Nov.  26 
78  2 
THE  RURAL  NEW-YORKER. 
AUNT  DOLLAMTRE'S  “  RIGHT  HANDY'.,’  but  he  made  a  woful  mistake  that  time, 
‘•I  can’t  find  it,  Aunt  Dollamere,”  I  for  it’s  brought  us  nothin’  but  onluck 
cried,  look  n g  down  at  the  dear  old  lady  ever  sence  it  came.  We  call  it  right- 
who  stood  in  the  hall  below.  handy  though,  for  want  of  a  better  name, 
“  Lor,  child,  it’s  somewhere  around  the  I  suppose.” 
room,”  was  the  reply  ;  “  did  you  look  on  “  To  whom  did  Silas  Crop  leave  all  his 
the  right-handy  ?”  she  asked  as  she  slowly  property  ?  ” 
ascended  the  stairs.  “  The  property  he  left  to  a  relation 
‘•Why,  what  do  you  mean,  Aunt  Dol-  out  in  the  West  somewhere,  but  there 
la  mere  ?  I  never  heard  of  such  a  thing.”  was  $800  that  he  said  was  to  be  given  to 
“  I  said  the  right-handy,  but  I  suppose  the  woman  who  had  been  doing  his 
you  never  did  hear  of  it,  child,  seein’  it  washing.  She  was  a  worthy  soul  too  as 
took  up  a  position  in  this  house  since  you  ever  liv(d,  but  that  $800  was  never 
was  here  before.  You  know  how  won-  found.  He  said  it  was  in  his  room,  and 
derful  fond  your  Uncle  Joshuel  alus  was  jest  afore  he  died  he  called  in  the  lawyer 
of  going  to  vandoos  and  bringing  home  a  and  began  to  tell  him  about  the  money. 
lot  of  trash.  I  never  did  hanker  arter  He  said,  ‘  I  put  the  money  in - ,’  and 
vandoos  myself — too  much  time  wasted  afore  he  could  say  any  more,  he  was 
in  follerin’  up  the  crier — but  Joshuel  dead.” 
would  go  if  one  was  within  gittin-there  “  And  you  say  that  Uncle  Joshuel 
distance,  and  when  old  Silas  Crop  down  brought  this  stand  from  Silas  Crop’s 
by  the  bay  died,  he  bought  this.  You  vendue  ?”  T  asked. 
remember  old  Silas  Crop,  deary  ?”  “Yes,  and  a  lot  more  trash.  The 
I  did  indeed  remember  old  Silas  Crop.  old  man  made  the  stand  himself  jest 
He  lived  along  the  shore  and  let  his  afore  he  died-  He  wanted  to  keep  his 
grounds  to  picnic  parties.  A  Sunday  money  in  it.  He  was  a  carpenter  by 
school  picnic  was  held  there  during  my  trade,  you  know,  so  he  made  a  good  job 
previous  visit  to  Aunt  Dollamere,  and  °*  he  didn’t  live  long  enough  to 
Uncle  Joshuel  had  taken  me,  thereby  use  Gie  thing,  arter  all. ” 
giving  me  something  to  remember  all  I  looked  at  the  stand  and  observed  that 
the  rest  of  my  life.  I  think  there  never  it  had  a  drawer  in  the  top  and  a  closet  in 
was  another  place  so  curious  as  Silas  the  bottom.  “  What  do  you  keep  in  it, 
Crop's.  To  begin  with,  he  had  painted  auntie  ?  ”  I  asked. 
the  exterior  portion  of  his  house  and  out-  “  Mercy,  child  !  I  don’t  keep  nothin’  in 
buildings  in  red,  white  and  blue  stripes;  it.  Nothin’  ever  stayed  in  it,  and  that’s 
between  the  stripes  were  reposing  the  the  touble.  First  we  put  a  roll  of  bills 
painted  forms  ot  all  sorts  of  impossible  in  the  drawer,  and  when  we  went  to  git 
animals  and  ridiculous  plants;  it  really  ’em,  they  was  every  one  gone.  Desire 
made  me  shiver  to  look  around  at  the  strong  was  living  with  me  then,  ancTshe 
monsters  that  were  staring  at  me  from  was  the  only  one  that  had  been  in  the 
all  directions.  Inside  there  were  re-  room  ’side  ourselves,  and  she  was  won- 
presentations  of  flying  and  creeping  derful  cut  up  about  it.  Of  course,  I 
things  decorating  the  walls  and  ceilings,  knowed  that  Desire  Strong  never  teched 
In  every  room  were  hanging  a  number  that  money,  but  Joshuel,  he  sempt  to 
of  pictures  painted  by  himself.  There  suspicion  her,  and  Desire  knowed  it  and 
were  moonlight  scenes,  thunder  storms,  went  away  till  the  money  could  be  found, 
and  sunsets,  all  so  accommodating  that  Land  knows  I  didn’t  want  her  to  go,  for 
if  you  held  them  upsidedown  no  one  j  needed  her  so  much,  and  need  her  now 
uould  discover  your  mistake.  Besides  for  that  matter,  but  she  wouldn’t  stay 
these  home-made  pictures,  he  had  col-  where  there  was  suspicion  like  a  black 
lected  and  framed  bits  of  worsted  work  rag-  hanging  over  her.  ‘  When  you  find 
that  a  sister  of  his  had  once  intended  for  the  money  I’ll  come  back,’  she  said,  and 
lamp-mats.  In  his  hallway  he  placed  an  there  she  is  now  down  to  the  Strikers’, 
old  stove  that  had  outlived  its  usefulness,  aworking  herself  ’most  to  death.  Next 
so  he  concluded  to  make  it  ornamental.  We  laid  the  deed  of  the  Brookville  prop- 
lliis  he  sprinkled  with  small  and  large  erty  in  that  drawer,  and  that  disappeared, 
daubs  of  white  paint,  and  proudly  ex-  and  we  haven’t  found  either  of ’em  to 
plained  to  the  visitor  thatit  represented  this  day.” 
a  snow-storm.  I  or  a  railing  to  his  stair-  “  But  do  you  think  they  were  stolen, 
way  he  stretched  a  thick  piece  of  rope,  Aunt  Dollamere  ?  ” 
nailing  it  at  the  top  and  bottom.  This  “Couldn’t  say,  dear ;  it’s  a  mystery; 
was  painted  in  various  colors.  And  here,  hut  that  right-handy  ain’t  been  used 
in  his  curious  abode,  Silas  Crop  had  lived  sence  ’cept  to  lay  things  on  top  of  it.  I 
alone  since  the  death  of  his  only  sister,  wouldn’t  trust  that  drawer  soon  as  I 
Sometimes  he  was  cross  and  refused  to  would  a  rattlesnake.” 
admit  any  of  the  picnickers,  but  we  j  suggested  that  there  might  be  a  hole 
were  so  fortunate  as  to  get  there  on  one  in  the  drawer. 
of  his  good-natured  days;  consequently  But  auntie  declared  that  uncle  had  ex- 
we  received  a  gracious  welcome.  As  we  amined  it  a  number  of  times  and  said 
wrent  up  the  steps  he  called  our  attention  that  it  was  whole  and  sound.  “  There 
to  the  fact  tli  ,t  they  were  painted  in  the  ain’t  so  much  as  a  crack  in  it,  but  it 
brightest  of  colors.  “I  keep  them  gay,”  won’t  never  come  out  of  the  stand  en- 
he  said,  because  they  make  the  visitors  tirely.  Something  holds  it  there  when 
look  down  and  not  up  at  things  they  it  gits  nigh  all  the  way  out.  As  for  falling 
shouldn’t  orter  see.  ’  through  the  back,  nothing  ever  falls  out 
Naturally  we  looked  up  and  observed  of  the  back  of  a  drawer  ’cept  it’s  cram- 
that  the  roof  of  his  porch  was  in  a  very  full.  Jest  one  little  roll  wouldn’t  be 
dilapidated  condition  pushed  out  that  way.” 
Hundreds  of  voracious  mosquitoes  were  Concluding  that  the  money  and  the  deed 
making  an  attack  on  us  while  we  talked  had  been  stolen  by  some  one,  I  thought 
to  the  old  man,  and  when  I  mentioned  no  more  about  the  matter  until  a  week 
that  he  was  well  supplied  with  these  afterward,  when  Aunt  Dollamere  sent 
blood-thirsty  creatures,  he  said,  gloom-  me  to  her  room  to  put  away  some  money, 
ily,  “  Yes,  yes,  we  never  used  to  have  On  my  way  to  the  bureau  I  had  to  pass 
skeeters  here,  but  so  many  Sunday-  the  right-handy,  and  a  feeling  that  I 
school  picnics  have  been  coming  and  cannot  explain  compelled  me  to  pause 
going  up  to  Wright’s  grounds,  and  they  before  it.  Then  I  become  possessed  with 
money  ?  The  insurance  man  has  come  At  first  Aunt  Dollamere  was  struck 
and  I  want  some  to  pay  him.”  dumb  with  amazement,  but  when  she 
Aunt  Dollamere  had  entered  the  room  did  find  her  voice,  she  cried  out  as  joy- 
hastily  and  put  this  question  to  me.  fully  as  I  did,  “  Sure  enough  you  have, 
I  felt  so  like  a  criminal  that  I  could  child,  but  where  was  they  ?  ” 
not  trust  myself  to  speak.  I  merely  “Come  with  me,”  I  said,  excitedly, 
pointed  to  the  right-handy.  and  then  I  led  her  to  her  room  and 
“  My  goodness,  child,  what  ever  pointed  to  the  right-handy,  which  was 
prompted  you  to  put  it  there  ?  Git  it  still  resting  on  the  table.  *  They  were 
out,  quick  !  ”  up  in  there,  but  I  haven’t  discovered  yet 
“  Oh,  there  is  no  danger,  auntie,”  I  how  they  managed  to  get  there.” 
said,  trying  to  feel  calm.  “Why,  I  haven’t  I  took  a  position  on  the  floor  again, 
left  the  room  since  I  laid  it  there.”  and  then  I  saw  what  I  had  not  before 
“Well,  take  it  out,  won’t  you,  dear  ?  noticed.  The  drawer  when  shut  drop- 
I  have  a  feeling  that  if  I  open  the  drawer  ped  its  bottom,  and  thereby  deposited 
the  money  won’t  be  there.”  its  contents  on  the  piece  of  canvas  be- 
I  had  a  similar  feeling,  but  did  not  neath,  noiselessly,  of  course,  as  had  been 
confess  it.  I  went  slowly  to  the  drawer,  intended  by  the  maker  when  he  selected 
opened  it  with  trembling  hands,  and  the  canvas.  I  then  requested  auntie  to 
found  it  emvty.  open  the  drawer.  She  did  so,  and  I  saw 
“  The  money  is  gone,  Aunt  Dollamere!”  that  the  bottom  of  it  was  on  hinges  at 
I  cried,  with  tears  in  my  voice  as  well  as  the  front,  and  went  up  as  the  drawer 
in  my  eyes;  “ Oh!  I  am  so  sorry  I  put  it  opened.  When  closed,  the  bottom  had 
there,  ’  and,  filled  with  terror  and  re-  nothing  to  rest  on  at  the  back,  and  con- 
morse,  I  sat  on  the  bed  and  burst  into  a  sequently  dropped  again.  It  seemed  ao 
violent  fit  of  weeping.  simple,  now  that  we  understood  it,  and 
“  It  ain’t  no  use  to  cry  over  spilt  milk,”  Aunt  Dollamere  went  around  wondering 
said  Aunt  Dollamere,  soothingly;  “the  why  she  had  never  thought  to  look  in¬ 
money’s  gone,  and  jedging  from  former  side  of  that  right  handy, 
experiences,  it  won't  ever  come  back.  Making  a  clo  er  examination  of  the 
Well,  well,  I  never  did  believe  in  ghosts,  rolls  of  money,  she  said,  suddenly, 
but  if  that  right-handy  ain’t  hanted,  “  Why,  here  is  a  package  of  money  that 
nothing  ever  was.  Come  down  stairs,  I  ne,ver  put  in  the  drawer.  There’s 
child  ;  I  can  git  some  more  money  from  something  writ  on  it  too,  dear.  Read  it; 
Joshuel.”  your  eyes  is  better  than  mine,” 
But  I  refused  to  stir.  A  horrible  “  For — Mrs.  Brown,  my — wash — wo- 
fascination  kept  me  near  that  unfortun-  man.” 
ate  stand.  I  was  afraid  while  near  it,  I  read  these  words  with  difficulty,  for 
and  yet  afraid  to  go  away  from  it.  After  they  were  scarcely  legible  ;  then  I  ex- 
Aunt  Dollamere  had  left  the  room,  I  claimed,  “  O,  Aunt  Dollamere  !  wonder- 
approached  the  wicked  piece  of  furni-  ful  things  are  happening  this  day.  This 
ture  and  opened  the  drawer  again;  as  must  be  the  money  that  Silas  Crop  willed 
before,  it  was  empty.  “But  the  money  to  that  worthy  widow  woman  you  were 
went  in  there,”  I  argued  with  myself,  telling  about.  He  evidently  hid  it  in 
“  and  no  one  took  it  out,  so  it  must  be  there.” 
there  still.  Perhaps  the  closet - ”  For  the  next  half  hour  Aunt  Dollamere 
On  closer  examination  I  discovered  and  I  nearly  danced  with  delight — 
that  there  was  no  closet;  the  stand  was  auntie  hadn't  been  so  light-hearted  for 
closed  in  all  around  at  the  bottom,  and  months,  she  said,  and  when  Uncle  Josh- 
had  a  sham  door  in  front.  Driven  to  uel  came  in  and  heard  the  news,  he 
desperation,  I  took  the  thing  in  my  arms  threw  his  hat  up  in  the  air  and  acted 
and  set  it  on  a  table,  for  the  purpose  of  like  a  delighted  shoolboy. 
making  a  thorough  investigation.  Plac-  That  very  night  he  went  and  brought 
ing  it  in  such  a  position  that  I  could  Desire  back,  and  we  had  a  jollification 
look  up  into  it,  I  took  a  seat  on  the  floor  meeting  in  the  cozy  sitting-room.  Mrs. 
and  found  that  there  was  a  piece  of  can-  Brown  was  there,  too,  for  auntie  had 
vas  fastened  across  the  inside,  about  sent  for  her,  and  just  to  see  the  happy 
half  way  up.  Hesitating  for  only  one  change  that  came  over  the  poor  woman’s 
second,  I  took  hold  of  the  canvas  shelf  countenance  when  she  heard  of  her  good 
and  tore  it  down  ;  immediately  papers  fortune  was  enough  to  fill  us  all  with 
and  rolls  of  money  dropped  to  the  floor,  joy  unspeakable,  even  if  none  of  the  rest 
One  glance  sufficed  to  inform  me  that  I  of  us  had  gained  by  the  important  dis¬ 
had  the  lost  deed  and  the  missing  bills,  covery.  s.  jennie  smith. 
Without  stopping  to  examine  further,  I  *  *  * 
picked  them  up  and  flew  down  to  the  One  cent  will  mail  this  paper  to 
kitchen  on  wings  of  joy  and  triumph,  your  friend  in  any  part  of  the  United 
I  have  found  them  !  I  have  found  States,  Canada  or  Mexico,  after  you 
them  !  I  screamed  ;  ‘  the  deed  and  all  have  read  it  and  written  your  name 
the  money.”  oa  the  corner. 
- THE  BEST  IN  THE  WORLD - - 
BlacKweir? 
Bull  Durban? 
Sn?oKii?g  Tobacco 
Situated  in  the  immediate  section  of  country  that  produces  a  grade 
of  tobacco,  that  in  texture,  flavor  and  quality  is  not  grown  elsewhere 
in  the  world,  and  being  in  position  to  command  the  choice  of  all  offer¬ 
ings  upon  this  market,  we  spare  no  pains  nor  expense  to  give  the  trade 
alus  bring  a  lot  of  them  and  stop  and 
leave  them  here  before  they  go  on.” 
These  things  had  come  to  my  mind 
while  we  were  going  through  the  long 
hall  that  led  to  Aunt  Dollamere’s  room. 
When  we  entered  she  pointed  to  a  little 
mahogany  stand  that  occupied  one 
corner  of  the  room.  “  That’s  the  right- 
handy,”  she  said,  “but  I  see  my  hat  ain’t 
on  it,  arter  all.  When  your  uncle 
brought  in  that  stand  from  the  vandoo, 
an  inclination  to  lay  the  money  in  that 
stand  drawer.  I  hesitated ;  I  knew 
Aunt  Dollamere  wouldn’t  trust  it  there. 
“  Pshaw  !  ”  I  said  to  mj^self,  “nothing 
can  happen  to  it  while  I’m  here.  I’ll  lay 
it  there  just  for  one  moment  to  prove 
auntie  mistaken.” 
My  curiosity  prevailed.  I  deposited 
the  money  in  that  mysterious  drawer, 
and  then  was  afraid  to  open  it  lest  I 
should  find  the  bills  were  gone. 
THE  VERY  BE5T. 
When  in  want  of  the  best;  ask  for 
Bull  Durban?. 
Sold  everywhere.  None  genuine  without  the 
Trade  Mark  of  the  Bull  on  each  package. 
BLACKWELL’S  DURHAM  TOBACCO  CO., 
GENUINE 
DURHAM 
(TRAM  MAAM 
SMOKING 
WTBLACKWgf 
v DURHAM  k[-\^ 
he  mentioned  that  I’d  find  it  right  handy,  “  Dearie,  where  did  you  lay  that 
DURHAM,  N.  C. 
