Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1901-02-09

You can see the English government
stamp on the lock and barrel. It looks
odd in these days Of repeating rifles,
but those old fellows made them do
the work"
1--WE got one like it at home," re.
marks Crazy, "only mine has the
Springfield mark. George Washington
wanted to make my ancestor, Putnam
Crary, major general, but he said
that he would waive his gentility and
shoulder a musket in the ranks with
the rest Of the boys"
Even Coomer is annoyed by this dig,
and he Pushes little angrily, but the
miniatures coming in give him an
opportunity to treat the sheer with the
silent contempt it merits.
That was the extent of Coomer's vain
glory-just a little natural pride, free
from boastfulness = but at the same
time nobody ever enjoyed any degree
of intimacy with him without learning
all about Digby Creighton Coomer, the
feputed owner of the rapier, who was
one Of the leaders of fashion in old
New York; Of Mistress Betty Coomer,
his daughter, who was the toast of her
day; of the intermarriages with the
Drivingstons and the Van Bruntslears
and other aristocratic families and all
the rest Of it. But nobody could rea-
sonably object to that.
Coomer was, however, perfectly sin
cere in saying that he had never paid
attention to his genealogy. His father
was in business in New York-a bust
ness that had something to do with
hides-and he was wealthy for the pc,
Rod. When he had asked any ques-
tons about the tree, Coomer senior had
returned answers that were of gen
eral rather than special character.
Most Of his information he had derived
from his mother, who was then bril-
liant figure in New York society. She
died, however, when Cooner was about
70 Years. Old. Tor these reasons CooIli-
er was hazy on the subject Of his an
cestry, for all his varied stock Of gen.
eral knowledge. Some Of these days,
he said, he was going to see what the
ancestral domain at Salem looked like,
but he put off doing SO from time to
time and contented himself with what
additional scraps Of information he
could pick up in Chicago. At least he
got all that he needed in one lot.
Mrs. Coomer had been down in the
basement Tummaging, and she made a
discovery. 1t was an old hair trunk of
a type and pattern now quite extinct
and her idea was to bring it up and set
it in the hall as an antique, which it
undoubtedly was. She called Coomer
down to look at it, and he recognized it
instantly. cit belonged to the old gen.
tleman," he said. II thought Brother
William got that. Strange that Z
shouldn't have noticed it before! Have
you opened it?
eyes," replied his wife, ''but there is
nothing in it but lot of old books, not
old enough to be valuable. They are
mostly books on divinity"
"Well, let's empty them out" said
Coomer, and he turned the old trunk
upside down and spilled its contents
on the floor. They were, as Mrs.
Coomer had said, old books Of divinity,
all but one, and that one was canvas
and leather bound, like ledger. Coo
mer picked it up and futtered over the
leaves.
"Hellor' he exclaimed. "There's a.
weakness 1 never suspected Of him.
He started to keep diary. Yes, start
ed is the word. Here's the first date
Jan. 1, 1860. How long did he keep
it up? Ha! Did pretty well too.
April II is the last entry: Everything
going on in the same old way. Moth
ing Of Importance happened"
"Let me look" said Mrs. Coomer
eagerly.
may, nay" answered Coomer-
''There may be something here that
only sons eye should scan"
He went over by the window with.
the book and. seating himself in a
chair, began to skim through the book.
It was written in a brief, concise STYLE.
But for all that the writer had evident
" started in with the intention of set
ing everything down without reserva-
ton and with the frankness of
Pepys. Several times Coomer had to
close the diary on his thumb and aban-
Ion himself to mirth. but at last he
came to an entry that made him turn
pale and utter an exclamation that
brought his wife to his side. 1t was as
ollows:
''Feb. 8.-Bleeker positively refuses
o consider the purchase of the shiploada
rom Argentina, and am likely to lose
money on it. 1 think that will get
wen with Mr.. Blocker. Araminta is.
till worrying because the Bybees have
ainted their crest on their stanhope.
old her there wasn't any crest too good
or her to have if she wanted It, but
he only told me not to make bigger
DOL Of myself than could help. Went
ound to Levy Moss in aft. and bought
n assortment of old truck pictures,
etc. think bargain, for
ONE Of them didn't cost more than the
anvas they were painted on, SO the
Amt and the frame is net profit. / am
DING to tell Nine. Minty to use them
Or ancestors, and think she has got