Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1884-03-05
A FAMILY RELIC.

"Ies, l know" said Aunt Nabby, in
a voice about as cheerful as the croak
of a consumptive raven. "The family
is all broke ", and everything is scat,
tered. And the furniture was sold at
auction. Such thing never would
have happened if I'd been at home"
81 dare say not" said Mr.. Wildwood,
tapping the feathery tip of his cigar
against the japanese ash-receiver, and
thinking secretly what a 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 queralous.
ill-tempered, domineering old lady.
"Not that I 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. "Samlel's
wife was dreadful poor houseleeper,
and things were most used up. any
how. But there's one thing I'm deter
mined to have "
What is that?" said Mr.. Wildwood
more in compliment to Aunt Nabby's
sudden stop than out Of any active
curiosity on the subject.
"The old dictionary" said Aunt
Nabby.
"whati That old thingp" said Mr..
We|lwood. "Why, it's the edition OF
1910, and all battered to pieces-one
cover gone, and half the leaves out :"
"No NATTER" said Aunt Nabby,
rescuing her ball of silk from the paws
Of the irreverent kitten; Il want it
And mean to have it. And / want
you 10 help me get hold of it, Matthew.
II don't think it will ever be posi-,
ble for you to find it." said Mr.. Well.
wood, thoughtfully.
"Dut l will find it, !" said Aunt
Nabbv, 81 must find it."
"Nhy?" point-blank demanded Mr.
Wildwood
Because" answered Aunt Nabby
81 want it for family relic. ] hain't
got nothing to remind me of Samuelf
wife. And that's what I've come or
East for-to get hold Of that old die
tionary. I'm goin' out to Pelt's Point
tomorrow, to see Squire Sadler--hc
was the lawyer that settled the estate
what there was of it to settle-an(
he'll maybe know what became Of thu
old dictionary"
Il don't regard that as especially
likely" said Mr.. Wildwood. allow
should he know"
"There amt no tellin' what's likely
and what amt" said Aunt Nabby
resolutely.
And here the subject was allowed tt
drop But when Aunt Nabby hat
gone up stairs to bed, with pitch
plaster in one hand, for her back, an(
a tumbler of boiling hot water in th'
other, for her digestion, and box O.
nervine pills in one pocket, and bottl,
of corn curer in the other, Mrs. Well
wood-a shrewd, sallow-complexioneC
little woman, who had all this tim
been darning quietly away at a baske
Of stockings in the corner--looked vi
at her husband with quick, intelligen
eyes.
Matthew" said she, "what does thi
mean"
81 think" said Mr.. Wellwood, "tha
Aunt Nabby has some sort of methot
in her madness this time. And it i
not for any mere sentimental associa
ton that she wants to get hold of til
old dictionary"
81 remember it WELL" raid Mr.,
Wcllwool, thoughtfully. "a quee
old book, with the edges bulging ont
the title-page gone, half the cover tori
off, and round black ring on the othe
half, where little Poly once set dow
tin cup of hot salve. Do you sup
pose, Matthew"
AUNT Nabby knew your Aun
Walker ,Samuel's wife, as she alway
calls her---bettcr than any one else,
interrupted Mr.. Wellwood. "She wa
an eccentric old soul. We were al
surprised, if you recolect, at ther
being no money saved up, none deposit
ed anywhere. Depend upon it. i: thcr
was any money to save
at was in that old dictionary !" erie
Mrs. Wellwood dropping her darnine
needle. "Anl Aunt Nabby knows it !.
Mr.. Wellwool nodded his he'd, an