Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1881-06-10

myself known, added to tho fatigue of
the Journey and the exposure to tho
rain, had made me il-humored; did
not try to conceal my feeling; brusque-
ly ordered the servant to make fire
and prepare supper for me while l ex-
plored the rest of the house.
Then, taking an old silver CANDLE
stick which was fitted with small
ornamented candle in n paper socket, l
proceeded to examine the habitation of
my deceased cousin. Everything CORE.
sponded to the saloon in which | had
been received. The faded hangings
were patched here and there with new
or pieces, which gave them a dilapi-
dated appearance. The furniture, of
antique form and coarse workmanship,
adorned but little the Unfinished apart
ments; care, elegance, convenience, ev-
erything was wanting in this old house.
found there an eloquent witness of
the ignorance of our fathers, and new
proof that good sense and good taste
really began with our generation.
The bedroom, above all, was curious.
The bed, in the form of coffin, was in
closed by four green serge curtains full
of holes. Upon q table. to which the
drawer was wanting, were placed a
broken water pitcher and bowl of diff
ferent color; finally, along the wall
hung some old family portraits, that
would have caused nervous outcries to
n connoisseur. Painted at different
periods they represented personages of
different professions; among them l re-
marked an ecclesiastic, merchant, an
officer, and finally large man, halt cit
izep, half rustic, whom Dame Felicia
declared to be her late master.
The honest housekeeper had come to
announce that supper was on the table.
followed her to the saloon The ap-
pointments of the table struck me un-
pleasantly. The linen taken from the
press to do me honor was streaked with
yellow lines; the earthen plates were
adorned with greasy arabics; the glass
es, without bottoms, resembled the
flower cups of our youth; lastly, two
broken boxes afforded the guest, for
seasoning, salt and pepper.
Dame Felicia served me with thin
soup in which butter had been forgot
ten, and the remains of an old fowl to
which her maternal solicitude had left
only the skin and bones. She declared
that this was the usual fare of her late
MASTER but, for hospitality's SAKE she
added for me three potatoes that were
beginning to decay, and a morsel OF
cheese covered with greenish moss! L
tasted the wine; it was thick and bad,
made from the refuse of the vintage.
More discontented than ever with
my journey decided on gong to bed.
The old servant lighted me to my cham
ber
Its great dismal bed, its smoky Old
portraits. were yet more dlsagreeaole
to me than on my first visit. L turned
sharply towards my conductress and in
quiredlf there were an nauctioneerat-
IAN auctioneer!" she repeated, 81 do
not understand you.
do they never have public sales
here"' :,
"oh! yes, certainly
And how are they conductedF
The beadle beats drum ana an
nounces it at the crossroads OF the
common"
Wen, tomorrow, let the beadle
know that he may announce the sale oil
everything there is here
mot everything hat' Monsieur,
Will you Keep nothing!
"Nothing.
MOI even the portraitss
mot even the portraits.
An! monsieur, you 40 not mean IL;
they are portraits OF your family"
~ tell you that L snail sell every
thng. Hood-nlght; ana look the
candle from Dame fellcla, VINO went
out with upllited hands.
ana what does she thlnk want OF
these canvas dauose An! yes, you gro
tesque images, L shall sell you, were 1t
only IN hate OF the time that you repre-
sent:
Ihls gloomy interior is yours, these
ineleSaht surroundings, ana TINS parsl-
mony are what you nave bequeathedi
this life despoiled OF all the charms of
our modern clViiization IS your lie per-
petuateu by tradition. Begone, bar
parians! we are not OF the same race,
ana we nave nothing IN common"
WINE SO speaking ! had prepared
myself Tor ped; but fatigue and bad
humor panished sleep: look the vol
ume OF history that had brought to
divert me on the road then the inven-
Tory OF my inheritance which the no
tary had given me.
Here surprise awaited me. The
whole amounted TO sum that had
peen lar from supposing, anu which
maze me almost ricn:
Ihis unexpected discovery singularly
lessened my displeasure, and began to
make the digestion OF my bad supper
easier. set myself to examine the in
yentory in detail, even as the figures
began to hoat before my half-closed
eyes; finally, lost consciousness OF my
surroundings.
Presently seemed to hear footsteps
about me; l opened my eyes and per-
ceived a dozen persons. grouped about
my bed. All wore ancient and differ
ing costumes, in which L recognized.
with surprise, those OF the old portraits
which adorned the chamber. looked
Immediately at the wall to make the
comparison. Their frames alone re-