Smyrna times., 1906-06-06

you and Silas what few days / have |
left. When I'm gone there's a little
square box in my room which you can
have. I'm not going to tell you what's
in it, but I'll say this: l think that
what's i'll 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 and dear to us, Uncle Abe.
and we don't 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 a home"
That evening when Mr.. Bragg re-
turned he looked at his wife sternly.
'Well, has old''- He didn't finish.
"Sh-h-hr' interrupted Mrs. Bragg,
holding up a warning hand. Then she
went over and whispered in his ear.
Mr.. Bragg apparently cOmprehended,
for in a few minutes he called 0slt:
Nancy, go an see if Uncle Abe
needs a fire in his room. Dye hear
me? l say, go an see if Uncle Abe
needs fire, an if he does build it.
Martha Ann, go 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 We want to do is to treat i'm
right. Let i'm have his way bout any
! thing. Give i'm everything that's good
to eat-pie an such truck as that.
| Don't want i'm gOin' off from here wag-
| gin that box. Whew! How much dye
reckon's in it?'
Thus the old soldier entered upon an
era of unbroken peace and quiet and
good living. His every whim was hui
mored. He was petted and waited on
continually. There was no length to
which the Braggs would not go to put
Uncle Abe at ease. They even fur
nished him with small sums of money.
He told them that he had some money,
but did not wish to break a bill. See
ing 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 any
thing were refused Uncle Abe he would
begin to make preparations which, the
startled Bragg family thought. were
signs that he meant to remove himself
and the square box to some other place.
This would never do, of course, and
after a sound rating from Sllas they
would again be whipped into the line
Of obedience and homage to the ex-
soldier.
In the course of time, as was natural
Uncle Abe died, and Mr.. Bragg, in a
last splendid burst of generosity, gave
him a fitting burial. When the SAD
rites were over Mr. Bragg FASTENED t.
return home.
Followed by Mrs. Bragg and Nancy
Bragg and Martha Ann Bragg, he un
locked a certain room, unlocked Ger
tain trunk and unlocked a certain box
and-a cry of joy died half uttered il
his throat. He got upon his feet ant
! kicked the cat and dog into the yard
then cursed till the very walls of tn
, building trembled. Neighbors hear,
: the shrill voice of Mrs. Bragg and tn
, deep curses of Silas and wondere,
, what the trouble could be.
The box was full of Confederate bills
On top of them lay little note, whicl
read:
; 81 think-I always did think-thi
, money ought to be worth good man
D thousand dollars, but it is not"