Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1884-03-14
A FAMILY RELIC.

= es | know said Aunt Nabbv. in
voice about as cheerful as the croal,
OF consumptiye raven. THE family
IS all broke up, and everything is scat
tered. And the furniture was sold AZ
auction. Such a thing never would
have happened if I'd been at homer'
81 dare say not, said Mr.. Wellwood.
tapping the fcathery tip of his cigar
against the japanese ash-receiyer. and
thinking secretly what fortunate
thing it was for the amicable settle
ment of the Wellwood estate that
Aunt Nabby--"Abigau Maria" her
name was written in the family record
had not been at home.
For she was yeritable thorn in the
side of her relations this querulous,
ll-tempered, domineering old lady.
Not that | care for the old chairs
and tables, and bedquilts," went on
Aunt Nabby, knitting energetically
away at the silk mtten, which never
seemed to grow any larger. "samIel's
wife was dreadful poor housekeeper,
and things were most used up. any
how But there's one thing I'm deter
mined to have %
What is that ?" said Mr.. WelIwood.
more in compliment to Aunt N"bpy
sudden stop than out of any actiF'
e"riestty 6iG az t9f 9iet5ab ti,iisfs 1T n,a
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 | mean to have it. And | want
you to help me get hold of it, Matthew"
Il don't think it will ever be posi-
bic for you to find it." said Mr.. Well
wood, thoughtlully.
"But l will find it," said Aunt
Nabby. 81 must find it,"
why" point-blank demanded Mr..
Wildwood.
because" answered Aunt Nabby,
81 want it for a family relic. hain't
got nothing to remind me of Samuels
wife. And that's what Eve come on
East for to get hold of that old die
tionary. I'm goin' out to Pelt's 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"
Il don't regard that as especially
likely" said Mr. WelIwood. "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?'
Il think said Mr.. Wellwood, "that
Aunt Nabby has some sort Of method
in her madness this time. And it is
not for any mere sentimental associa-
tion that she wants to get hold of the
old dictionary
Il remember it well, sald 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 Poly once set down
a 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,
interrupted Mr. Wildwood. "She was
an eccentric old soul. We were all
surprised. if you recollect, at there
being no money saved up, none deposit
ed anywhere. Depend upon it, If there
was any money to save"
1T was in that old dictionary = cried
Mrs. Wellwood, dropping her darning-
needle. "And Aunt Nabby knows 1t J.
MIR. Wellwood nodded his head, and
smoked harder than ever as he stared