The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1877-11-16

practices. 1t is chance, don't you see |
But new man coming in has his chance to
cut me out
II see. What can be done ?"
Nothing" with ruetul glance That's |
the worst of it. ! can only keep on and |
hope for the best But it is hard, when with |
this miserable thousand dollars could |
double my chances and make nice home
for you two. Sue, darling don't cry"
She had laid her cheek down on his arm,
but she wasn't crying, only looking sadly
into the fire.
''If we sold everything, all this which
aunty left us--the home, every ything--couldn't
we get the thousand dollars ?" asked des-
perately.
John shook his head 81 couldn't let you
do that, Cree in any case You'll want
your share some day YOURSELF it mustn't go
into buying Il practice for me But, apart
from that, houses sell so badly nov that
this wouldn't realize much over the value of
the mortgage at forced sale And the fur
niture, though worth good deal to keep
would go for nothing at an auction. That
plan wouldn't do at all for any of u.s."
Still, there's no harm in thinking about
it, and seeing what we have, and what it's
worth" | urged, loath to give up any ghost
of a chance. "We may do that, maynt we
John?"
"Of course That is thing you must do
sooner or latei. Look over the house and
make list carefully, and we'll consult and
fix on approximate values. Don't hurry
about it, though. Next week is time enough,
and know you need rest"
'Rest is the very thing l don't need and
can't take l cried impetuously, "Some-
thing to fill up the long days and keep us
from getting blue is what we want Wen
make the list tomorrow john"
"A little more talk and he rose to GO
"Did you stop at the post-oftice, John o.
"Yes, There.was nothing for YOU"
"Not even the HteHigencer ?" asked Sue,
languidly.
81 forgot to tell you, There has been
great fire in New York, and the InteNigencer
is burned out. Abner brought the news
over it was telegraphed to the junction.
They say the building is total loss, so
suppose there wont be any publication for a
Wholesome days at least
Poor aunty how sorry she would be ~
sighed Sue. "Aunty took the paper ever
since it began, forty-five years ago. She nev-
er missed 4 number There it all is, up
stairs stacks and stacks of it. She was so
proud of her file. It's no use at all now,
suppose, is it John ?"
The ragman will give penny pound
for it," suggested 'thats something"
"We'll weigh the lot one of these days,
aud see what we can realize" said John.
"Good night, children"
1t was a ghostly task which we set out t.
do the next day. The past itself, the faint
tragmentary past, seems to be wrapped up
aud iucosed in those bundles of time-wOrn
articles with which elderly people cucumber
their store rooms and closet shelves. Some
air OF antiquity eYhales az you open them
and mingling with our modern air, produce,
an impression half laughable, half sad
Aunt Priscilla had been born collector
She loved old things because they were old
apart from use or value, and instinct anC
principle combiued had always KEEP
her from throwing away in her life. Gu
list was a very short one. A few chairs anC
tables, a dozen min spoons and small te;
pot in slver,th the huge newspaper heap which
| had appraised at a penny pound-thes
seemed the only saleabe things and W,
looked comicaly and grimly into each 9th
er's faces as we set them down.
Il wish it were possible to eat hteHigen
, GERS" said l.
. "They say newspapers make excellen
counterpanes," replied Sue-''warmer tina
blankets"
John came as usual in the evening
"Here's enterprise ~ he called out as h
came in.
"What is enterprise ?'
- "The InteHigencer Behold it, large as life
;. and looking just as usual, only torty-eigt
hours after the fire That's what l ca
pluck"
isn't it ?" cried Sue admirably, as sh
drew the paper from its wrapper, and hel
it to the blaze that she might see the fami
:. lar page. Meanwhile took from my pocl
ct our melancholy little list.
you were right, John. Sue and hay
=, searched the house over to-day, and this
- all there is of any vaue-the furniture,
little silver, and those wretched MteHige,
y GERS"
q was interrupted by startling cry. ST
a was gazing at the newspaper in her han
p with large, dilated eyes Her cheeks ha
flushed pink
5 'What is it? What is the matter ?" bot
NJ of US cried in breath.
p Gust read this Oh, John, | don't b
lr lieve it Read.
N She thrust the paper in his hand and |
N real
,e SlOOU. paper m having rnsIf been destroy, det w
y by fire on the evening of the 18th inst. y
,, offer the above price for a complete AZ
:. perfect set of the MtelEgencer from its fir
ID number, March 4, 1880, to present date. Al
persons able to supply set as stated wi
re- pl ase communicate with the publisher.
- o Box 235l, New York.
" "A thousand dollars Oh, Sue o
h John what piece of good fortune De
aunt-think of her file turning out such
k treasure 1t is too wonderful to be tru
al | feel as though it were dream = and
4 danced up and down the kitchen floor.
7 John and Sue were equally excited.
,r "Only," promised the former, I'VE musr
# forget that some one else may have file
the hitehigencer, aud get ahead of us"
re This wet blanket of a suggestion kept II
id awake all night, My thoughts kept tlyil
re to New York, anticipating the letter whi
we had written, and John posted oyernig