The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1880-07-14

that her aunt had crowned the be-
nevolence Of her life by this gift, and
only thought herself silly for having
believed in the hidden treasure
But Simon was Of q different mold.
AS time passed on he waxed more
and more wrathful at fate. The
world did not appreciate his genius.
His father died and he was left to
his own resources. lie left Ieekville
at last, and, going to New York, re-
solved to become a star and astonish
the dramatic million. Fate was still
against him; and as a last resource
he settled down as a very subordi-
nate actor in an exceedingly minor
theater, and came on in peasant cos
tune to say "welcome home, my
lord to the newly returned heir; or
as a smnggler, who announced that
the Captain was waiting" or some
times as a speechless king at a ban
quot.
Penelope made nets and nursed
her children. In a few years the
house was full Of them. When we
say the house, we mean the habita.
tion, which, correctly speaking,
might have been mentioned as
rooms. They trotted and crept about,
fell down stairs and out Of windows,
and overset kettles of boiling water,
and through all escaped alive, with
their fullcomplcment Of limbs. The
disappointed actor was not as great
ly rejoiced as a patriarch would have
been by the number Of his olive
branches. Probably sandals and goat
skins4were oreeasily come at than
morocco shoes and calico frocks are
nowadays. And finally, in despair,
starbuck took to drink, and crowned
Penelope's misery. Then began the
regular pawningof the china jar.
Once a week, at least, food ran
short, and there was no money in
any pocket; and on that day, at dusk,
Simon would repair to his aUncle's'
with the legacy in newspaper, and
bring home sundry shillings to pur-
chase supper. Poor Penelope always
managed to get her treasure back be-
fore it was time to pawn it again,
and on the whole, the china jar cost
them more than its original value
over and over again.
1t was a miserable sort of home.-
Simon seemed to grow more morose
every day; the children walled and
fought; Penelope worked her fingers
to the bone; and rarely had time to
wash her face or brush her hair; and
the bugbear of the household, the
black man up the chimney, was the
agent who collected the monthly
rent. They were always behind
hand, and always on the verge Of be-
ing turned out into the street, and
just saved themselves this unpleas.
ant circumstance over and over
again. Penelope declared that it
would happen some day, and Simon
said, "Let III better know the worst"
Perhaps it was for the purpose of
acquiring this knowledge that, com
ing home in an oblivious state from
the theatre one night, he walked in
TO an open cellar door and broke his
leg. That months rent went to the
apothecary, and the ayenging agent
made his appearance shortly after,
uttering dire threats. Penelope
promised payment next week. Next
week came, so did the agent; but the
money was not forthcoming, 1t was
a desperate case. The agent saw it.
Owe borne this long enough he
said. "0ut of this you 50 into the
street, and if you had anything
worth hsixpence I'd seize it. Holloal"
for here his eye fell upon the china
jar, "how did you come by that9 It's
q curiosity You've no business
with Injuries if you can't pay your
rent; that's minela And he strobe
across the room, seized the long
treasured jar, and was marching off
with it, but Penelope caught him by
the arm.
Don't take thatl" she cried. 91t's
all | have to remember my poor dead