Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1882-12-21

q coat of Mr.. Grants put away in tn
camphor chest, and maybe vest or 50
you sit right down By my fire whilst
go up garret and look" .-.
| II took Grandma some time to flint
the clothes under all the shawls ant
blankets in the chest, and when sht
had given them To Mrs. Slack she had Il
hurry 10 the station with her daughter
and the cars being on the track they die
not stop to get tickets. but we're barrel,
IN time to find seats when the train roll
ed off. The conductor game round in
few minutes and Grandma put her hanl
in her pocket, suddenly turned pale
opened her big sachel. turned out all II
contents, stood up and shook her dress
looked on the floor, and when Mrs. White
said in amazement, "What is the matter
mother ?" she answered curtly, I've los
my pocket book.
"Wss it in your pocket ?" asked Nara
"Yes; at least s'pOse so: l certainly
took it out Of my drawer. for / noticed
how heavy twas; that new cashier gave
me gold for most of it, you see."
You'd have known then if you had
dropped it on the way, mother"
IL should think so: any way, L cant
60 to Boston without It'll We may as vel
stop at next station and go back" ,-1.
So back they went; asked at the tick.
ct office if any such thing had been pick
ed up on the platform, and leaving a
description of it, went rather forlOrnly
back to the house. Here terrible up
turning Of everything took place; draw.
ers were emptied, cupboards ransacked
trunks explored, even the camphor chest
examined to its depths, and everything
in it shaken out.
"YOu don't suspect Mrs. Slack p in.
quired Maria.
sally Slack no, indeed. I've known
her thirty year, Maria: she's honest as
The daylight"
Still Maria thought it best to send fol
Mrs. Slack and inquire if she had seer
it when she was at the house la
Certain, certaini" answered the good
woman. 81 see Mis- Grant hev it into
her hand when she went-up chamber;
hedn't took no notice of it before, but
she spoke up an says, says she, III go
right up now, Mis- Slack, for Pm in some
of a hurry, bein' that Pm goin' in the
cars to Bostown for to buy our folkses'
Christmas things; so then took notice
t she he'd pocket book in her hand"
This was valuable testimony, and Mrs.
Slack's face of honest concern and sym
pathy showed her innocence in the mat
ter. Next day there was an advertise
ment put in the paper, for family con-
Guided Grandma must have dropped her
money in the street going to the station,
bat the advertisement proved as fruit
less as the search, and for once in her
life the dear old lady was downcaSt
enough.
"The first time l never gave 'em Il
thing on Christmas! do feel real down
hearted about it, Maria. There's Annie's
three girls lotted so on their gloves an
nieknacks tor parties this winter, for
was goin' to give them gold pieces SOS
they cOvld get what they wanted sort Of
fresh when they did want it; and poor
Gerty's new cloakp
. "Oh, never mind that, motner. l can
sponge and turn and fix over the old one
q plush collar and cuffs will make it all
right"
But there's the boys. Tom did want
that set of tools and bench for 'em
and l reckoned on seeing Harry's eyes
shine over real Newfoundland dog.
That makes me think; won't you write
to that man in New York? I've chang
ed my mind about the dog. And Jack
can't 60 to Tbomas's now for vacation
oh dear"
Don't worry, mother" said Maria /;
but Grandma went on:
Kate and Rosy too, they wont get
their seal muffs and caps, and dear little
Hall how he will long for the books
promised him. It's real trying. Maria p
and Grandma wiped tear frOm her
eyes, q most unusual symptom. H
But it was her way to make the bes;
of things, and she sat down at once To
tell Thomas of her loss, and then put il
out of her mind as we'll as she might.
1t spoke well for all those ten grand
children that they each felt far more
sorry for Grandmother Grants disap-
pointment than their. own, and all re-
solved to give her present much nicer
and more expensive than ever before,
pinching little on their other gifts to
this end and because they had to spare
from their other presents for this laula-
BILE puI pose, it was natural enough that
not one should tell another what they
meant to send her, lest it should seem
too extravagant in proportion to what
the rest of the family received. Christ
mas morning the arrival began. The
stocking of Grandps'S which Gerty had
insisted on hanging to the knob of
Grandma's door was full, and when she
came down to breakfast she brought it
with her still uusearched, that the fam
lily might enjoy her surprise. -, q
At the top square parcel tied with
blue ribbon was marked "from Gerty,"
and proved to be little velvet porte
'-|
Dear child how thoughtfull' said
Grandma, giving her kiss, and not OBJ
serving that the Doctor looked funnily
at Mrs. White across the table.
The next package bore Johns name
and disclosed a pocket book of Russia
leather. .I. .a yt elniii'.tt
$50 usefulF' said Grandma, with a
twinkle of gratitude in her kind old eyes.
Harry emitted a long low whistle, and
his eyes shone as the next paper parcel
with his name on it showed an honest
black leather pocket book with steel
clasp. us iiFiH .d5-r. pr..- -1
Grandma had to laugh. Doctor White
roared, and Tom looked a little rueful
as his bundle produced another wallet
as like to Harry's as two peas in pod:
"Dear boys~ said Grandma, shaking
like bowl ef jelly with the laughter she |
tried to suppress in vain; but it was lhe
boys turn to shout as further explora
lions into the foot of the old blue stock
ing brought up lovely seal-skin wallet
from their mother, and vOlnmihous
yellow leather one from the Doctor.
"'Six' souls with but single thought
Six hearts that beat as one" !
Mrs. Maria, and a chorus Of
that almost ratified the win
lows followed her. They were still
holding their sides and bursting out |
afresh every other minute, when little
Sylvia RntIedge sailed into the dining
: y 4 - A a i \