The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-05-26
A GENUINE ANTIQUE.

The gentle spring sunshine had proved
wonderfully persuasive. 1t had coaXed
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 fattered Simon
Powers into the belief that little air
might do him good. eff you wrap up
warHa," his wife had added, anxiously
remember you're not well man yet. ="
Yes, he remembered, poor Simon Pow
ers! 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
while 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 feebler or more useless thing than
hep
Just then little boy, rolling his hoop,
sent it suddenly against the sick man.
Simon started painfully, and with a
cruel sense of feebleness that was once
strength. The boy grinned and said:
Seat? Ye're scat easy
A moment later Smith, the grocer.
passed, with hearty: "How are you,
Powersp Lookin' pretty peaked vet
amt ye? Well, l 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.
Il wish you'd step here, sir" Simon
turned and saw two women in a hand
some carriage.
won't you step here, sir?" the voice
repeated, with increasing decision.
"Do you live here?" said the elder of
the two ladies, as if she were examining
awitness.
Eyes, mum. live here" said Simon,
patiently.
Every well, I'm going to get out.
They tell me you've some very good bits
of old furniture. 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, slender and linn
damsel, whose dress suggested the age
of Pericles and who was usually spoken
of by her protectress as "a gifted
gyurl.'
isn't that knocker delicious?" said
Mrs. Punderson.
isn't it? Too delicious" echoed
Miss Violet Varnes.
Every easily taken off,
VERY easily. 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 visitors.
"Good-afternoon" said Mrs. Punder
son, promptly. "We've come to look
at what old furniture you have. may
want to buy something of YOU"
"Why, ma'am, I've only little my
mother left me, 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.
whats that desk? That not bad, )
she added, in lower tone to her com
panion.
mo, not bad at all, said the "giftec
gyurl."
THAT desk,' said Mrs. Powers,
little proudly, my husbands fathe
willed him, and when we're gone on
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'
"What it's worth in money l can
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 was married. Somehow
it's home, that desk is, that desk and
few other things
you say it isn't handsome Their
l differ from you," said Mrs. Pundel
son. II 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 exceller
order"
what does she sayp" asked tn
grandmother, in shrilI little voice.
''She says she thinks Simon's desk