Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1875-10-01
THE BOTTOM DRAW Err.

saw my wife pull out the bottom
drawer Of the old family bureau this even
ing, and went softly out, and wandered uI
and down, until knew she had shut it up
and gone to her sewing.
We have some things laid away in that
drawer which the gold of kings could not
buy, and yet they are relics which grieve
us until both our hearts are sore. I havn't
dared look at them for year, but I re-
member each article.
There are two worn shoes, q little chl
hat with part Of the brim gone, some
stockings, pants, q coat, two or three
spools, bits of broken crockery, a whip,
and several toys. Wife--poor thing goes
to that drawer every day Of her life and
prays over it, and let's her tears fall on the
precious articles, but dare not go.
Sometimes we speak of little Jack, but
not often. 1t has been a long time, but
somehow we can't get over grieving.
Sometimes, VIXEN we sit all alone of al
evening" writing and she sewing-a
child in the street calls out as our boy
used to, and we will both start up with
beating hearts and a wild hope, only to
find the darkness more of burden than
ever. It is still and quiet now.
[ look up at the window where his blue
eyes used to sparkle at my coming, but he
is not there. l listen for his pattering
feet, his merry shout, and his ringing
laugh; but there is no sound. There is no
one to climb oyer my knees, no one to
search my pockets and tease for presents,
and never find the chairs turned over,
the broom down or ropes tied to the
door knob. [ want some one to tease me
for my knife; to ride on my shoulder; to
lose my axe: to follow me to the gate when
[ go, and be there to meet me when I
come; to call 'sgood night'' from the little
bed, now empty.
And wife, she misses him still more:
there are no little feet to wash, no prayers
to say, no voice teasing for lump of sugar,
no sobbing with the pains of hurt toe
and she would give her own life, almost
to wake up at midnight and look across to
the crib and see our boy there as he used
to be.
DON'T Go.-For the benefit of the few
young men of the coun ~ who yet talk Of
going West, the following extract from the
Baltimore American" is published: TIC
those young men who anticipate emigra-
ton to the Western country for wealth
and prosperity, it might be well to cite q
few instances Of Baltimore boys already,
abiding there, and the occupations at which
they are engaged. One drives an ice-cart
in Denver City. Colorado; one peddles
prize packages on q south western railroads
one keeps saloon at Topeka, Kansas; one
is guide at Pixies Peak, and two work as
track repairers ON one of the divisions OF
the Kansas and Pacific Railroad These
are all sons of respectable, wealthy or we'll
TODD parents in this city, and out of the
six four are known to have vacated pleasant
and profitable situations here. Besides
these there are dozens of Others engaged
in occupations more OF less elevated thar
these mentioned. But few go West and
remain year in the rough country who
would not gladly return to their former
positions, and many who do not do so are
only prevented by the modification which
they would feel at such an open confession
of disappointed hopes