The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1883-05-24
A GENUINE ANTIQUE.

Lnem ne0Qt t
A GENUINE ANTIQUE.
The gentle spring sunshine had proved
wonderfully persuasive. 1t had ceaxed
the grass to put its head under the
kindly shelter of the old stone wall; it
had wheedled the cat into leaving her
snug hearth for the warm side Of the
woodshed; it had even fiattered Simon
Powers into the belief that a little air
might do him good. eff you wrap up
warm his wife had added, anxiously,
remember you're not a well man yet"
Yes, he remembered, poor Simon Pow
ersi as he walked slowly up and down
before his door. He leaned heavily on
his cane and drew his faded gray shawl
more tightly across his shoulders. He
felt little kindship with the sunshine.
The season seemed in a merry mood in
which he had no heart to join. Three
months of lingering fever lay behind;
three months of slow climbing back to
health lay before; and, in the mean
whilet the butcher, the baker, the grocer,
to be kept at bay. This was not what
he had promised his wife in those far
away days when he wood her; this was
not the father he had meant to be to his
children. Had there crept forth that
day a feebler or more useless thing than
hep
just then a little boy, rolling his hoop,
sent it suddenly against the sick man.
Simon started painfully, and with a
cruel n of feebleness that was once
strength. The boy grinned and said:
tSca'tp Ye're scat easy
A moment later Smith. the grocer,
passed, with a hearty: Show are you,
Powersp Lookin' pretty peaked yet,
amt YEP Well, 1 must be off. Time
and tide, you know"
Simon felt bruised and hurt and
turned to enter his gate, when the sound
of wheels caught his ear. The carriage
stopped.
81 wish you'd step here, SIR" Simon
turned and saw two women in a hand
some carriage.
"Won't you step here, STRIP the voice
repeated, with increasing decision.
DO you live herep' said the elder of
the two ladies, as if she were examining
a witness.
''Yes, mum. live here" said Simon,
patiently.
Every well, I'm going to get out.
Theytell me you've some very good bits
of old furniture. I want you to let me
see them.'
Simon offered no resistance, and they
passed in. The elder was an imposing
matron, with heavy tread and sweeping
train; the younger, a slender and limp
.damsel, whose dress suggested the age
OF Pericles and who was usually spoken
of by her protectress as ga gifted
gyurf."
..Isn't that knocker deliciousp" said
Mrs. Punderson.
isn't itp Too delicious" echoed
Miss Violet Varnes.
very easily taken off"
Every easily, I am sure"
Poor Simon Powers felt his strength
fast leaving him, when, to his great re.
lief. his wife appeared on the scene, hur.
riedly taking off her apron, as a mark
of respect to her vissors.
"Good-afternooni' said Mrs. Punder.
son, promptly. We've come to look
at what old furniture you have. Imay
want to buy something of YOU"
"Why, ma'am, I've only a little my
mother left me. a few old things I've nc
desire to part with"
Mrs. Punderson had, meanwhile,
scanned the room; but found only two
objects sufficiently venerable to be worth
a second glance. One was the little ole
grandmother, nodding over her knit
ting; the other she proceeded to investi
gate.
t.What's that deskp That not bad
she added, in a lower tone to her com
panion.
mo, not bad at all" said the "giftet
gyurl."
sThat DESK" said Mrs. Powers,
little proudly, my husbands fathel
willed him, and when we're gone GU
son Robert is to have it,"
"Ah! ha! an heirloom said Mrs
Punderson, greedily." 1 thought w
should discover something. A genuin'
antique. What do you call it worthp'
stWhat it's worth in money 1 cam
say, ma'am, though it's the best o
solid mahogany. 1t isn't handsome
ma'am; but it's stood in that corne
since the day I was married. Somehow
it's home, that desk is, that desk and
few other things"
.'You say it isn't handsome. Their,
] differ from you," said Mrs. Punder
son. 81 call it exceedingly good
Violet" said she to her young friend
who stood in an attitude by the window
'you remember the one at Sypher's
Sypher would put this in excellen
order"
.'What does she sayp" asked tn
grandmother, in a shrilI little voice.
s'She says she thinks Simon's desk j
handsome" shouted her daughter-in
law.
81 dom wonder. 1 guess 1 hahn
forgot the day gran'f'ther brought
home, and how I used to tie the chi
dren to the legs of it when they wa
naughty. I member the time Simo
eat the middle out of two squash pies.
Wont yea let me see the inside G
itP" said Mrs. Punderson, tramplin
quickly OF the old lady's quaverin
"reminiscences.
''It's not much to see," said Mrs
Powers, turning down the heavy lie
which revealed, however, a temptin
array of pigeon-holes, little bras:
knobbed drawers and tiny closets
Mrs. Punderson, in a majestic way
was charmed and Miss Violet Varne
was fairly %rapturous.
"And you don't know what you
take for it?" said Mrs. Pundersor
briskly.
'.Do you mean, ma'am, that 20
want to buy it? It's not a thing W
care to part WITH" said Mrs. Powers
with rising pride. t'Simon, you'd neve
sell the old deskp Would youp"
s'Sell it? No. 1t 'ud bring but little.
'You shall have one hundred an
fifty dollars" said Mrs. Punderson, 8
if the bargain vas concluded. Sh
added to Violet Varnes. 'That's ha
what I should have to give at Sypher'l
l will send for it in a week." she sal
aloud.