Beadle's Dime Novels No. 126: Old Jupe — page 32: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

34 OLD JUPE. innocentest ob us a., I sposes.” Saying this, auntie put the handkerchiefs in a chest, which shut with a spiteful snap, as if she wished Mrs. Parcell’s fingers were under the lid ; then she ° ordered her husband “ to shake higself and go to bed.” The latter half of which injunction he meekly obeyed. When Mrs. Parcell had been gone nearly a month, two things occured which rather surprised Mary. In the first place she received, by a St. Louis boat, an immense box, which, upon be- ing opened, was found to contain a handsome piano. Now, Mary could not play, and had no expectation of learning ; neither could she conceive of any friend who would make her go ex- pensive a present. She concluded that there must be some mistake; that the instrument must have been intended’ for some other person. No, there was the direction, full and plain. The box had come from New York city. The thought that perhaps Luke—who was yery fond of music, and had several times spoken of getting a piano if she would learn to use it—had arrived, unexpectedly, by way of New York, and might be now on. his way home, set her heart beating rapidly. g She continued to fancy this to be the ease for a couple of days, when a letter from her husband, post-marked Liverpool, and speaking, rather, of being compelled to stay a month longer than he had expected, proved the fallacy of the hope, and keenly disappointed her, There was nothing to do but to set up the piano, and await the explanation of the mis- take, if it should prove to be a mistake. There were but two other pianos in New Bristol, and the arrival of this one was the subject of considerable talk. All Mary’s friends came to sce it; and to wonder who sent it, along with its recipient, who wondered the most of any. Sometimes she thought. it might be Annette ; still, her sister, though having plenty of spending-money, could hardly afford a present like this. Be- sides, she would. have written to her about it, A few days after this came a small trunk containing an infant’s wardrobe, very complete, and of expensive material. Mary had a seeret which she had kept from Luke in order to give him the sweeter surprise when he should come home. She had found it out shortly after his departure, but had never referred to it in her letters. Whoever sent her this connicloooks.com