Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1888-12-08
TREASURE-TROvE.

snowy whiteneSs the red brick hearth
rejecting back the CLEAN of tho crack
ling hickory logs, and the dresser full OF
glittering tins put automatically
straight after the coming meal-this was
the scene upon which the autumn sun
glowed redly for an instant through the
narrow window panes ere it went down
behind bank OF shtc-colored clouds in
the west; and Miss Jemima Buxton.
glaneing up at the clock on little
wooden shelf above the windows, saw
that it was 5 80 o'clock.
Bless me, how the time does go on!'
said Miss Jemima. And it don't seem
as il accomplished nothin', what with
runnin' arter your cvcrlastin' whims,
Ebenezern
Ebenezcr Buxton, his autocratic sisters
senior by twenty good years, looked dep
recatingly up from his cushioned nook in
the chimney corner--a weak, feeble-lneed
old man, with scanty gray hairs brushed
into meek little wisp on the top of his
head. watery blue eyes ard complex
ION like well-cured parchment.
know I'm a deal o. trouble. Je-
mimyl' said the old man alphabetically;
but try not to make any more trouble
than / can help"
No you don't ncitherln snapped
yem,ma ala hant no T, patisncs with
yO0A OAo PiPt, Auu JoNh SfSAhsSohsA
smoke. smoke. smolSin, till we all smell
like an old bar room. and there amt
curtin in the house that don't tell its
own story I tell ye what Ebenezcr
Buxton, you've just got to leave of THAI
mis'able habit
Ebenezer shrank instinctively at tho
hard. cruel tone.
"But-Jemimy--r
I'm in earnest, EbeneZer."
But Ellen DenniS0n says"
don't care two snaps o. my finger
what Ellen Dennison says-a pert mink,
just as full o. airs and graces as her
mother was afore her. though she was
my own sister Ii Ellen chooses to make
fuss over you and indulge you in every
within, / don't: that's all there is to it!
/ amt going to have this smolin' going
on; You've ,Se Just got to quit quit, it!o ,,,
For foIty-seven years"
Miss Jemima, however, did not stay
to hear the end of the speech, but burst
out of the room, muttering to herself
sentences of which the import BODIED
little good.
He'll be right down vcxei, though
thought the spinster, when he knows
I've sold them there packets of Virginny
tobacco he brought home on his last
sea voyage. It's odd man can keep
voyagin' to Turin parts all his life and
not lay up no money, arter all. But
Ebenezer never was savin,' like the rest
O. the Buxtons.n
And Jemima went up stairs to rum
mage in an old red chest, where she
kept her treasures, for n hank OF mixed
yarn to finish pair of socks she had
on hand.
Old Ebenezer waited patiently by the
kitchen fire the while, until he heard
light footstep on the doorstone without.
and his face frightened as Ellen Denni-
son came in.
She was tall, fresh-complexioned
girl, with face which, If not absolutely
pretty, was pleasing, and light figure
whose grace was patterned after the
waving PUSHES by the river side and
the tall young elms In the meadow
below.
We'll. uncle P" she said cheerily.
- I've been waitin for you, Ellen" tho
old man whispered. beclxoning her to
come close to him. She--she won't
give me no more 'baccy, and haven't
had Whit since four o'clock"
Ellen bit her lip.
I'll bring you some ct once, Uncle
Eben.n
"There amt none left in the tin
box!" went on the old man, OBTAINING
her with grip of her neat calico dress
You'll have to go to the packet o. blue
tho genuine stuff brought from old Vir
ginia years and years ago, when warn't
tho old wreck am now Get the top pack.
age, -Nell-the top one, rememberl
Yes uncle"
And away tripped Ellen, carrying her
lighted candle through the gloomy en-
tries, like rustic embodiment of Dawn
bearing her herald star.
Miss Jemima met her at the head of
the first flight OF wooden, uncarpetcd
steps; - ru. n
son Pr
"To get some tobacco for Uncle Eben.n
"There amt none left
Yes, there is. In the packet he brought
from Norfolk in the Sally ToolSer."
But tell Won there ain't!D reiter-
ated Miss Jemima. II sold it yester-
day TO peddler that came along. He
gave me SIS for It,"
You sold it?'
Jemima nodded her head defiantly.
Yes, / sold il, and you needn't stare
at me as if I'd committed State prison
offense, miss. I'd do the same thing
over again. j mean to break up Eben-
ezer's miserable trick of smokin'. An
old man that's dependent on his relatives
for his daily bread hain't no business
with Injuries like tobacco-and he'll get
no more in this house,
DtLLlSOu rHSWeFtu iDtDlHR. DuO
she turned and went quietly down stairs,
with her cheeks flushed an indignant
scarlet. Miss Jenlima followed her.
Uncle" said the girl calmly as the
old man raised his hleared, expectant
eyes toward her, there is no tobacco
theren
i've sold it'll" quoth Miss Jemima,
putting her arms alSlmbo.
You've-sold-my tobacco! my Blue
Virginian brand? 2"
"Yes, | have,1 and where's the harm,
I'd like to know? / wasn't goin' to
have it clutterin' up my cupboard no
longer; Pve sold il for So"
Then said Ebenezer, with a sort Of
stony calmness, you've just got S. for
a pack OF the best Blue Virginia tobacco
that was ever put into pipe-bowl and
$500 in money that vas in tin box in
the lowest pound parcel but two. That's
where I'd stored away my little savin's.
/ thought they'd be safe there-but they
= Hal