Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1875-03-26
PARsON PHIMsTICKLEs DESK.

PARSON PHIMSTICKLES DESK.
twas an old desk, having belonged
Parson Phimstickle's grandfather; and
Parson Phimstickle himself was by no
means young man; so, of course, it
was an old desk. And then, indeed, no
body knows who had it before Parson
Phimstickle's grandfather came into
possession. 1t might have been some still
more remote ancestor, or it might have
been the furniture-dealer. Parson Phim-
stickle's daughters were of the former
opinion. They were convinced that it
had belonged to some old English fami-
lY who, during the persecution of the
Puritans, fed to America, and from
whom they, Hannah and Jerusha Phim-
stickle, were proud to believe themselves
descended.
1t was curious desk-so everybody
thought. In the lower part there were
three large drawers. You turned down
the upper, sloping front, and there was
a writing desk, which, when it was
closed, concealed very many small draw
ers and pigeon-holes of various sizes.
Some of these drawers were quite deep
and long; others were shallow and small
Although everybody thought it was a
curious desk, nobody suspected how very
curious 1t really was.
For years before Parson Phimstickle
had this desk it stood in the low attic of
the old family mansion, which was full
of curious relics of the Phimstickle
family.
Parson Phimstickle's two daughters
were of romantic turn of mind, and,
having read a great many marvellous
stories of young ladies who unexpected.
ly became heirs of immense fortunes, or
captivated and married beauty, culture,
riches and fame, combined in one man,
who was only too happy to be allowed
the privilege of laying them all at the feet
of his adored enslaver, Hannah and
Jerusha lived in continual hope of some
similar good fortune. They were the
more inclined to indulge such hopes from
the fact that they had a second or third
cousin (there was some dispute as to the
exact degree of relationship who was
known to be wealthy. When they were
little girls and he was young man he
had gone to California, and had not been
heard from for a great many years; but
according to latest information he was
bachelor with no nearer relatives than
themselves.
Hannah would sometimes say to
Jerusha: 1--WE shall some day hear from
that second cousin of ours, you may de-
pend. Mamma used to say he was very
fond of me when was little girl. When
he comes back how shall rush into his
embrace, exclaiming, My long-lo sec
ond cousinp" Then Jerusha would re-
ply: " Hannah, will you never remember
that Cousin John is not our second, but
our third cousin. You know he is our
fathers cousins son. But don't you re.
member mother told me that when was
baby, riding in stage with her, gen
flamQp mo q 1Niana Of ;oI,
held tight in my hand long time, and
he said, That child is born to be richp {"
Who knows what the future may
bringgh Hannah would reply with the
hopefulness of youth.
Hannah and Jerusha Phimstickle were
in the habit of making yearly visit to
the old Phimstickle homestead. On one
OF these occasions they came across a
ponderous volume containing the geneal-
ogy of the Phimstickle family through
out all its ramifcations This volume
they pored over till they had traced their
origin back to Sir William Phimstickle,
Knight and Alderman of London.
"JOrushG,n cXCIaImeu Hannah, I" al
ways thought we had noble blood In our
veins, for water will flow under my in
step; and then," she added, holding out
well-formed hand, "Mat is no plebe-
ian hand. And do you know, my dear, |
don't think that Joe Jobstock is exactly
the person for Phimstickle to marry
Who ever said anything about marry
ing Joe Jobstock?" replied Jerusha, with
toss of her head and a rosy flush.
don't know that anybody ever SAID
anything about it; but / should Judge
from what / have seen that somebody
had thought about it, at least"
Pm sureI don't pretend to understand
you" replied Jerusha "and, as for an
cestry, who knows what Lord or Duke
the Jobstocks sprung from originally?n
%Io be sure" replied Hannah pacif-
lcally; "but let us go up into the attic
and see if we can find any old relics of
this Sir William. l know there are
things there that belonged to our great
greatgrandfather; perhaps there are
some even older"
They ascended to the Iow-roofed, dim
ly-hghted attic. II was seldom entered.
being accessible only by q very dark
steep, narrow and crooked flight of
stairs, and had long since been given
over to dust and cobwebs. There stood
the old spinning-wheel which their
grandmother had used when a girl
They surveyed it with some curiosity
and then turned to the desk which had
been their great-grandfather's. 1t was
very much dilapidated
Don't touch that dusty thing" said
Jerusha to her sister, who was more en-.
thusiastic and persevering in her search
after antiquities.
~ just want to see if there isn't an old
will or anything in these drawers y re-
pied Hannah, opening one after another.
mo, they are all empty" she added
soon, with sigh of disappointment. All
II the old desk could but have spokenl
Here is the place to look for wills -
called Jerusha from behind huge chest
as she drew forth a package of papers |
yellow with age. They were receints
and letters written by hands long Turned |
10 dust. "That is ALL" she said. renIac- |
ing the papers in the chest.
But here is one you dropped" ex-
claimed Hfnnah; and will, too, sure
=" But" said Jerusha, looking over her
shoulder, sit is only the one of which
we saw copy In the book of genealogy
and can do us no good" 90
VIII that my daughter Mary have
the largest pewter platter, and my daugh.
yer Hannah the next largest" read The
elder sister aloud "Oh, YES, il is the
samei What is this curious old broken
DiadeP she asked, spying a bit of rusty
steel For aught we know this NAV
nave been piece of Sir Williams
"Hannahp exclaimed Jerusha. "what
is your idea Of shield? | believe
this IS one, holding up huge piece of
metal knights have shields, don't (