Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-09-13

10
boot-laces. He was travelling in haberdash-
ery then. And have got some little things
put away here" said she, going to the cup
board and taking down an old gray leather
desk, (which, perhaps may be OF use, just
''That there is no ill-feeling," suggested
the student.
THAT is what mean" she replied.
The widow opened the old desk and took
out several folded papers. Sheopened one. 1t
contained a very few red hairs tied together
with fine piece of blue ribbon, and was
labeled Joshua Jonathan Beggs, aged 8
months, days"
THAT is your hair, my son." said she. 81
cut it off myself. And here is the first tooth
that you lost-and how you cried, to be
sure, not knowing that it was the way of all
fesh-but it has slipped out OF its paper and
has got black with lying among the pencil
leads. All, this is what was looking for,
it is made of my great Aunt Elizabeth's
hair. She had two made, one for me and
one for cousin Mary, Just six months before
she died, to remember her by. She always
wore skull cap, poor old lady, for she was
past 80 years of age; but 1 know it is her
own hair, for she told me she had always
saved her combings from a girl. 1t is
verv handsome brooch, for aunt had in
tended to leave us each e100. but she had
the brooches made instead, and left the
money to blind institution. But I'd as
soon Penny had it as any one, Tor she's
good careful girl, and in that way it would
not go out of the family. Perhaps, however,
to begin with, so handsome present would
be premature"
The widow searched in the desk again.
'Here is something else" said she, tax
ing out a small wooden box. "It was
brought to your father as a present from
China, and is the tooth powder that the
Chinese use, so the gentleman said. But l
thought 1t would be pity to make use oft,
and so / have kept it as a curiosity. She
might like to have it. you know, and then
if you found she took it kindly you could
offer her the brooch afterward."
Certainly" said the student. "And you
do not think, mother, that she would con-
slider it personal at all?''
You might say, you know" said the
widow thoughtfully, that if it went against
her conscience to keep it put by, it would
come In nicely for the children; and then
she could do as she liked about it,
''Of course" said he. THAT is what 1
shall say, and she will be very pleased. 1t
was clever of you to think of it. Is there
not a secret drawer here?"
Eyes, that is a secret drawer" said the
widow, pressing her finger on a spring,
which made small drawer fly out
"And what do you keep in it mother?"
said she.
81 do not know why 1 should keep it here"
said tine widow, ''but like to know that it
is safe. You would not remember to have
seen it for YOU were but a child when it had
TO be cut off from my finger. had grown
so stout. It's nv wedding ring, but had
it meuded again so that YOU would scarcely
know"
There is writing on it, said the student,
examining the ring, on the inside of which
was rough design of an eye, and the words,
MAY it watch over you"
"Yes," she replied, 81 had a fancy for a
posv, and these were the words your father
chose 1t is much too small for me now
but the new ring has no posy- l am an old
woman, Joshua" said she, turning the ring
over and fitting it on the top of her finger.
81 once thought of asking you TO put this
in NV coffin with me, but it would be sell
fish. and selfshness was a thing that my
husband could not bear; so l will give the
ring to you"
ITO me, mother Bless you," said the
student 81 could not wear it, YOU know"
"But there are them that can," said the
widow, sagely. "No, my dear. Keep the
ring till you marry Penelope, which L pray
l NAV live to see. And may it watch over
you" said she, kissing him, with tear in
her eye"
And while he was gone above to lay the
ring away in a safe place she sorted out the
contents of the desk with sentimental ex-
preston. For she had her son s first baby
socks there, and her only love letter, and a
score of odds and ends that after she was
gone would be thrown out on the rubbish
heap.