Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1877-02-23

self, Libbie, wife of Stephen Holmes,
the sum of twenty pounds to buy a
Mountaineering, and the old harpsicord
which stood in the drawing-room.
ooh, Steve it is cruel" sobbed,
as we started homeward.
"Nevcr mind, Libbie," he said, eve
shall get along without it.
But it was hard work. Steve got
weaker as the winter came on; aud one
stormy afternoon they sent him home in
a carriage. He had tainted at his desk.
"Pve gone under, Libbie," he said,
with a sad smile. "Poor little wife,
what will you do now ~
"Nevcr mind, Steve" [ answered, as
| smoothed his pillow and kissed his
white lips. I'M manage somehow only
don't you worry, dear. | can sew, you
know, and the nights are long, and baby
isn't bit of trouble"
But sew as | would, day and night,
the bills ran up, and the rent remained
unpaid, the doctors fees, and the apothe-
cary's bill taking every penny l could
earn.
One bitter winter afternoon, the
climax came. The landlord gave us
warning to leave. We could not occupy
the cottage longer, unless the back rents
were paid. In addition to this, the
butcher and grocer both sent in their
bills.
And Steve was worse.
He'll die" the doctor said, unless
you can take him away to warm
climate"
What should | do? | couldn't 90 into
the chamber where he lay, lest he should
read the trouble IN my face. So | went
into our little parlor, and throwing my
self on the lounge, sobbed as if my
heart would break.
Baby crept in after me, and fell to
lingering at the old harpsicord
We had brought it home from Seavicw,
or rather Steve bad, for / insisted that
we should have nothing to do with it.
"No, no, Lib" he said at is
grandma's gift, and she's in her grave
now"
1t stood in one corner Of our little
parlor gaunt and ancient as grandma
herself.
1t was baby's supreme delight to
finger the rusty wires. She fell to work
now, running her chubby hands over
them.
Don't 90 kye, nanny, and Blossy
pay 90 a song she lisped. But !
took no heed. With the sure prospect
of Stoves death before mic, my heart
seemed breaking.
Blossy twangcd the wires, and the
winter storm howled without, aud |
wept in my helpless woe
Presently great crash and shrill
Shrek from Blossy started me to my
feet The whole front had given way,
and there stood Blossy like ghost
PLEASE, mamma, don't scold Blossy, "
she faltered; she only tried to climb
up"
did not answer, for something caught
my eye. A sandal-wood box, long and
curously carved, within the case of the
harpsicord. | snatched it up
For my dear niece, Libbie Holmes, -
was inscribed on the top, and tiny
silver key shone in the lock
How | got it open, | never knew
bat it was brimful Of crumplcd bank
bills, and broad, golden coins, and coils
of priceless gems
"Oh, Steve, Steve" | cried, rushing
breathlcss into his room, See what !
have found Grandma St. Aubyn did
remember US, and here is her legacy. -
A GENTLEMAN, says Thackeray, is a
rarer thing than some Of us think for.
Which Of W can point out in his circle
men whose aims arc generous; whose
truth is constant and elevated who can
look the world honestly in the face, with
an equal manly sympathy for the great
and small? We all know hundred
whose coats are well made, and score
who have excellent Z anners, but Of gen
temen, how many? Let ms take scrap
Of paper and each make his list,
MANY persons are liable to extreme
suffering from felons on the finger. The
following prescription is recommended as
a cure for this distressing ailncnt; Take
common rock salt such as is used for
sailing down pork or beef, dry it in an
oven, then pound it fine and mix with
spirits Of turpentine in equal parts Put
it in rag and wrap it around the parts
affected, and as il gets dry put on more,
and in twenty-four hours you are cured,
the fclon is dead.
A STRIKING DISCUSSION "A boss ma
son, who was building tunnel on GER
tain railroad, observed one morning that
the face Of member Of his gang was
disfgured with bruises aud pasters.
"Halloo, jimmy" said he, - what
have you been doin'Y'
Not very much, sorr," answered
Jimmy; II was just down at Bill Null
ligan's last night, sorr, an me an him
had bit ay diseooshen wild sticks -
PErINGTLL says that the first "return-
ing board" Of which he has any recollec-
ton was shingle in the hands Of his
father. The threc-father, son aud shin
gIe--uscd to hold frequent committee
u,eetiu0g In fhp back ahpl lint the re-