Southwest-sentinel. [volume] (Silver City, N.M.) 1883-189?, 1896-02-25


let's set an rest a spell nforo we tight
Up" suggested the old man. dropping
into n handy chair.
But his form had scarcely touched Il
before be Strengthened himself out Of IL
and said testify;
cit don't seem nat'rnl Utmost broke
my back TO set In that cheerl Mandy,
there's something wrongi"
Mandy had been feeling along the
shelf for the candle that year in and
year out stood there like a tallow senti-
uel, and had never failed her in the
darkest night sho found Il, but not in
its old place. Il had been moved a hairs
breadth to the left and felt queer to her
touch.
"Gimme a match, Eben. / want 70
zee what like IL tho canHle. Lord
a-mercy, look at II, MANI
Il certainly was not tho same brand
Of candle that for all these years had
been run in the tin mold behind the
pantry door. Il was a gorgeous twisted
design in green wax with yellow stripes.
That's the girls doin's, 1 bet, " said
the old man, putting on his glasses to
take n better look at the intruder.
GOSH What q lookin candleP'
As It's rays diffused a light through
the room the two old people began to
investigate. They looked around, then
into each others faces, and both fear and
wonderment were expressed In their
startled g~lances.
MANDY, " said the old man at last,
we've gone and got into the wrong
houser'
II b'leeve IL, " answered Mandy fee
bly,, but then whereabouts is ours9'
Let's look at the outside" And the
girls who were watching at their
own windows, saw a glimmeTing light
dancing like an ignis fatuus before the
old house and could discern the unwont-
ed spectacle Of their father and mother
inspecting the outside Of their home by
candle light. It struck them as very
funny.
Meanwhile the truth had revealed
itself In part to the old people, and hold
ing aloft the faring wax candle they
took an inventory Of the new furniture,
from the carpet on the floor to the
paintings on the walls. 1t was well the
conspirators were not there to hear
them. 1t might have given them a shock.
Even the PLAINLY s gone, " said Man
dy, wringing her hands, 1.-THE dear old
pianny where Ann Maria learned to
play Hang Up the Baby's Stockin'
afore she was 10 years old / couldn't
have b'leeved it, and my hit and miss
carpet that 1 made with my own hands
and the red ta~bleoloth, the cheerfulest
thingl-you could see it for a mile
when the door was open and we was
lighted up-and my pioters Of the chill
dren taken every year Of their lives
it's worse than robbery. I don't doubt
they meant we'll, but it's broke my
hearth
81 near broke my back tryin to set
in one Of them new tangled cheers, :"
said the old man, spurning the smart
chair with his foot. Il do wonder, Man
dy, IL they left Us anything to set on?''
They've left the clock, " said Man
dy. I'm thankful for that / declare,
father, it seems like an old friend, 81
and holding father hand she stood long
before the venerable timepiece, regard
ing it with loving eyes.
1t was near daylight when the two
old people had seen the last of their new
possessions, and arranged them to their
entire satisfaction. The fancy candle
bad burned down to a mound Of green
and yellow wax and been replaced by
a straight, uncompromising tallow,
homemade, that shed q serene light on
two old faces that looked very tired,
but wore a conscious expression Of peace
and triumph. And even in their dreams
they smiled.
"To think Of itr' said Ann Maria,
when she tells the story. after all
our planning and contriving, when we
went over the next day to see how they
were enjoying their new surroundings,
they had put back every article Of the
old stuff we moved, rag carpet, photo
graphs and all, and packed the new
things up in the attic. They wouldnr
!, have a new chair, nor a t%ablecloth, mo-
anything. Said the things weren't com
Portable. Talk about Ephraim being
Joined to idols-father and mother coulC
give him pointers out Of their expert
, ence, " and she sighed over the degen
4 eracy Of age. Mrs. M. L. Rayne in De
a troit Free Press.