2
Uncle Ben's Gift,
-on
THE MISSING BOX.
CONTINUKO.
fTVIB evening passed rapidly away iu a
J conversation, the most doligbtful to
Mary excepting, of course, that other in
terview, ptill woven In ker memory, aud
destined always to be wovenfc should Blie
live a thousand years.
Just as the dock was 'striking eleven,
footsteps were heard at the door, and Mr.
Curtis and his wifo made their appearance.
They were not a little surprised to And a
stranger quietly enjoying Mary's hospitali
ty ; hut before either bad time to speak,
uncle Ben jumped up, and thrusting out
his hand, hallooed almost as loud as if he
was hailing a ship,
"How are you, Jim ?"
His brother, though not recognizing his
oountenanoe, could not mistake the voice,
and seized the proffered hand with a truly
fraternal grip. The meeting of the broth
ers was one of heartfelt happiness a hap
piness almost worth a twenty year's sepa
ration. Has the ocean spray not yet evap
orated from uncle Bon's check? or was it
something else that was glistening there ?
Mrs. Curtis seemed equally happy with
her husband, aud gave " the captain" a
boisterous welcome. But, alas, for the
motives of human friendship 1 How few of
them spring right out of the heart 1 Had a
sea-horse just arrived, loaded with bags of
gold, she would have given him as cordial
a welcome, aud for the same reason. Bhe
knew that the captain was rich, and her
selfishness had already begun to slime over
her prey with deception, preparatory to
swallowing it.
In the midst of her smiles and loqua
cious compliments, she caught an opportu
nity of casting an Intrusive frowu At Mary,
which shot through her heart like a bullet,
and sent her straight to the kitchen.
Uncle Ben accidentally observed the
whole movement ; and if a noble purpose
. at that moment took possession ol his soul,
it was not altogether iu gratitudo for Mrs.
Curtis' extraordinary efforts to please
him.
Just at this moment the daughters were
beard bidding their attendants good night
at the door ; and their arrival turned aBide
the heavy billow of sadness, which threat
ened to break over the captain's spirits.
He was delighted to meet and caress his
blooming nieces; and they, already wrought
up to the highest pitch of animation, would
willingly have staid up all night to bear
him talk. But the morning watches bad
already commenced, and it was timo for all
to retire. Tho girls, with' a cheerful
"good night, uncle," took their departure.
Why did uncle Beji look so sharp at their
elegant silk dresses? Did he never hear one
rustle before ?
Turning to Mrs. Curtis ho said care
lessly, "Mary did not go to the wedding?"
" No, captain ; she was a little unwell
to-day, and preferred to stay at home
aud then added, with a smile.
" She Is a little singular iu bor tastes,
and is so fond of domestic life, that I really
believe site prefers the kitchen to any
other place ; and so we lot her bavo her
own way." ,
" A sensible girl !" replied the captain ;
"I noticed she had a very domestic look."
The captain knew how to wield a two
edged cutlass lie was ouce boarded by
pirates, off Trinidad, aud was still alive !
But the lady's self-complacency was proof
against the double thrust. Yet the cap
Iain's hearty eulogy of Mary did inflict a
wound on the ambitious woman, and com
plaining of headache, she went to bed.
The next morning all were up betimes,
except uncle lien ; who, yielding to the
effects of much previous fatigue and wake
fulness, thought he would enjoy the rare
indulgence of a morning nap. His sleep
must have beeu very deep, for he snored
prodigiously, producing a sonorous echo iu
every corner of the little house, much to
the wonder and merriment of the smaller
fry who hud not yet seen him, aud who
would venture near his door to listen and
then scamper away as if frightened by
some wiki beast.
"f woudcr what a big none uncle Ben
has got!" said little Ned, castiug a won
dering glance at a huge iair of strange
boot in tike corner.
"I guess it is more bigger than this,"
replied Tommy, who was trying to untie a
liaid knot in his shoe, which he held up as
measure of his opinion in the case. And
so they went ou, their eyes aud imagina
tions dilating alike, till the stove-pipe be
came too Kina to serve fur a comparison
with the mysterious nose ; when looking
over their shoulders, they saw uncle Ben I
himself, who had overheard their conversa
tion, creeping toward them, (.Uppers in
band, as If to grab them. They took to
their heels, this time, in no mock alarm.
"Ship, ahoy t" cried uncle Hen, "I
ought to have run up a friendly flag, for
the little junks havo outsailed nie, aud are
already hull down !"
Mrs. Curtis was both early and busy iu
the kit chen this morning. Perhaps so unu
sual a thing arose from her solicitude to
provide fin fspcclally good breakfast for
her guest, and perhaps not. At any rate
she did nothing but oversee ; and her over
sight brought more annoyance than aid.
As soon as the meal was over, uncle Bon
proposed to return to his hotel, where his
business in the city would make it more
convenient for him to stay. But he prom
ised compliance with the reiterated request
to come ns often as he could. Noticing
that Mary was not present in the group
that was bidding him good morning at tho
door, he said to the girls,-
" Dress up in your bost, and to-morrow
afternoon I will come with a carriago and
take you and your cousin Mary to ride.
Good morning." . ';'
The mother and daughters exchanged
looks of alarm. They had not so much
objections to Mary's joining them iu their
drive, but it was too cold for calico, and
how would fustian aud brogans look in
such a nice carriage as uncle Ben would bo
sure to bring ? But the pinch must be got
round in some way a plausible explana
tion must be fabricated for uncle Bon ;
and worst come to worst, she might pass
to tho public eye as a servant. The lattor
idea was rather pleasing than otherwise.
Nething was said to Mary till noon the
next day, with the full expectation that
she would decline tho invitation. But to
their surprise she expressed herself delight
ed with the anticipated pleasure, and run
ning away, soon appeared in her perennial
calico.
"Mary, go and take that dress right off,"
said Mrs. Curtis.
" Why, aunt, it is the best I have got."
"No matter, tho weather is tbo cold for
that ; and if that is your best, then I sup
pose there is an end to your jaunt."
Mary crept in her "domestic" garb
again, and went quietly to work.
Soon came the fine carriage, and horses,
and driver, and nut jumped uncle Ben in
high spirits.
"Come, my chicks," said he, "all
ready?"
All but Mary," said Mrs. Curtis ; " she
is not inclined to go out to-day. What a
beautiful carriage you have brought, cap
tain 1"
"Yes, line craft," replied he, "but I
must have my full cargo." '
So pushing bis way through the rooms
to the kitchen, he found Mary busy at her
work.
"Aha!" said he, " not so easy dodging
an old skipper!" and spying a rusty bon
net on a nail, he clapped it on her head,
seized her arm, and trotted her out to the
carriage and tossed her in.
Mary, though half provoked at his rough
oddity, could not help laughing , all the
time, while her aunt and cousins did not
know whether to be amused or aston
ished. That ride was one to be remembered.
Instead of driving into the country, as they
expected, uncle Ben pushed for the most
fashionable streets, aud spent the after
noon in visiting the various places of gen
teel resort the museums, picture-galleries,
and millinery store making Mary,
all tho while, his principal care, and ad
dressing his remarks chiefly to her, when
ever others were present. He bought them
many little gifts, aud at last took it into
his head that he must have all their like
nesses in daguerreotype, with their bon
nets on, bofore they went home. There
was no resisting him, he was so kind and
amusing.. The pictures were excellent ;
aud Mary's was so ludicrous that all three
of the girls were convulsed with laughter
over it, in which uncle Ben heartily joined.
Thrusting them into his pocket, he drove
home. . , ,
Mary uow began to suspect that there
was something deeper in her unclo's
thoughts than mere love of amusement,
and determined hereafter to comply with
whatever whims he might indulge. Helen
and Emily were better pleased with their
ride, than they were with their uncle's
taste.
Uncle Bon became absorbed in his own
cares, and the winter was fast wearing
away. He must return to South America
early iu the spring, to look after some per
sonal matters which be left unsettled, aud
bis visits to the cottage wore consequently
rare.
Young Butts hud once more called to see
Mary, but was flatly refused admittance
by Mm Curtis, who upbraided him with
coming where ho was not wanted, and for
bade him ever to approach her house again;
declaring that Mary was aware of his at
tempted visits, and had conceived a perfect
hatred for him. He soon contrived, how
ever, to gain an interview ; aud a pledge of
constancy passed between them to be kept
inviolate wherever their lots might be cast,
and whatever might betide them. Their
meetings were few and stolen, and as the
course of their love ran very rough, it
gave the liest evidence of being true. '
Mary was more and more neglected by
her- cousins, while the treatment of her
aunt ripened into actual persecution, uot
of a vlolout and flagrant kind, but inflicted
by crosses and taunts, more exquisitely
painful to her sensitive heart than all the
thurub-sciews and scourges in the world.
In addition to hor ordinary sorrows, be
had begun to fear that uncle Bon had lost
his regard for her, as he had called once or
twice and gone away without seeing her.
Thus she struggled ou for many weary
weeks, alternately hoping and despairing,
and wondering why all the world should
unite to oppress hor, while she could love
everybody in it
Keep up good courage, Mary ; the world
is made up of sorrows, and yours have
hardly begun'!
It was soon rumored in the family that
undo Ben was about to set eul on bis
journey beyond the equator. . . .
" I will seo him bofore ho goes," thought
Mary, "and toll him all my troubles. I
know such a good heart as his will pity
me."
That very afternoon uncle Ben came
bustling into tho cottage and surprised
thorn all by announcing that the ship, on
which he had engaged passage, would sail
that night, and ho had come to bid them
good-bye. The near prospect of a good
snuff at the salt water had put him in the
best of spirits, and he was lavish of his good
nature and drollery.
" What have you got here, uncle 1" said
Helen, looking suspectingly at a large bun
dle that he had laid on the table, and
about to put her hand upon it.
" Take care !" shouted ho, " it may go
off!" and the frightened girl bounded to
the otlr side of the room, amid roars of
laughter.
Taking it into his own hands, the . cap
tain sat down and began to unroll it, with
a group of interested spectators around
him, among whom was Mary, who had
been attracted from tho kitchen by the
uproar.
" It 1b only some farewell duds for the
children,", said he, and he began to dis
tribute various toys to Nod and Tommy.
And here was a beautiful dress-pattern for
Helen, and another for Emily, and then a
gold thimble for mother and a box of
gloves for all three.
" Is there nothing for me, then ?" thought
Mary. ,
What right have you to expect anything,
little outcast ?
As the last of tho stuff was removed it
revealed something to Emily's sharp eyes,
who snatched up a beautiful ebony work
box, richly ornamented with silver, aud
went dancing around the room, cxclaim-
lnK . ..
"This is for me ! this is for me! isn't it
uncle?"
"Hush ! you rude girl !',' said hor moth
er, " what could you do with a work-box,
when I am the seamstress of the family?"
This she said with a smile, directed to un
cle Ben, which she intended for a hint as
to the proper appropriation of the beauti
ful gift.
Uncle Bon, who had been heartily laugh
ing all the while to witnoss tho tumult he
had occasioned, spake as soon as he could
be heard, and said with decided emphasis,
" That box is designed for Mary, as an
encouragement to her domestic tastes and
industrious habits ;" and taking it geutly
out of Mrs. Curtis' hands, he presented it
to hor. Mary's eyes filled with tears as she
took it, and thanked him with a choking
voice. The mother and daughters bit their
lips in vexation andsilcnce for a moment,
but the former at length inquired,
"Where did you get that elegant thing,
captain?"
"It was given to mo by, a Spauisu lady
in Valparaiso," he said. "The lady was
always reprimanding me for my obstinacy,
as she called it, iu persisting to lead a sin
gle lifo ; and ouo day, after railing at me a
great deal about it, , she declared that
though I didu't deserve it at all, she would
do what she could to supply the defect;
and so she tripped into another room and
brought this box, which she had purchased
aud freighted expressly for the occasion.
So I have always called it my wifebut
have been u most cruel husband, for I have
kept it ,'lockod up' all the time ! But,"
added he, taking a little silver key from
bis vest pocket, "you have seen nothing
but the upper deck yet ; take a jieep iuto
the cabin and see how near it conies to the
thing." Taking it from Mary's bauds, he
opened it, displaying the interior, inge
niously lilted with the utmost variety of
materials, and little conveniences for
sowing.
After everything had Imen duly exam
ined and admired, uncle lieu tupx'd Mary
pleasantly uuder the chin, saying,
" Come, Moll, let me show you how to
use it ;" and leading the way iuto another
room, he shut the door after them, plainly
iudicatiug that he wanted nobody to fol
low. . . ,
"Now," thought, Maiy, "is my only
time !" and throwing herself upon her
uncle's neck before he was hardly seated,
she exclaimed ; " Dear uncle 1 am so un
happy !" and burst iuto tears.
"Hush! hush! said uncle Ben, "no
noise no time for tears" brushiug them
rapidly from his own checks "I know all
about it. I have watched too many nights
at mast-head, aud strained my eyes through
too much fog not to see all your troubles,
and a way, too, to steer out of them.
There is a light ahead ! 1 shall be back in
September, and then we will see," said he,
smiling, us he wiped the tears from her
beautiful face with his (,1'eat, strong hand,
aud kissed her. , , , , .
That assurance and that, kiss kindled such
a glow of joy iu her breast that her tears
weie all dried up iu a moment, and she re
turned the good mail's wires with a heart
iness that paid him a hundred fold for his
kindness. ' , . -
" But we must hurry," said he ; ? hand
me the box.'? He turned It over and point
ed to a donblo row of silver nails , that
thickly studded the lowof edges. 11 ' -
"This box," said he, "is itself of llttlo
value ; but be careful of the contents. I
don't mean the threads aud needles and
that truck." So saying, be directed her
attention to two nails in opposite corners,
a little smaller than the rest, and pressing
hardly upon1 both at the Same moment, a
false bottom started up with a spring,
which he immediately closed, saying,
i ' "Keep that secret don't open it your
self till I am gone, and promise me that
nobody else shall know this socret,and that
you will never let the box go out of your
possession." . . ; ; . i . i.
Mary eagerly gave the promise, and un
cle Ben, opening the cover of the box, took
something from his pocket, tucked it in
among the sewing utensils, and handed box
and key to Mary. - ' " '
They returned togother to the little par
lor, and, after chatting a few minutes with
the rest of the family, the captain took his
leave, with the cheerful remark,
" Look out for me in September."
All three of the girls followed him to the
gate for a last good-bye, where they re
mained some time, watching his progress
down the street, and dreading to lose sight
of one whose presence always brought with
it an indescribable charm.
What a pity everybody is not like uncle
Ben never so happy as when imparting
happiness to others ! But "a good deed in
a naughty world" would not seem half so
good but for the naughtiness. Mary and
her cousins were leaning ovor the gate in
silent reflection, when she suddenly be
thought herself of her precious box, which
she had laid on the parlor table. She ran
back to tako care of it, but it was gone !
She looked around iu amazement at first, I
but immediately quieted herself with the
thought that it bad, ' perhaps, been re
moved to some other room, or at worst,
been hid from bcr for a moment, just to
tantalize her. '
"Aunt, do you know where my box is?"
said she, as that lady came in from her
own private room.-
" I know where my box is," replied she,
with a dignified air. " You . would never
know how to use it If. you had it, and it
would ; be a pity for such a useful thing to
be kept as a mere toy. There," added she,
dropping a half eagle into Mary' lap,
" that will be better for you ' than a cart
load of boxes." - i ..,
This generous price was offered, partly
because she hoped it would reconcile Mary
to the loss of her gift, and partly because
it was ohly one of twenty just snob, pieces
which she had found in a beautiful purse
in one comer of the box. Mary's anger
was inflamed, and her first impulse' was to
hurl the coin across the room ; but that
golden precept of her mother rushed into
her memory, 1 " Never truly happy till yon
learn how to forgive," and she quietly
dropped the money and a tear on the table
and retired to the kitchen. She was fully
determined, however, on seizing ber prop
erty at the very first opportunity, and de
livering it immediaely ' to the care and
keeping of ber dear William, as the surest
way of fulfilling hor promise to her uncle.
Poor Mary! will her troubles never end?
Ob, that uncle Bed could only step into
help hor recover her treasure I She had food
enough now for reflection ; and her curiosi
ty concerning the box was intense. What
could there be in that secret apartment so
preoious that her uncle should be so earnest
to have kept secret ? What could it be ? -.
While Mary's head was busy planning
schemes for recovering the box, Tier aunt's
was equally busy devising means to keep
it out of her reach ; and she sucoeeded. ..
The next day a lady oalled On Mrs. Cur
tis, and iu the course of. conversation, an
ingenious plan came into the mind of the
lattor for disposing of the troublesome
possession. For, in reality, ber conscious
guilt in connection with it had beoome so
great that the very eight of the box was
growing irksome to her. Why not restore
it to its rightful owner, then ? Because that
would be doing a real kindness to Mary ;
and such a thing bad gone out of practice
with Mrs. Curtis. , She preferred to cover
up, rather than undo the wrong,forgotting,
reflective reader, that however long and
deep an evil may be buried, it will one
day sprout up aud bring forth fruit after
its kind. v .
t "By the way, Mrs. Todd," said she, "I
havo something very pretty to show you."
So saying, she went into another room, and
returned with the ebony box. Mrs. Todd
was charmed with it, and eagerly inquired
where she got it,
" I am not at liberty to say," said Mrs.
Curtis, " for it was left here by an uufortu.
nate friend, to be sold." .. .
" Indeed ! and at what price?" ,
Mrs. Curtis was uuxiou to drive a bar
gain, and replied, .
"At a price fur below its value, Mrs.
Todd. It can be bad for ten dollars and
the silver on it is worth twice that sum."
Mrs. TodcC without replying, , took out
her purse, counted the money, and took
possessiou of the coveted treasure.
Poor Mary ! A few day afterward she
ventured ouce more to ask bor aunt for the
box, but was told flatly that she had given
it away to a worthy friend, who had re
moved to a distant part of the country.
We will not record the dotails of Mary'e
sorrows during a fow ensuing months, but
bring the sympathetic reador at once to the
next great era in ber trials, which, like a
"tenth wave,',' well nigh overwhelmed
her. She had made many efforts to trace
her lost gift, but without success ; and, by
a special exertion of will, had somewhat
reconciled herself to the grievous disap.
pointrhent ; looking forward to tho time or
hor uncle's return with a patient expecta
tion of true sympathy, if not of entire re
lief from her unhappy condition, .f r-
One night, about tho first of September,
Mr. Curtis came home from his1 place of
business with an unusually sad and thought
ful air, and seated himself by tbe fire with,
out speaking. So strange a thing attracted
the attention of all the family, who were
present, ready to sit down to supper.,.
"What is the matter, father?" asked
Emily, putting her arm around his neck,
and looking affectionately into his face.
He made no reply, but taking a newspaper
from bis pocket, pointed out a paragraph,
and handed it to his daughtor. Emily
took it, and rend aloud :
" By advices from Havana, we learn that
the ship Dolphin, Capt. Bruce, of this port,
when three days out from St. Salvador,
struck a sunken reef and bilged. A heavy
sea running, she was driven high, and in
five hours parted amidships. Fortunately,
a French brig at this moment hove iu
sight, bore down upon tbe wreck, and saved
all but four or five passengers, who were
lost when tbe vessel broke up. Among the
latter, we regret to learn, was Captain
Benjamin Curtis, formerly of this city, and
well known to our commercial readers as
an enterprising merchant of Rio Janeiro.
Capt. Curtis lost his life in noble efforts to
save a fellow-passenger."
This sudden announcement was a . terri
ble shock to the whole family and filled
every heart with mourning. Even Mrs.
Curtis, witnessing tbe violent griof of ber
daughters, indulged herself in a paroxysm
of tears.'
.But where is Mary, and who cares for
her? There she lies, with her head hang
ing over tbe end of the sofa ; and there
long after the rest have brushed away their
stormy , tears, Bhe , still lies her eyes dry
and her heart petrified. There is a drouth
below the deepest wells.
The family at length seated themselves
at the tea-table ; but Mary's chair was
empty she bad gone supperloss to bed,
not to sleep, but to think to " perform in
appropriate darkness the funeral obsequies
of a departed hope. ..-.
The wakeful night passed swiftly away,
and the dawn found ber quietly employed
at tbe unfinished task of the previous day.
What makes that look, though sad, so
peaoetul? Bhe had learned another lard
lesson of resignation, and submitted her
heart to tho will of Providence.
: Was the remarkably cheerful face with
which Mrs. Curtis greeted the family, that
morning, to be explained in the same way ?
She too bad passed . a sleepless night, but
it was because her husband had informed
ber that he was the only legal boir to all
bis brother's estate ; the captain having ex
ecuted a wilt to that ellect many years be
fore, and sent it home to his care ; and her
sleep bad been driven away by her busy
castle-buildings of future grandeur. She
was a woman of active mind and determin
ed will ; and that night's musings had map
tied out a variety of Duruoses from which
... .
no ordinary influences would be able to
swerve her. ,
i Mr. Curtis haviug satisfied bimeelf that
there was no other will, it became aece
sary for him to proceed at once to look
after hi inheritance. In order to do this
it seemed desirable to change his residence
to a more convenient part of the city.
Much to bis gratification, and that of his
wife's, he succeeded in negotiating tbe
purchase of tbe fine dwelling he formerly
owned In C street, which happened to
be vacant, and for sale. Immediate prep
arations were mado for removal, attended
with all tbe excitement, hurry, and con
fusion incident to that periodio plague or
domestio life. The strength and patience
of our heroine were of course tasked to the
utmost, during these days of extra labor ;
and her spirit received no choeriug impulse
when after the family became settled she
found ber sphere of servitude more degra
ded in proportion as the pride and pre
tensions of her aunt and cousin were in
creased. ' Seeing nothing before her but a
lifo of ignoble toil, ber ambition was arous
ed, and she determined to assort her free
dom. Her resolution was doliberately
taken, and wisely kept to herself till ready
for execution. Coucludcd next week. -
tW In 1705, when on a visit to Lord
Mexborougb' Foote broke his leg while
hunting. Shortly afterwards Lord B
condoling with hint on hi misfortune,
the inveterate joker could uot forbear bis
jest at tho expense of the silly nobleman,
aud rejoiuod, " Pray, my , lord, do not
allude to my weak point I have not
alluded to your," at the same time sig
nificantly pointing to the - nobleman'
bead.
try-Half the ills we board within onr
hearts are ills because we board them.