The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-10-20

thChs -*AtoS tNdthCtinC A(lAs 0ONu III Bently, was the lady, mother of Henry Bassett- remember the first letter he writ to his cousin Susy, her as he mar ried. Tut! He told me all about it when nobody in Tarrytown suspicioned thing. Abel he says, giving me the letter privately, wish me good lucky Well, he had it. Tut! the letters I've stamped and put in the bag and threw an old shoe after, so to speak. Folks mostly tell me what they're writing about when it is of importance
 That was quite true. Oddly enough, all of the boys and girls in love affairs made confidant of the ugly, bewigged bachelor, and when there was sickness or trouble in any house, the first messenger 1 sent for was Uncle Abel.
 Dye see that box? Number nine. There was a queer letter in that once. i The Widow Fairlamb's Zack ran of to sea. left note sayin' he had gone to em- bark on the brig Victory, Haines, mas ter. She was sickly little body, and Lack was all she had, so nobody had the heart to tell her it was good riddance. But we thought it. He was a lazy dog. Lack. She got map and she wrote 10
 
 in. directed to United States brig Vic tory, Haines, master. begging him to come home. encouraged her, though knowed l, was no use. But il kep, her alive, you see. gave her that box. num- Der nine. and says As sure as letter comes I'll put it there, saysI. Shecom every mail day, and would go away with out a word. So sister Sarah and the neighbors they heard of il, and they fell into the habit of putting a ,rihe in, pound of tea, or bunch of sage or balm, or pie. or the like.
 So it went on for five years and tha. poor soul had sen, out hundreds ef letters. reckon most of her earnings went in postage. When one day Sam drove up Tn the buggy with the mail, who should get out of 1t but Zack, big and fat. and a goatee on his chin. He hadn't been to sea al all, but had gone down 10 Alle- ghany county and set 10 work rafting to Orleans, and had streak of luck. I've IS pretty farm and house at Mckees- port as you'd wish to see, he said, and I've come home for mother So told him about the box. There she comes,' said. And nothing would sui, him bu, he must go inside and hide Zack d. ways was a crazy, joking fellow. And when she looked in the box there was is red face staring out al her. That" Abel would say, taking off his wig to rub his shining pate, twas as pleasant; day as ever enjoyed. After they were gone Doe Nipple took the box
 One of the Nipples went astray, think somebody ventured.
 But everybody in Tarrytown knew tha, when Joe Nipple took to drinking and was turned out of doors by his father. old Abel followed the boy and found him in the swamp, carried him home, and nursed him back 10 life. More than that. He and Sarah kept Joe four months Tn their house, maintaining so strict a watch over him day and nigh, that he could not ge, drop of liquor. Everybody knew, too. the sacrifice which 1t must have been 10 this orderly, dainty old people to bring this poor drunkard with his filthy habits to their hearth. But the result was ,ha, oe was cured. and actually became the " fine. pithy man in which Abel exul,ed.
 When the war broke out half dozen young tairlambs and Bassetts went down 10 Philadelphia to Join the northern army. l am afraid that was Uncle Abel's only clear idea of the matter. He cared nothing for slavery. or state rights, or politics, or anything else so far outside ot IaIrytown. The south only mean, to him Charlie Flunkett, who thirty years ago had gone to Texas. and the 'squire's cousin lane, who had taught and married in Georgia. That the boys should go 10 fight these kinsfolks was terrible in his eyes.
 In the second winter the women of Tarrytown made up some boxes of com forts for the boys sn-blanke,s, mi,,ens, lellies and every kind of cake.
 When they were all ready a town meet ing was held, and 1t was decided tha, somebody must go with them to George town. where they were in camp. With one accord Uncle Abel was named as the proper messenger. " It would seem like Tarrytown itself coming to these poor fellows" the widow Bassett said, sob ping.
 So Abel went. and the town me, to- gether once a week 10 read his letters, which usually covered twenty pages of letter-press, and were full of details con- cerning every boy. Aunt Sarah and Hannah then became their proud GUS todians, and they never tired of reading them to all who came, or talking them over line by line.
 The regiment was ordered ,o Virginia. but Abel remained in Washington. Month after month passed and yet he did not come home. Every week brought letter, cheerful, even joking. full of the gossip of the capital. Squire Plunke,t was beginning to tease Aunt Sarah about the risky propensities which Uncle Abel had developed at this late day. when one morning letter in strange hand ar rived addressed to The Minister of the Presbyterian Church a, Tarry,own." IL, was from the surgeon of hospital in Washington, and stated that three months before an old man by the name of DowreN had been brough, in suffering from lingering disease which threatened to end fatally. He endured agonies of pain, and the surgeon had discovered that he intended to remain there and die