The Van Buren press., 1895-05-25
A VALUABLE WORK.
What the Encyclopedias showed When 10
Was Found.

What tho Encyclopedias showed When II
Was Found.
Mr.. Fosdick sat in his library read
Ing newspaper. He threw the sheet
aside, rose and went to the bookcase
which contains his encyclopedias, and
ran his eye along the volumes He did
this two or three times, and then he
spoke, making a great effort to be
calm, and succeeding about as well as
most men succeed when they try to be
calm in the bosom of their families
This is what he said:
zone of the unexplained mysteries
IL why the particular volume in an en-
cyclopedia set which you want to con-
suit is always the one. that is missing
from the bookcase. Another of the
mysteries which despair of ever hear
ing satisfactorily explained, is why
you people can never return book to
the case after using it,"
(Which volume is it you want,
dearP" asked Mrs. Fosdick, meekly,
she being included in the term you
people," used by Mr.. Fosdick.
II want the volume with the Els in
1t. There is an allusion to Mount Etna
in the newspaper which want TO ver-
ify, and that particular volume is the
only one of the whole two dozen which
isn't in its proper place"
Mrs. Fosdick went to the bookcase
and began to search its shelves. Then
she looked in another bookcase, but
without success, and her husband ex-
pressed his unalterable conviction that
either his wife or his daughter had re-
moved it from its place and failed to
return it.
81 believe Ethel did take it to her
room the other day." said Mrs. Fosdick.
after moments thought.
| "Ethel!''
Ethel was curled up in big leather
ctiair reading a novel, and had taken
no part in the discussion.
"Yes, mamma?"
Didn't you take a volume Of the en-
cyclopedia to your room the other day
when you had to write an essay on
| Emerson?'
II believe did, mamma"
"You must have left 1t there. Hurry
ana DrlnB IL uOWn.
Ethel left on her errand, and Mr..
| Fosdick occupied the time in deliver
| ing some extempore remarks on the
way women had of dropping things
wherever they happened to be, regard
less of the place appointed for their
keeping. SIT makes me SO cross" he
continued, ITO find my books of refer
ence anywhere and everywhere but
where they ought to be, that am se-
riously considering the advisability of
locking up the reference bookcase.
Volumes of that character should new
er be taken from the library, under
any circumstances Now, am always
very particular myself to replace q
book on its proper shelf as soon as
am through with it. Well, where is
it?" he asked, as Ethel reappeared
without the book.
II remember now, that brought it
back as soon as I was done with 1t,
papa" said Ethel.
"But that's impossible, child. You
must have left it somewhere. 1t isn't
in the case"
30, now 1 rememberv' exclaimed
| Mrs. Fosdick.
"Well?' queried her husband. "You
are the one who took it away and for
got to bring it back, are you?"
mo, sir, it was you, yourself! Don't
you remember that you got inter
ested in an article Oh Egypt, and
brought it up to my room to read it to
me night before last?"
"I-I-I believe l did,"
"It's in my room yet, know. I saw
it this morning and intended to bring
it down to the library. Ethel, think
you'll find it on the bureau in my
room" ftl-.u
Miss Fosdick made another trip up
stairs, and her father maintained q
stolid silence during her absence.
When she returned she had the miss
ing volume in her hands, Mr.. Fosdick
took it and began to turn its leaves in
silence, as the incident seemed to call
for no further comment from him.
His wife said nothing, either. She
simply thought.
Presently there was another impa'
tient exclamation from Mr.. Fosdick.
"What is it now, dear?" she asked.
Look at that" he replied, pointing
to place on the open page. She
looked and read this line:
"Etna See Etna. na."-William Hen
ry Siviter, in Life.