Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-08-17

III NEOltIE CANNING HILL.
They happened to be twins,-the two
Littles,-and their watchful MOTHER
their father having been previously re-
moved by death,-gave them the names
respectively Of Albert and Alfred. They
looked as much alike as two peas, exact
ly. There was no telling which, whether
in crowd Or out of one. Albert was
always thought to be Alfred, and Alfred
was always taken for Albert. One might
just as well have had the others name as
not; or they might both quite as well
have been named Albert as Alfred.
Both had red hair, blue eyes, freckled
faces, and short stumpy fingers Both
were equally devoted and persevering in
their attentions to young ladies, and yet
both had become inyetcrate old bachelors.
Both ''kept store" and both loved money.
In these respects, at least, they were
hugely alike.
But for all their similarity in so many
points, they were totally unable to agree
between themselves. They quarreled as
sayagely as two dogs about ragged
bone. Years before the date of our story
they had a violent falling out with each
other, and the feud had been carefully and
bitterly kept alive by them both. There
was no particular in which they did not
entertain the most sleepless jealousy of
each other,-whether in matters of busi-
ness, Or matters of love.
Their places of business happened to
be upon opposite sides of the street.
Alfred put his sign out, lettered "a. Lit
tie, Grocery and Provision Store" and
Albert likewise put out his sign, lettered
in precisely the same style. So that if
Alfred thought, by any hocupocus of
fortune to cut deeply into the pockets
and possessions of his customers, Albert
was determined to avail himself Of the
same apparent chances, at least, so far
as the lettering of his sign had anything
to do with it. Opposition and jealousy
seemed to have been carried to the utmost
limit, and. that too between two persons
who were brothers-and trims at that.
Mr.. Alfred Little was, in some myste-
rious way, smitten with the charms of
Miss Seraphina Ruggs-a youthful lady
of some thirty summers, or hard there
upon; an earnest candidate for matri-
mony too. She was possessed of some
little wealth, also, as we'll as the hand
that women ordinarily give away to their
persevering suitors. Perhaps this had
its influence with Mr.. Alfred Little. Very
likely it did.
No sooner had Mr.. Albert Little seen
for himself how his brother was going,
than he made up his determination to
cheat him of his prize. He resolved at
once to make himself acquainted with
Miss Seraphina Riggs, and beat his
brother at his own game. In nothing
did he glory so much as in this. His at
tentions to the lady were set on foot much
more by the feeling of rivalry he enter
tained towards his brother, than by any
real feelings of affections for the fair lady
in the case.
If, therefore, Mr.. Alfred Little went to
pass an evening with Miss Riggs, Mr..
Albert Little was sure to pass the very
next one in her company. All the time
Seraphina thought she had but one ad-
mirer-and he, Alfred. Asyet, however,
she did not know the Christian name of
her visitor, so that when Mr.. Alfred Little
called on her, he invariably received the
credit of two calls in succession. 1t may
well be imagined then; that Miss Riggs
soon become impressed with the attentions
she was deeply delighted to receive.
"Miss Seraphina," remarked Mr.. Al
fred Little one evening, after having stayed
in her company considerably longer than
usual Miss Seraphina, wish to whisper
a secret to you"
"La! What is it Mr.. Little 2" asked
she, her maiden heart humping loudly
against her stiff corsage just as if she
were too innocent and ignorant a young
Miss to suspect what the purport of his
communication could be.
cts on serious subject Miss Sera-
phina, replied he fetching a sigh, appa-
rently from the bottom of his boots.
Serious? La Mr.. Little. What is it
now 2" said she.
81 am in love, Miss Seraphina, said
he resignedly, as if he had heroically CIV
en- himself up to his fate.
"In love 2" screamed she, of course in
wardly delighted with the discovery of
such symptom on the part of Mr.. Lit
tie.
Eyes, and who do you think it, with?"
he asked.
I'm sure can't tell Who is it,
pray? Who is it, Mr.. Little7"
Couldn't you guess, Miss Seraphina 2"