Smyrna times., 1892-06-15

La, Hezekiah )" said Mrs. Knott
what do s'pOse she wants with an ole
second hand rattle.trap like that? IT,
morn likely she's got all the stoves
she wants."
IA stoves a stove anyhow" sale
Hezekiah. And l mean to send it to
her, so you may just stop you clack
old woman"
Mrs. Knott only smiled. She was
used to the pertinacity of her spouse,
and she gave way with good grace.
"Oh, what a pretty stove p said Mrs,
Jonothan, when it was carried into the
neat best parlOr. "And how brightly
it is blacked !"
Just like Uncle Kiah !" said Jona-
than, who was polishing red apples,
sorting OUT the fattest and largest nuts.
and sharpening the carving-kni for
the coming feast. might ha-knOwn
he'd send something different from
anybody else. But, since it is here,
guess I'll put it up at once. It's pref
tier to look at than that air-tight thing,
and we can start fire right off"
But he sent word" interrupted
Mary, that we weren't to light the
fire till he came. He wanted to show
US the valves and hampers and
things"
docs he think nobody knows how
to start a fire but him ?" said JOnothan
laughing. mo, no; on cold morn
ing like this we can't afford to wait"
And so when Uncle Hezekiah and
Aunt Malvina arrived in u cumbrOus
little buggy drawn by the business
pony, the parlOr glowed with tropical
heat, and the little stove presented its
most hospitable aspect.
wish ye many happy returns Jona-
than-and you too, Jonathan's wife,"
was Uncle Hezekiah'S greeting, as he
trudged up the steps
And" cOurtesied Aunt Malvina.
who carried an old china sugar.b bowl
IN one hand and its corresponding
cream pitcher in q basket in the
other, will you please to accept some
pretty old china that we took in
trade?"
Mary came forward with a beaming
smile, and both hands held out.
We are SO glad to welcome you
here" said she.
"Hal-lOo !" said Knott, looking
around him. so you started the fire,
did YEP"
"Yes, Uncle Kiah," said Jonathan.
i started it. Do you suppose l wan
ted to give my relatives cold well
come, eh ?'
Uncle klah clicked his tongue against
the roof of his mouth.
Dunno nothin' about that. said he.
"All that know is that you've burned
up you weddin' present, disobeving
orders in that sort o. way"
What ?" said Jonathan.
Uncle, what do you mean ?" cried
Mary.
Uncle Hrzekiah stamped around the
room and tore his hair in an ecstacv of |
rage.
The fools amt all dead yet" said
he, that's plain enough. I'd laid out
TO give you and your wife here a SIOO !
bond for gift-and | packed it into |
the old stove pipe, with lot of waste
paper, to make sure that there should |
be no mistake about your gettin it,and
50 it's gone up chimbly, with the rest
lt the sparks and smoke ~
Jonathan grew lividly pale, Mary
uttered little shrek of dismay. For
moment the holiday glow seemed to
nave faded out of all their hearts. For
moment only. Aunt V:ney came
promptly to the rescue.
You're right there, Hezekiab
Knott" said she, nobody but fool
would ba' thought of tuckin' SlOO
'onds up inter the elber of an old stove
'lpe. And it's lucky for you and these
people here that happened to want a
title waste paper to wrap around this
I'D china in nv basket, and took the
tutin' outen the old stove pipe-ain't
t nov ?"
She extended the basket to Mary
Knott. Old Kiah pounced upon it like
starved cat on a mouse and dragged
he paper wrapping forth
Here 1t is nOw-the very same 500
'ond, he shrieked, waving it trium-
,hantly above his head "Hoorav.
Jonathan Old woman, to his wife.
you're the sensiblest of the lot I"
They sat down to dinner with bright
aces and joyful hearts.
Uncle" said Jonathan, chow shall
1ary anu l ever thank you for your
present."
Don't say nOthin' more about it,"
aid Uncle Kiah. YOU'RE the oDlv
me of our relations as ever invited us
. dine with them, aud guess we can
ford TO make you present, eh. old
woman p
And Aunt Viney smiled broad as