Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1906-03-22

lie abed. Martha Ann. 20 get that
syringe an pan o cold water, an
give it to i'm through the keyhole.
Before this order could be executed
however, a thought OF such pleasing
nature entered the mind of Mrs, Bragg
that il almost made her gasp for
breath.
Maybe the old codger's dead.
she calculated Run. Nancy. an
see," she called out.
Nancy. as commanded, t ok up a
position in front of Uncle Abe's room
peeriDg cautiously through the key
hole. What she saw made her fall
over backwards and scramble up the
hall toward the kitchen. At sight Of
such action on the part of Nancy,
Mrs Bragg could hardly restrain her
self from shouting. She felt certain
that Uncle Abe had left this earthly
sphere for other parts. This opinion
was soon dispelled, for when the girl
had reached the kitchen and had suf-
ficiently recovered to make e1plana-
tions she told of what she had seen in
something after the following man
ner:
"Oh, ma oh. ma He had his box
open on the bed, an it's jest plum
full O greenbacker bills.
In little timej after this occur
renee Uncle Abe came out Of his
room Mrs Bragg. considering the
new light on the situation, made
haste to prepare warm and tasteful
meal for him. He seemed to be in
excellent spirits; he ate heartily Of
the meal, and then pushed back his
chair, and made the following astound-
ing remarks:
MRS. Bragg" he said, 81 have just
been doing little thinking. l am
getting old. At the best l can't live
many years and don't want to be
moving about. Now, I'll tell you
what 1 am going to do--I'm going to
stay with you and Silas what few days
| have left. When I'm gone there's
little square box in my room which
you can have. I'm not going to tell
you what's iI it, but I'll say this: |
think that what's in the box ought to
be worth good many thousand.
Uncle Abe" broke in Mrs. Bragg,
"you are the kindest and best man In
the world. Why, you have home
here as long as you live. Whatever
we have you shall share it with us.
You are near ard dear. to US. Uncle
Abe, and we don I think nothin about
whether we'll get anything or not.
Why, only this morning Silas was
speaking to me sayin' we must tell
you this. Yes. indeed, Uncle Abe
you needn't worry about home"
That evening when Mr.. Bragg re-
turned he looked at his wife sternly.
"Well, has old"-he didn't finish.
"Sh.h.h !" interrupted Mrs. Bragg,
holding up warning hand. Then
she went over and whispered in his
ear.
Mr.Bragg apparently comprehend.
ed, for in few minutes he called out:
Nancy, go an see if Uncle Abe
needs fire, an if he does build it.
Martha Ann, 90 ask Uncle Abe what
he'd like to have for supper"
After the second girl had been dis
patched on an errand to Uncle Abe's
room Mr.. Bragg turned to his wife
and said in a low tone:
"What ys want to do is to treat i'm
right. Let i'm have his way bout
anything; give i'm everything that's
, good to est-pis an such truck as
that. Don't want i'm goin off from
here waggin' that box. Whew How
much dye reckon's in it ?"
Thus the old soldier entered apon
an era of unbroken peace and quiet
and good living. HIS every whim
was humored. he was pstted and
waited on continually. There was no
length to which the Braggs would not
go to put Uncle Abe at ease. They
even furnished him with small sums
of money. he told them that he had
some money but did not wish to break
bill. Seeing that they would get
all his bills in time to come, they
were not reluctant to humor him IN
this. as also they did in many other
things. Indeed, if anything were re-
fused Uncle Abe he would begin to
make preparations which, the startled
Bragg family thought, were signs
that he meant to remove himself aad
the square box to some other place
| This would never do. of course, and