The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1877-04-14
GOLDEN LOCKS.
Tho story OF i. switch.

Inc story OF II switch.
"What do I know about such mat
ters ?" said Squire Postlcthwaite, rlmp-
ling up his Saxon brown hair into crest
on the very top of his head.
The squire was standing in the middle
Of the sunny sitting-room-a room aglow
with wrcaths Of autumn leaves and Bios.
sOming geraniums, with n wood fire on
the hearth, which exhalcd faint piny
perfume from tho resinous logs which
were crackling there, and the biggest
tortoise.shell cat in New Jersey asleep in
front OF the blaze. And the sQuire's
wife was balancing herself on tiptoe to
sew n button on. his shirt bosonl-a
malicious bntton which had flown off
without the slightest previous notice, a
very Mephistophelcs in mother-of-pearl.
The squire was tall and big and easily
wheetlled; the squirc's better half was
round and petite and possessed of good
deal Of feminine diplomacy; and, as n
matter Of course, Mrs. Postlethwaitc
conquered.
"0h, my dear, it's the simplest thing
in the world" said she.
"But it's so perfectly absurd |" per-
sisted the squire. 1.-THE idea OF my g j.
ing into ono of those Broadway places
and asking for-a switch!"
cts done every dny, my DEAR" said
Atrs. POstlcthwaite, deity brcaking the
thread. "And really my hair is getting
30 thin, what with crimping and fr:zzing;
md everybody else wears II false braid,
or bunch Of c,irls, or something, md /
an positively singular without one.
And I wouldn't mind waiting until 60
up to town in Januasy, if it wasn't for
Fanny Leslie's charnde party. Every
body will be there, md Of course you
want NE to look as we'll us any one else,
don't You, deQr?"
The squire could not gainsay this
. leading proposition. He hal married IL
pretty young country girl for love, and
during all the five years Of their welded
life the torch had burned clear upon the
al!ar of his heart.
"Of course do, said he, heartily.
"tThen you'll bring inc the switch,
won't your" coaxcd Mrs. Postlethwaite.
"1f it must be, 1 suppose it must he,
assented the squire, with grimace.
And when he drove of to the depot, hc
carried in pocket case, next to his
heart, lock Of his wife's flaxen hair
not as n keepsake, but rs n sample.
"Thirty.six inches long, at least"
Mrs Postlethwaite called after him.
"And crimped n little ut the top, il it's
not charged extra for"
Squire POstletlwilitc didn't go to the
city every day. AS n general thing, his
peach farm in Now Jersey occupied the
most of his time and attention; but when
he did mingle with the guy metropolitan
world, he resolved to enjoy himself to
the utmost. So he engaged room at
the most expensive and aristocratic hotel
hc could find, visited the Academy OF
Design, where lie didn't understand the
pictures at all, and went in the evenings
to the thcater, where he cried over the
tragedy, and laughed his vest buttons of
at the brisk little comedy that served rs
m afterpiecc, and was little abashed at
the ballet. And it is most probable TINT
he would have forgotten his wife's com.
mission entirely II, in the process OF
searching his pocket case for note
which lie was to present for payment at
q city bank the next day, he hadn't
Glanced to come across the tress of shin.
ing gold.
"Hallo!" said tho squire, shifting his
knee with one hand, "hore's P0lly's
lair And I must go and buy the switch
tomorrow, or therell be the deuce and
all to pay"
1Ge went that afternoon to dino with
old Mr.. POnsOnby at Delmonico's-for
the squire had all Il child's delight in
gliding and fresco and lights. Old Mr..
POnsonby rather discouraged the switch
business when, over their modest bottle
OF cl4ret, the squire broached his pro-
posed errand OF the following morning.
/ wouldn't, said old Mr.. Ponsonby,
shaking his head.
mWoulln't?" echoed the squire.
"Why not?"
Its running a great risk" said Mr.,
PGnsonby, oracularly. "I'm told that
yellow fever and smallpox, and all that
sort OF thing, are disseminated to IN
alarming extent through the medium of
false hair
Squire Postletlwaitc opened wide his
eyes and MOUTH.
"They cut of. the hair OF. hospital
cases, and sell it to pay expenses, you
sec, added Mr.. Pousonby, lowering his
voice.
"Nol" interrogated the squire.
"Fact," nodded the old gentleman.
And, besides, they import deal Of it
from foreign countries, where the peo-
pie arc in no wise noted for cleanliness
or health"
Never heard Of such thing in my
life" asseyerAted Squire Postlethwaite.
And the only why to be quite sure
about what you're buying is to SEQ it cut
from the human head yourself" )" asserted
Mr.: Ponsonby, peeliug II banana.
"But don't see how TINT can be
tIoae," heRitated the Jersey peOch
tlrMer