The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1876-07-21
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"we boys viii make you q lovely one
not Just a chef, but lovely house witt
four rooms. Perhaps we can get it done
by the Fourth" N -
That settled the matter; and, after Q
further understanding that Anna was &c
bake the cake, and the ~
cents she and Minnie would have left
were to be spent in ice cream, the
meeting" adjourned for long game
of tag.
Great were the mods and whisperings
for the next week; and if papa and nam
ma.hadn been full Of special anxiety
that the children knew nothing about,
they would have noticed the excitement
but as it was they were glad of anything
that called the young peoples attention
away from them; for the Haywards were
a very affectionate and united family
and the children in ordinary times would
have seen how care-worn both father and
mother looked. And yet it was no new
trouble. Some seven years before, Mrs.
Hayward father had died, and leaving
no will, one or two of his heirs insisted
that all his property should be sold, and
the money be divided equally between
the children. This seemed fair enough,
but in reality was very unfair to Mr.. aud
Mrs. Hayward, as her father had settled
her husband on the farm they still oc-
cupied when first married, and assured
them that it was for them and their chill
dren. AS years went by, Mr.. Hayward
had improved the place, and spent all his
surplus money on it.; and yet at the old
mans death, as there was no will, the
brothers insisted on the sale of the farm.
For over six years the matter had been
in litigation, and now Mr.. Hayward had
just been warned by his lawyer that he
would in all probability have to relin-
quish the place unless he could raise
money enough to buy it in. So matters
stood just before this Fourth of July,
which the Hayward children were to
celebrate so lovingly; and Mrs. HAYWARD,
seeing they had some special plan on
hand, begged her husband to let the
children know nothing of the almost
certain prospect that lay before them OF
leaving their dear old home till after the
grand holiday.
The boys had worked hard at polish
ing and cleaning the old cabinet they
had bought new brass handles for the
drawers, finding Jack would make no
charge for his advice and help at odd
moments and late Monday afternoon
the children were to rehearse their grand
Centennial Presentation" as Tom
called it. That young man was alone
in the shop, waiting for the others, and,
by way OF passing the time, took out all
the drawers and fitted them in again.
AS he opened the secret drawer, which
was now TO be used no longer for the
treasure casket for each In turn, he
looked at it carefully. 1t was in the ex-
treme left cornerof the large top drawer /;
the back of the drawer was divided into
pigeon-holes, and the back of this left
hand pigeon-hole, when pressed in q
certain way, fell down and showed a
space behind. AS Tom looked he
thought, 81 wonder why there isn't a
secret drawer at the right-hand cerner."
There wasn't, for they had often tried.
But suddenly Tom thought, " Perhaps
the maker put secret drawer in some
of the pigeon-holes between" and care
fully pushed at the back of each. At
the fourth he fancied he felt spring,
and tried more carefully /; the back fell
forward, and he saw an oblong box just
filling the space behind. Here was a
sensation! Tom could hardly wait for
the others but in few moments up
they came, Ned with his Centennial
speech neatly rolled and tied with blue
ribbon, Annie ready to recite her
"poem," and Minnie with her best doll.
They all saw by Toms face that sotue-
thing had happened and after his ac-
count of the finding of the box, each
took it in turn and tried to open it, but
it was locked. "Let's take it to moth
err" said Anna.
"No, no." cried Tom, "I found it,
and L want to give it to father tomorrow.
You see, L only was to invite the folks
into the room, so L want to hand this to
father"
Gall right; now we must settle just
how we'll manage"
We will not inger at the rehearsal,
however, but pass on to the real affair.
Tuesday dawned clear and bright.
The Haywards were four miles from any
village, and spent the day quietly at
home. But few friends came in the
afternoon, and among them Mrs. Hay
wards only sister, who much regretted
the lawsuit her brothers had involved
Mr.. Hayward in. At 4 o'clock Tom
came on the piazza, where his father and
mother were sitting with their friends,
and invited them all into the large sitting
room, which the children had taken pos
session of since morning, locking out all
the grown folks. AS they rose to enter
the house, Anna struck up the "Centen-
NAL March that she had practiced so
faithfully, and played it steadily and
with good expression, in spite of the
EXPLANATIONS of surprise, that could not
be repressed, as they entered the large
square room, which the boys had dressed
with flags and flowers. In silver figures
stood 1776 on one wall. while opposite,
in gilt, 1876. The sword, musket and
cap their father lad used through the
war were fastened up against the wall,
and beneath stood the old cabinet, but,
except by its shape, it might have been
taken for new. Ice-cream, raspberries.
sandwiches and cake made the table in the
center of the room pleasant spot for the
eye to rest on, while Minnie stood at its
head, with powdered hair, complete
little model Of one of the ladies of l776.
Ned and Tom stood each side of mamma,
IN