish, and de-
parted for scenes of enjoyment without
IL thought of harm Detailing their treas
ure. They left in sole charge of their
domicile a gentleman lodger, tried
friend of the family, who had passed
years under the hospitablc roof. The
summer wore on without incident in the
city, however rapidly the varied phases
of rural enjoyment came and went with
the absentees. Fall approached apace,
but not with severity sufficient to drive
the sisters to their winter residence, and
they fingered near the forest and the
fields until the season was well advanced.
The weather was remarkably mild, and
now and then did chilly day remind
them of the pleasures of home. One of
the dreary periods fell on Sunday. The
lodger awoke to realizing sense of
his forlornity, rendered doubly un-
comfortable by the lack of fire,
and cast about for the material to
start blaze. He first examined the
kitchen stove. "Ashes ~ exclaimed the
bachelor-he was averse to drudgery,
and looked farther. The parlor was
closed. The sittipg-rOom was the last
resort, and, of course, the most cheerful.
Fortunately, too, the stove was clear OF
ashes, and primed for ignition. Not a
moment was lost. In went the charcoal,
the match was applied, and the anthra-
cite followed at the proper interval. Our
bachelor friend was happy over glowing
Goals, and passed the day in serene en-
ioyInent of his book and his cigar.
Could anything be better? In blissful
ignorance of aught untoward in his Sun
days experience he returned to his
business on Monday and followed the
weeks routine as usual. The next week
the ladies had returned, and after set
Ting themselves in their dwelling began
the work of putting to rights for per-
manency. One glance into the sitting
room stove sufficed as to the status
there, and but little more was accom-
plished until what remained OF the
spoons and such was hauled over, talked
over, wept over, laughedOver and melted
over for curtailed reconstruction upon
the domiciliary table. The lodger's ex'
perience in keeping house over Sunday
will be fruitful source of badinagc in
the circle for some years to come, and
when the spoons go down to future gen
erations through nepKews and nieces OF
the maiden aunts the Thanksgiving
gatherings will not fail of interest II
nothing more is related than the story OF
their passage through the fiery furnace
and how they came there.-Boston Tran
script