The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1886-12-15

the bottom shelf Of the upper cup
board isloose, and II you crawl in
upon this shelf on your hands and
Knees, and raise your back up
against the shelf above, you can
misplace it SO that one end will
como of the sIat that hold il, and
all the things upon it will come
Irattling down. l know about it,
for / did it myself once when I was
a little girl, aud it did a great deal
of mischief. Your brothers. tin
trunk sits npon the SHELF / know,
for | saw i! there when father
Opened the door to get his pocket
book jnst before he went away"
"You know how to misplace the
shelf; get in aud misplace it your
sell, said the hunchback.
II can -hotis / replied. used
to play in there when l was a little
thing, but now the cupboard will
bold me no longer"
"He looked me over, Il wasIurge
for my age, saw that l spoke the
truth, and proceeded to crawl in
upon the shelf himself, saying in a
tone of authority:
"If any one comes to the door,
don't let them see me here;it would
be too ridiculous. Do you hear2"
81 nodded my head, too anxious
for the success of my plan tospeak,
mo sooner did he drag the last
club foot upon the shelf than !
slammed the door together, and
turned the button, then catching
the brass key from mothers thread
basket, l put it in the lock and
turned it upon him. As the strong
bolt slipped into its place, l ran
back and dropped into the cradle
with the screaming baby. l had
been strong enough for anything
but moment before, now l was go
weak l could not stand.
"My little brother hushed his
crying the moment my head sank
in his baby lap, and putting his
tiny, cool fingers upon my face, he
laughed in merry glee.
"The hunCh back, when he found
himself caught, yelled like a Gagged
demon; but | knew that the cup.
Ooard door was ol heavy plank,
that the lock and hinges were
strong, and | felt perfectly safe. /
knew, loo, that there was a crack
under the door so wide that air
enough would pass to keep him
from sutfOcatins.
"His threats were SO terrible to
listen 10 that I began to sing hyms
to the baby rs soon as l could find
my voice, and it was not long be-.
fore he was quiet, save an occasion.
al appeal to my sympathy, telling
me how uncomfortable he found
his cramped position, and begging
me to let him out. l was sorry
enough for him, but my fear lest he
should harm the baby, oveTCame
my pity.
"Falher and mother came at sun.
set, and | never shall for get the
look that passed between them
when | told them of my prisoner.
Father unlocked the cupboard door,
but the poor hunch. .blck had re.
mained SO long in his Cramped po
sition that he could not stir. Faith.
er pulled him out, carried him III
his arms and put him in bed, and
mother bathed and rubbed him.
He was sick for three months,
and the whole Of that time mother
nursed him faithfully. That i'll
ness was a turning point In his
life. He lived for several years a
quiet, humble, Christian life, re.
spected and beloved.
"At his death he willed every.
thing that he possessed to me, in
gratitude, he said, for my saving
him from crime by locking him in
the cupboard, as he was fully re.
solved, if he could not obtain the
papers, to burn the dwelling, He
said also that his imprisonment in
tie cupboard broke his stubborn
will, but mothers patience and
kindness in his long illness soften.
ed his hard heart"
"The girl did do something in
tina! story" said Margaret, going
across the room to give Aunt Han
nah a hug and u kiss, and then go
ling to peep into the cupboard
"Oh, Grandpa, isn't it pity you
can't remember ilH"
al supposed all through my
childhood that l did remember it,"
said Grandpa, 81 heard it told Of
so ofteui but Uncle Pingreo and l
we're great friends; and once Icoax.
ed the funny little man to get into
thu cnnboard and show mn ;us,