Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-12-19

ing you'll be ID, that don't alter it. Nor il
amt manners, either"
81 never said anything of the kind Z" shout
cd Tom. ~ said it was n deed that was LOST
"a parchment document"
81 said all along il was dog you meant, 81
said the old man, only catching the last word
Of the sentence. "a tarrier dog, answers "a
the name of Bob! Well, you amt found
him, have youY
Mrs. Moyse and her daughter were 80 tick
led with the old mans mistakes and Tom 4
increasing indignation that it was sometime
before their laughter would permit them to
explain to Uncle Keckwidge that it was a
valuable paper, and not dog, that was lost.
Then why did he come a-telling US stories
about tarrier dogsl | don't believe there
amt been no dog lost at all-there now.
And he may put that in his pipe and smoke
it,"
Tom was beginning to get really angry but
Bessie pacified him by squeezing his hand
under the table and whispering
"Lor', you don't mind uncle, Tom, dear.
You know he's quite deaf and foolish. He
doesn't know half he says"
Il don't think much of the other half.
whatever it may be-" said Tom doubtfully.
Hes never particularly amiable but this
evening he does seem to have his knife into
me uncommon"
"Never mind, dear" replied Bessie I'VE
don't take any notice of what he says, and
you mustn't either. Have a little of mothers
homemade raspberry JAM and think no
more about it, This is the first pot of last
years making, brought out expressly in hon
or Of you"
Thank you, ma'am since you're 10 press.
ing, | don't mind if do - said Tom, and
mr. IaA IN Ialf Il,,t L. 4
he taken a mouthful when he grew suddenly
pale, his lower jaw dropped, and he remain
ed gazing fixedly at the jam-pot as if spell
bound.
Good gracious, Tom" said Bessie, "what.
ever is the matter: Are you i'll z"
Don't say it's Il black Beetle said Mrs
Moyse, peering auXiously into the jam pot
But there was nothing more to cause Toms
emotion.
mo, don't; it's nothing shall be all
right directly gasped Tom. lists the
five hundred pounds"
Mrs. Moyse and Bessie looked at him as if
he had taken leave of his senses. Uncle
Keckwdge murmured incoherently, Five
hundred tarrier dogs with one eye, answers
to the name Of Bob, and relapsed into va
cancy.
But Tom did not long continue in his mo-
mentary condition of bewilderment. He
pulled out the rough draft of the advertise
ment, which was still in his pocket, and be-
gan TO compare the names of the parties to
the deed, as there mentioned, with piece af
parchment which had covered the jam-pot,
and which now lay upside down upon the Ia
BILE
Ralph Howard and Frederick Pollock
Thomas Burt and Sydney Forrest Dysart,
William Henry Austin. Yes the very names
Mrs. Moyse, I've found the missing deed, or
at least piece of it and now, if we.trace
the rest our fortunes made"
You don't mean that dirty old piece of
sheepskin that lay about here for ever so
long, and that took to cover my jam-pots
Good gracious !"
Mrs Moyse, that dirty old piece of parch-
ment is worth five hundred pounds But
where's the rest of it? For heavens sake,
don't say it is destroyed"
MUyse, hin6ins open her cupboard. ''Tho-ois
two dozen pots there, and they've each got
piece of it. That pot was the first we've
opened. And rather think" in
the cupboard-'yes here it is Il rather
think this is all the rest of it."
1t was an anxious moment. The mutilated
parchment was spread out, the pots uncov-
cred, and the circular fragments restored,
though with some difficulty each to its prop
er place. At last the task was finished A
few of the and toteredses and propided dlsos
were slightly sticky, but not the smallest part
was missing.
Mrs Moyse's possession of the deed was
easily accounted for. When Messrs. Sharpe
IL Floyd had removed from Chancery lane, a
quantity of old papers, which were regarded
as out of date and useless had been swept
into the corner for the dust-man. The deed
in question had, by some accident, got among
them and Mrs. Moyse, observing that it
was parchment, and being a careful house
keeper picked it up and laid it aside for the
purpose for which she afterwards used it,
These particulars were communicated to
Tom while Bessie brushed his hat and gener-
ally got him ready (for excitement had made
him quite helpless) to go of to Mr.. Sharpe's
private house at once to claim the reward
Everybody appeared to have vague kind Of
impression that it was all dream, and that
they had better secure the reward before
they woke up. With the deed carefully
in paper and in the breast pocket OF
his carefully buttoned coat, Tom hurried to
Mr., Sharpes, and, hot and painting, began
to tell his story. No sooner, however, had
Mr.. Sharpe comprehended the main fact that
the deed was found, and assured himself Of
short in his narrative.
"That'll do for the present." said he you
shall tell the rest as we go to Mr., Morpeth's.
A hanson was called, and the pair were
quickly at Mr.. Morpeth's house
"Is your master in 7" inquired Mr.. Sharpe.
Yes, sir" said the footman; but he is
Just sitting down to dinner"
Il must see him, notwithstanding, said
Mr., Sharpe. Kindly take him my card
tell him my business is very urgent"
The man complied and a moment later
MIR. Morpeth threw open the dining-room
door.
walk in, Mr., Sharpe. All! you have
good news! see 1t in your face The
Iced is found :"
Eyes, sir; am happy to say it is, and I
you with all my heart and you,
100, my dear Mrs. Morpeth !" addressing a
lair faced, gentle-looking lady, who was seat
I'd at the head of the table.
1T is really found at last, is it ?" said she.
'Oh, what relief Then there will be no
need for me to appear in that dreadful
?"
mot the slightest need indeed, may al
most say that the finding the deed puts an
md to the suit. The plaintiffs haven't leg
o stand on"
''But where, when, how was it found ?" in
luired Mr. Morpeth
This young man is the fortunate finder,
He had better tell his own story" said Mr.,
Sharpe, for as soon as l realized that the
Iced was actually found, l brought him here
1t once and scarcely know the particulars
myself"
Tom told his story and produced the deed
'eceiying the heartiest commendation for his
.cuteness.
Excuse me one moment" exclaimed Mr.
dorpeth and leaving the room, he returned
With check still wet requesting Messrs'
Joutts 4 Co., to pay Thomas Halliday or Or
Ter the sum Of five hundred pounds.
"And now, my friends, he said, ''sit down
md join us at dinner, which you have 80
.greeably interrupted. For my own part
eel more inclined to enjoy my dinner than
have for twelvemonth past, though / am
.fraid the soup has become cold. Sit down,
Ir. Sharpe 'will you sit there, Mr.. Halli-
lay, and make yourself perfectly at home 2"
Tom blushed and stammered, 81 thank
-ou kindly, sir but, If you remember, I've
,artaken of tea and shrimps already, sir.
md il you kindly excuse me, l think that
ome one might feet hurt mean-the truth
l., H. l.. g,. I