Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1852-12-27
a THANKSGIVING PRESENT.


fubbs' lived along, as well as they could,
" IN connubial Bliss without experiencing
what might be strictly called "a hell upon
earth, " till Thanksgiving day eve.
Just as the clock of st. Paurs tolled
twelve, on that blessed night says Mr..
Tubbs, as sat by a sea coal fire, with
hot whiskey punch on the table before me.
with my legs placed above the grate,-Mrs.
Iubos was engaged in reading lecture by
Mrs. Cakes Smith en- ssWoman's rights.
and the Evils of Matrimony," there was
tremendous pull at the street door bell"
What's that?'' said Mrs. Tubbs. in her
peculiarly sharp and vigorous manner.
Ills the bell, my love-" said 1.
=" Well, sir, and why dom you go to the
door, sir?'
"'Tis the duty of Betty'to attend to the
door, said I.
Betty Betty! You brute, don't YOU
know that the poor girl has been in bed
these two hours, whilst you've been here
guzzling your hot whiskey punch and read
ing the newspaper? Go to the door this
instant, you monster
81 had some misgivings, I confess
something instinctively told me, there was
something wrong in that. midnight pull of
the bell; and, for the life of me, found it
difficult to muster up courage enough to an
swer it."
"You dafn't go, you coward" screamed
Mrs. Tubbs. "'Tis some of your carousing
associates, l 'spose wAo've called to get YOU
off on midnight revel. Give me the light
sir; FU go-Pn see who are your vile COM
panions I'll give 'em what they don't
want, guess"
Mastering up what courage I could,
determined that if it was the call of some of
my good natured friends, who had taken
advantage Of a cornwall moment to give me
a visit, Mrs. Tubbs should not expose her
frailties and tigress- like qualities, snatched
the lamp and opened the street door; when,
oh goodness gracious. what was my horror,
when found, tied to the railing of the
doorway, basket, and in that basket,
there was a baby! Heavens and earth |
felt was done for; l felt as if the day of
jud ement was at hand I calculated a
shrek Of horror; and, instantly, at the ia
stance of that intuitive humanity, which
has always beset me, took the basket and
the baby in, and laid both on the carpet of
the parlor, before Mrs. Tubbs and connu-
bal bliss
"Ah ha! All ha! So, sir, caught at last,
are you, in your iniquities? And this is
the end of your life of adultry? This comes
of your licentious career! Who, sir, is the
mother Of this brat?''
con my life; On the honor of man, my
love-" | exclaimed, 81 swear l know no
more of this infant than you do. [ am
guiltless man. As God is my judge | am !;
and this babe is a foundling."
GA founding indeed! Yes, sir, YOU
found it; and Eve found it! I've found
you out at last, so [ have; and this, sir,
puts an end to our connubial bliss" l de-
mand a separate maintenance, sir-I de-
mand divorce alimony, and round sum
at that, sir. I'm not to be put off with q
paltry considerations demand at least one
third of your fortune?"
81 would have said amen with all my
heart" says Tubbs, sat the instant, but be-
fore [ could do SO, l was compelled to trudge
two miles, on a cold and dreary night, to
place the basket and the baby in the Office
of the Commissioner of the Almshouse."
"Mrs. Tubbs was was up early the next
morning." says Mr.. Tubbs, in a very pa
thetic epistle to US, ''and at, sunrise, with
and empty stomach and an agonized soul,
proceeded to her solicitor, to adopt ways
and means for the attainment of divorce,
and an end to our ''connubial bliss