Norwich bulletin., 1911-09-30

All was silence in the room, where there had been a, brisk trade during the Gay, and the tired helpers had gone home to be ready for the morrow s work. A strange collection of articles crowded every available corner, and heaped themselves on the extemporiz- ed counters.
 Now is our time for d quiet chat remarked the straight back chair to her neighbor, an old rocker, which stood near her..
 I've been waiting all day to speak to you. for you remind me of one of your family whom I knew long ago. Your people are not so long lived as most of my immediate relatives. We always stand firmly, and hold our selves so upright that we have a. fine reputation, though there are in the city a few Benedict Arnold chairs. I see none of them here, and you seldom find one of our members in such a place as this. I am sure I don't know how l happened to be here myself.
 AOnly a rummage sale they say. .Why don't they find a better name for us. I understand from the papers there is to be sale of antiques in a house nearby. How much better l should feel to be included there than to be standing here for a customer A few years ago I was placed in an exhibit of an tiaues, and large numbers of admirers spoke in my praise, but times are changed. and I am fallen low indeed, to be here iT a corner Of a rummage sale, with so many worthless compan- ions No reflection intended for you. Mistress Rocker, but you must admit it is a sad change to me, who has been accustomed to better times and treat ment. To be sure, I've had a fall or two. and the last time they said my back was broken, and nothing could rac I.p and I might well go to the runmage sale and be sold for whatever 1 might bring. Why. l dis tinctly remember being honored as tho finest chair in the old mansion; and when Washington was at our home he rested within my arms.
 We'll interrupted the Rocksr, comfort is often prized beyond state Illness, and, thoughe1 am only an old Rocker. I have rested many people when they were tired. and I venture to say Washington would have enjoyed reposing in my embrace better than sitting bolt upright, as he had to do with you. They didn't have rockers in those days, they tell me: but how did the mothers rock their babies to sieep?'
 Babies were not rocked to sleep, a custom which is returning. I am told It is not the scientific way of treating babies. They should be laid down on a bed and left to go to sleep by them selves. One of us has great deal to say or that subject, and other things to be done properly for an infants weH-being.' This last came from a pile of books on one of the tables.
 Here the straight back chair again took up her share in the talk.
 Children were rocked to sleep in those olden times, let me inform you, but their mothers were too busy to hold them in their arms. Cradles were used, and while the hands were busily employed in some other work, the foot kept the cradle ajog, and the baby s nap was thus produced and prolonged. The cradle which Washington occu- pied is still in existence and may be seen at Mount Vernon"
 More than chairs and books were in the room, and a flash of fun and gen tie ripple of laughter came from a pils of eyeglass and spectacles near at hand.