The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1882-04-18
AN ANCIENT WIPE.
Some Observations on the Part of
q Handkerchief Oyer q Hun
dred Years Old.

An item having appeared in the BAzoo
the other day with regard To a handker-
chief of the respectable age oil a hundred
and five years, and on which a sort vi a
family record was worked in silk, one
would naturally suppose there was nothing
more to be said on the subject. As mere
matter of curious information, 1t would,
and did, do tolerably we'll for ten line
item, and nothing more was thought about
the handkerchief or its suggestive record
of the birth of those who had been dust
and ashes these many years. The reporter,
however, was shown the ancient rag a sec
ond time and, beginning to ponder on
what it's own peculiar history must have
been, through what vIcissitudes II had
passed, how old ii was, and yet showing
only the softened yellow Of hale and
hearty middle life, as the grey hair in SD
MANY handsome heads only serves to
beautify them, and suggest the stronger
hold on life. what was his surprise on
hearing soft and by no means unpleas-
ant voice say:
ayes, Pm pretty near old enough to
vote,'
The involuntary start on the part of the
reporter only elected a. sort of velvety
laugh which even dull ear could recognize
as belonging to the same soft voice. Don't
be frightened, young man" the same voice
again said: Il couldn't hurt you. All /
could do would he To wipe your nose, IL
that's what you need this spring weather"
The handkerchief was lying spread out
over the reporters right knee. When the
above speech fell on his ear, the ancient
relic drew itself up together in the middle,
and made a sort of bunch of itself, as If
about to perform its natural office.
Bend that horn of yours down this way
if YOU want it wiped" observed the hand
kerchief for 1t was that ancient relic which
was talking.
"No thank you," the reporter said, hay-
ing wiped his nose the day before. This
is the first time that ever | knew that a
handkerchief could talk"
There's heap yon don't know if you
knew all that do, you would be the wisest
man in America. know everything that
has happened since | was the outside of a
stick OF fax, and that was away back in
17U."
THE deuce you do
'Ies, young man, do. Just feel me
minute"
The reporter did so.
"Now." continued the handkerchief,
"you can tell your friends forever more, as
/ long as YOU live. that you have had In
vour hand the handkerchief with which
Washington wiped the indignant tears from
his eyes when the overjoyed and misguided
colonists wanted to make him king
The reporters eyes widened with wonder
at this statement.
But" continued the handkerchief, cit
has not ALWAYS been a rosy life with me.
There has been the bitter with the sweet,
and have seen and known the pangs of
poverty and privation."
GLOW can a handkerchief know of pow
erty 2"
"Easy enough. Don't You suppose that
we love Cologne and New Mown Hay
and Musk and other sweet perfumes,
which only those having money can afford,
and which give us delicious breaths? All,
yes, poverty affects us as we'll a You"
when were you i'm such a strait?
at is painful reminiscenee." said the
venerable wipe with sigh, "but as you
seem TO he clever sort of newspaper
man and faithful puryeyor of news. |
don't mind giving Won brief sketch of my
dark DAYS. | was living i'm Washington,
the country. Life was one gay round OF
pleasure. and on all brilliant occasions
appeared on the person OF my young
with form like Hebe's and face rivaling
Cleopatra's. She was sought after by the
| brilliant young foreigners who were con-
nected with the different legations.
zone, a Young Englishman, tall and
4 a. and
bore away my mistress as his wife. But
he proved to be gambler, and one night
in a gilded gambling room in New York,
he was killed. His family heartlessly
refused to recognize his widow, and as her
own family were all dead, she had to face
the wolf at her door alone and unaided.
Pride would not let her accept help, though
it was freely profiered. For two years she
struggled and her privations- were great.
One day an old lover, grown rich, called
on her and so earnestly did he plead for
her heart that she yielded and they were
married. Then there came back the gilt
tering days of the past and l was most
luxuriously treated. Children were born
to this happy couple, and grandchildren
came and great grandchildren, some of
whom have held high places in the
government. Ihe changes In the 1amlly
were those incident to all American house
holds. The great west invited members OF
it to its wealth of soil, and came along TO
do duty on Sundays and at dances. Those
were good times, especially at the dances,
and their memory is very pleasant to me. !"
$50, then, you have had somewhat of a
romantic life"
"Yes, indeed. and if the grand sachem of
your paper wouldn't miss you could keep
you here fer hours telling of many inter
esting scenes through which have passed
and of the births and deaths of great
company of people / have attended. But
/ guess you had better fold me up and lay
me away, as do not care to further de-
tain you"
"Will you remain in Sedalia until your
day is ended?"
At this the ancient relic quietly slipped
from the reporters knee and said no more.