The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1875-03-25
PARs0S PHIMSTICKLE,s DESK.

u
IT was an old desk, having belonged |
Parson Phimstickie'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 il before Parson |
Phimstiekle's grandfather came into
possession. 1t might have been some still |
more remote ancestor or it might have |
been the furniture-dealer. Parson Plrim.
stlckle's daugl ters were of the former |
opinion. They were convinced that ii |
had belonged TO some old English fami- |
~ VINO, during the persecution of the |
Furftans, fed TO America, and from
whom they, Hannah and Jerusha Phim-
sickle, were proud to believe themselves
descended
II 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
writing-desk, which, when it was
closed concealed very many r small d irsss
Some of these drawers were quite deep
and hong, others were shallow and snan I
Although everybody thought il was
curion iesk, nobody suspected how very
curious IL 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. p . = 4 Il
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
capGvated 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 a. the feet
OF his adoTed tnslaver, Hannah and
Jerusha llved 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 aegree 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 great many years; but
according to latest Information he was
bachelor with no nearer relatives than
themselves.
Hannah would = sometimes say to
Jerusha: 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 Twas little girl When
he comes back how shall rush into his
embrace. excla ming, My long lost sec
ond cousinr -" Then Jerusha would re-
ply: Hannah, viii 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 l was
baby, riding in stage with her, gen.
tleman gave me piece of candy, which
/ heldtfght in my hand long fine, and
he said, That-chitd Is born to be REM {
. Who knows what the future may
bringg' Hannah would reply with the.
hopefulness of youth. ~ q
Hannah and Jerusha Phmstickle were
in the habit OF making asyearly visit to
the old Phimstickle homestead. On one
OF these occasions they ca-e across =
I,ondcrous volume ~Jnlaining the geneai.
pgv Of me Phimsickle family through
.oSry air lis rap,ifcatons. This volume
they nared oy,sr till they had traced their
oriSin bacFto Sir William Phimstickle, !.
a:Ierlsha," exclaimed Han--a, al
wavefhought we had ne &c blood in our
vai.s. for wai-r wilI now under my in
,sep; an5rnen,- she added, holding ont
well-formed hand, that is no pIebe.
ian hand And do yousknow, my dear, |
don't think that Joe Jobstock is exactly
the person for .. Phimstickle to marry. =
Who ever said anything about marry.
ing Joe Jobstoek?" replied Jerusha, with
toss OF her mead and a rosy flush.
n dom Know that AMI body ever SAID
anything about il; bnt j should Judge
from what have seen that somebody
had thought about it, at least"
IN SUE don't pretend to understand
~ Mi Il lFr a. 4
cestry, who knows what Lord or Duke
the Jobstocks sprung from originality
10 be sure,n replied Hannah pacif. |
icahy; "but let us go up into the attic
and see if we can find any old relies Oft
this Sin William. I know there are
things there that belonged to our great !
great-grandfather; perhaps there are
some even older" |
- They assembled to the low rooted, dim. |
ly-lighted attic. 1t was seldom entered. |
being accessible only. hy-a very dark 1
steep. marrow and crooked flight OF /
stairs, and had long since been given
over 10 dust and cobwebs. There. stood |
the old spinning wheel which their |
grandmother had used when girl. |
They surveyed il with some curiosity /
and then turned to the desk which had !
been their great grandfather's. 1t was
very much ullapldateu. e- 4
Don't touch that dusty thing" said I
Jernshato her sister, who was more Ell.
ihusiastic and persevering in her search
after antiquities.
Il Just want to see if there isn't an old
will or anything in these drawers" re. J
piled Hannah, opening one after another T.
F" No, they are all empty" she added
soon, with a sigh of disappointment. All.
If the old desk could but have spokenl
- Here is lie place tn look for wills T"
called JeruSha from behind huge chest
as she drew forth package of papers
yellow with age. They were reeeiptS
and letters written by hands long turned
TO dust, That is an Sue said, replac-
ing the papers in the chest
But here is one you dropped" ex-
Claimed Hannah; and Will, too, sure
as l breathe.'
o Bss4y said JeruSha, hooking over her
shoulder at is Sniy the one of which, ,
We sawSa copy in the book of genealogy,
and can do as no good" ,
!. will that my daughter Mary-have ,
the hrgest pewter piatter.aad my asugh- /.
ter Hannah the next largest read The 1
elder sister aloud. ooh, yes, it is the
samel What is this curious odd broken .
blade?n she asked, spying bit Of rusty
steel. For aughi We know this NAV ,
have been piece of Sir Williams ,
sword A4it+ tIE II
"Hannah" exclaimed JeIusha, what
IS your idea OFFS shieldsE4 believe i
This is one holding up huge piece of /
metal. !" Knights have shields, don't !
they:r
"Of course answered Hannah. "Let !
Us show them to grandmother and ask /
Ter ii we can't have them. 1t is a shame I
% keep them slowed away in this dark I
attic. | wonder people haven't more 1
faTily prize. / weald rather have found | i
; will making us heirs TO some old En- /
5iish estate; but it is something TO have /
, knighted ancestors sword and shield" +
30 81 wing the young ladies descended | 1
he crooked stairs and sought their I
/
lawful sakes! girls, what have you I
'een doing in the garnet with your Aunt 4
hary's pewter platter" aaEs I
PEWTER platterr' exclaimed Hannah, il