The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1885-10-14
INTERESTING STORY.
MARIAS WEDDING PRESENT.

"Ef We don't make Maria wedding
present folks II say you and me is mean as
dirt, Mr.. Babcockn
Let UNI, Mrs. Babcock. Let um."
II dunno as I'd like aum to, Mr.. Bah
cock. "
Whash you care for torkP"
well, dunno as I like to be forks
about thar way. Besides, Obadiah II feel
We had orter give Maria suthin' handsome,
and Idunno. as we hadn't orter. We kin
afford it. We've got plenty, Mr.. Bah
cock
"'Cos we amt been throwing it away all
our lives, Mrs. Babcock"
wall, Ebenezer, you only hev one
niece. She amt likely to marry often and
you've only got one wife. hev helped
You stve; you know that. Now I want
you to let me do as like. By rights hall
Of all you hev is mine, and l don't spend
much.n
There was pause. After awhile Mr..
Babcock spoke.
" No, Abby Jane, you air equinomical
and I never deny it. Do as you like. Give
what you think you should"
Every well,n said Abby Jane, her face
softening. $50 will then"
" Whash you goin' to give?" inquired
Mr.. Babcock.
Silver" replied his wife, "Spoons,
twelve teas, six tables, two salts, a soup
ladle, pair of nice butter knives, all solid
silver" said Mrs. Babcock. When l dc
1t, I'm goin' to do it, and not have Mrs
Obadiah showing how poor the things be-
Ebenezer said no more. He always ad
yocated the cause of economy on principle
as some people do that of temperance,
grooming over the brandy in mince pies or
the alcohol haYorings;" but, on the whole,
he knew that Marie ought to have her wed
ding present. He liked to show his money
at times, rs we'll as to know that he
had it. So the elderly couple took the carr
for New York next day, bought the silver
saw it placed in satin lined box, and con
veyed it home in triumph.
~ guess folks will see we know what is
what" said Mrs. Babcock, proudly. "Maria
ISN'T likely to get q present of that value
from anybody else !; piller-shams, and pin
cushions, and fans, and that like, she may
have in plenty, but j dunno rs there's any
body but her aunt and uncle Babcock can
afford to give her solid silver II you leave
the bill into the boz, Mr.. Babcock, dun
NO as it would hurt Mrs. Obadiah couldn't
say perhaps it was plated, after oil, if she
saw the BILL
The old couple gloated over the silver for
long while before they shut it into the
case, the bill in a corner, as if by accident.
1t was large box, quite an imposing affair,
md Marin's name, and that of the donors,
vas marked in gold letters ON the morocco
And now the latter held counsel as tc
when to offer their present.
Take it with us to the weddin' that II
be best and safest, and we'll get the first OF
surprise, !" said Mrs. Babcock. Well Jest
wrap it up in paper, and cover it with
towels. and set it in an egg-basket. That II
be handy, and no ill-disposed folkses won't
know what we hey. dunno but there il
,olkses that would steal UNI If they know
3D."
"Yon're right, Abby jane" said Mr..
Babcock. " There's lots of um that would
murder both you and me as quick as wink
in fur wuth OF that silver, and its best to
be precautions"
Accordingly the silver, closely tied in, as
well as covered with an old towel, was set
in the bottom Of the little vehicle in which
Mr.. and Mrs. Babcock were to ride over.
Mr.. Babcock went around TO shut the
kitchen door, which fastened with spring.
In this operation he caught his coat-tail
last, and was obliged to shout for Mrs. BIB
,ock, who found it necessary to unlock the
front door again, and let him loose by open.
ing the kitchen door from within. They
we're gone fully ten minutes. When they
returned to their gig the basket was gone
gone-positively gone. They looked up the
road and saw no one. They looked down
the road and saw no one. They ran this
way and that way and not sign Of
any one. Bot some one had been there's
tramp, a genuine specimen, very, very
tpsy, too tipsy to keep an eye to the main
chance, merely remembering that when he
had chance to steal he must do his duty.
He had staggered from behind the barn,
seized the basket by the handle, tucked il
under the cape of q ragged old army over.
coat he wore, and stumbled into the woods.
He felt sure that the basket held feast OF
some sort. Its weight suggested bottle.
Some Of these old farmers always took
liquor with them TO picnics. His fnncy
pictured ham sandwiches, apple pie and
whiskey, and he toddled on rejoicing.
Shortly he met another worse than himself
"a sort of chum or comrade. He signifed
to this individual that he had something
good under his cape, and in return received
piece of information.
The brick church on the hill was open.
There was fire in the heater. They would
90 there and bask in the warmth of thu
,hureh, which they did.
On they tramped. They reached the edi-
Ace, stole in, chose pew No. IL, rs nearest
he register, and were about to open the
basket, little guessing what Il contained,
expecting no treasure that they could moi
deyour IN ten minutes, when mp from the
cellar below rushed big janitor and o big
dog-a fierce fellow, well acquainted with
the way of tramps, and knowing one ai
sight.
Thu Or creatures fed, leaving the
basl .sss..hind them in the far corner Of the
xa- :. knowino what thav laff tina iapf