The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1884-03-07
A FAMILY RELIC.

"Yes, know" said Aunt Nabby, in
voice about as cheerful as the croak
of consumptive raven. "The family
is all broke VI, and everything is scat
tered. And the furniture was sold at
auction. Such a thing never would
have happened if I'd been at home"
81 dare say not" said Mr.. Wellwood,
tapping the feathery tip of his cigar
against the Japanese ash-receiver, and
thinking secretly what fortunate
thing it was for the amicable settle
ment Of the Wellwood estate that
Aunt Nabby--"Abigail Maria" her
name was written in the family record
had not been at home.
For she was veritable thorn in the
side of her relations this querulous,
ill-tempered, domineering old lady.
"Not that 1 care for the old chairs,
and tables, and bedquilts," went on
Aunt Nabby, knitting energetically
away at the silk mitten, which never
seemed to grow any larger. "Samlels
wife was a dreadful poor housekeeper,
and things were most used up, any
how. But there's one thing I'm deter
mined to have p
"What is that?' said Mr.. Wellwood
more in compliment to Aunt Nabby's
sudden stop than out Of any active
curiosity on the subject.
"The old dictionary" said Aunt
Nabby
"What! That old thing?" said Mr..
Wildwood. "Why, it's the edition of
1910, and all battered to pieces-one
cover gone, and half the leaves out !"
"No MATTER" said Aunt Nabby,
rescuing her ball of silk from the paws
of the irreverent kitten; II want it.
And l mean to have it. And 1 want
you to help me get hold Of it, Matthew"
Il don't think it will ever be posi-
BILE for you to find it," said Mr.. Well
wood, thoughtfully.
"But l will find It'll" said Aunt
Nabby. 81 must find it"
"Why" point-blank demanded Mr..
Wellwood.
"Because,n answered Aunt Nabby,
II want it for family relic. hain't
got nothing to remind me Of Samuers
wife. And that's what I've come on
East for---to get hold of that old die
tionary. I'm goin' out to Pelts Point
tomorrow, to see Squire Sadler-he
was the lawyer that settled the estate,
what there was of it to settle-and
he'll maybe know what became Of the
old dictionary"
II don't regard that as especially
likely" said Mr.. Wildwood. "How
should he know?'
"There amt no tellin' what's likely
and what amt" said Aunt Nabby,
resolutely.
And here the subject was allowed to
drop But when Aunt Nabby had
gone up stairs to bed, with pitch
plaster in one hand, for her back, and
a tumbler of boiling hot water in the
other, for her digestion, and box Of
nervine pills in one pocket, and bottle
Of corn curer in the other, Mrs. Well
wood-a shrewd, sallow-complexioned
little woman, who had all this time
been darning quietly away at basket
of stockings in the corner-looked up
at her husband with quick, Intelligent
eyes.
Matthew" said she, "what does this
mean?''
II think" said Mr.. Wildwood, "that
Aunt Nabby has some sort Of method
In her madness this time. And 1t is
not for any mere sentimental associa-
ton that she wants to get hold of the
old dictionary"
81 remember 1t well," said Mrs.
Wellwood, thoughtfully. "a queer
old book, with the edges bulging out,
the title-page gone, half the cover torn
off, and around black ring on the other
half, where little Polly once set down
tin cup Of hot salve. Do you sup
pose, Matthew"
AUNT Nabby knew your Aunt
Walker--Samuel's wife, as she always
calls her-better than any one else, u
interrupted Mr.. Wildwood. "She was
an eccentric old soul We wevs oil