The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1897-07-29
THE CHIMNEY CUPBOARD.
BY MRS. ANNIE A. PRESTON.

pcyS Nlo w tAlbSSs
''I'm sure said her grandmother,
THAT in the story you have been reading,
Lucy washed the Dishes swept the kitch-
en- floor, and took care of the baby, while
her mother was away ~
But Horace killed the bear"' inter
Tupted the young girl, still so impatiently,
that her grandfather laid down his news
paper, took off his steel bowed glasses,
and looking across the room at a still
pretty, plump old lady, who was slowly
rocking aud swiftly knitting he said:
Washed tie dishes, swept the floor,
and took care OF the baby did she? That
is Just what your Aunt Hannah was left
father and mother went to Hartford, and
hunchback Pinglee came along. Ii that
story could be printed there would be a
girl in it that did something, for was the
boy, and l was the baby, and did moth
ing but scleam. Tell us about it, Han
nah
"Oh, yes, Aunt Hannah, . cried Mar
gaIet, do tell u.s.
And although the plump Old lady shook
her head at her brother, 10 begin with,
she lelented, presently, and said;
DO You see that cupboard there by the
FIREPLACE"
ITO be sure, said Margaret's mother,
who with her daughter, was making her
Wis 1ta old hnpnaSta,1
ut quite distresses me, it looks SO old
fashioned with its two doors. l should
have it taken out if the house was mine. -
No doubt, - said Aunt Hannah; but
that has been vely serviceable part of
the house in its day. 1t was framed in
and finished up when the chimney was
built, with little secret drawers that pull
ont from between the stones OF the great
chimney.
My father was quite a business man
fOr those times; he was town clerk and
treasurer for years, and he settled all the
estates of all the people who died, far and
near, so there We're always packages of
papers and rolls of money belonging to
great many individuals, in that little cup
board.
when Captain Pingree died, remem-
be1 well that father was very much oppos-
ed to having anything to do with settling
the estate.
" They are an ill-tempered. family |
heard him say TO my mother, and that
hunchback is like an evil spirit to deal
with. His father has advanced him
good deal of money. and holds his notes
Tor the same, yet now he intends to share
alike with the other heirs. They will not
submit to such injustice, and consequent
ly there will be trouble, that some one else
must settle besides me. | can have moth
ing to do with it.
My father was honest in that decision,
yet that very night papers came TO him
from the Judge OF Probate, authorizing
him to act As administrator, and before
bed time one of the lingree brothers came
IN secretly 10y the back way, fetching a lit
tie tin trunk 1ull OF his father papers
Il was in the uundle bed, and was sup
posed to be asleep, but | heard him say,
as father locked the tin trunk into the
cupboard.
- The notes that father held against
my brother are there, and he is 50 deter
mined to get hold of them that we dare
not keep them in the house another night
He Is like baby, sir, his mind being as
dWarftd as his body; but because he is a
4istA4 LII GttI ilt lHSlStS lIlul ne Is So III
intellect. and lesents any interference by
legally appointed guardian. Since mother
died lie has never been undel the least re-
straint. He has had his own will and his
own way in everything, and that makes it
hard matter to deal with him. He recog-
nizes no law OF obedience OF submission.
as his Will Was never broken or even sub
dued'
- / know it, replied my father Some
one is to have a trial with him.
The next morning he repeated these
words to my mother, and added:
y think | will drive into Hartford.
and ask Esquire Ellsworth what his opinion
is IN regard TO the course that ought to be
pursued with that poor fellow. l guess
you Lad better go with me. You and
Hannah will be wanting something new
But Hannah will have to stay alone
with baby, if l 60, hesitated my mother.
- That she can DO. Is she not ten
years old this very day? No possible
harm can come to he4, and she can care
Tor baby as well as his mother herself
pleasantly said my father.
have often staid alone a part of
day, said. "A whole day is little
longer, but | shall not mind it, l shall be
busy washing the dishes, sweeping the
hoor and rocking the cradle
That settled it, and they soon drove
away, leaving me with my little charge.
About the middle of the forenoon, as
| was kneeling by the cradle, feeding the
baby with bread and milk, there was
rattle at the outer door, and Immediately
that hunch- back Pingrte came walking
in. Oh, how frightened l was. 1t makes
my flesh creep even now to think of it.
He was an ugly, misshapen creature, with
repulsive leer on his face, instead of the
sweet, patient expression that draws one S
heart to most such unfortunates.
Where are your folks?' he asked, in
a sharp, cracked voice, that startled me
so that spilled the milk and choked the
baby. Don't lie to me, now, for l know
where they are as well as you do
10 HARTFORD | managed to articu-
late, at the same time pushing low chair
toward the poor creature, thinking to ap-
pease his evident ill-humor by politeness.
ITO my horror he passed by the chair,
and seated himself in the foot of the
cradle. The baby was terrified, now, and
giving up coughing, began to scream at
the top of his powers. | bent over to take
him in my arms, but the hunchback snarl-
ed with an evil leer:
Let the young one alone until you
fetch me that trunk of papers that my
brother LETT here last night You saw the
box, didn't your