The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1854-08-11
MRS. BELCHER'S FIFTH CURTAIN
LECTURE.

wei, near.
want to say word to you before you go
to sleep. Have you got clothes enough on,
dear? If you havn't, III go to the closet and
get blanket.
Warm enough.
Well, as was saying, want to speak a
word to you. Mrs. Jones is going to have a
great party next week. Do you hear, Belch-
er?
Yes, but it isn't anything to me.
But it may be, ifyouchoose. I've been think.
ing, dear, that it's long time since we have
had asparty, and now that Amanda Jane is
getting so large, it's really necessary that we
shall have one. So, when shall it be-!
Don't see any necessity for it. Never!
Neuer! Mr.. Belcher. Did / understand
you to say neper?
Ipresume you did.
Then, Belcher, l must say that you are
selfish tyrant. You can 60 to your club, and
enjoy yourself, and spend your money, and
when your poor wife wishes a little recrea.
ton, you turn about and say nsuer!
| don't belong to any club.
Well, you can 60 to the tavern and carouse
with set Of vulgar companions, and that
amounts to the same thing. l should like to
know, Mr.. Belcher, what are your objections
to party?
It's expensive.
Well, and are not other things expensive
Your journey to Niagara last Summer didn't
cost anything, eh, Belcher, and your double
bareled gun that you havn't used since you
got it, didn't cost anything either? You're
ready enough to squander away money on
yourself, but for the rest of the family it's a
different matter.
No use in having party.
No use in hauing party! Ono, of course
not There's no use in keeping up your re-
spectability, and position in society--not the
least.
A good many families get along without
having parties.
Certainly, of course, you're right there
There's Mike Flanagan, the brick-layer, does
not give parties, and Black Sally, the washer
woman. So we mustn't. Perhaps we had
better give up our circle of acquaintances,
and cultivate the society of Mike Flanagan
and Black Sally. 1t would be such an eleva-
ton, wouldn't it, Belcher? And how de-
lightful it would be for you, Belcher, after a
hard days work, to come home to tea, and
have a chat with Sally. Shan't invite her
here tomorrow, Belcher!
If you want to.
If 1 ,oam to! No, Belcher, it's you that
want to. Don't lay it off on to me, for won't
hear it. I'm out of all patience with you.-
You ought to live on an uninhabted island,
for then you wouldn't have to give any par
ties.
If were on an inhabited island, should
not have any one to prevent me from going
to sleep.
| understand you, Mr.. Belcher 1appre-
ciate the kindness of your allusion. Itwould
have been better for me if had never set
eyes on such an unfeeling, barbarous man.
I'm tired
Well, Belcher, can't help it if you are
You deserve to be kept awake all night for
your treatment of meme, your welded
wife, though nobody would think it, from the
manner in which you conduct towards me.
| wish you'd stop talking.
shall do no such thing. shall talk and
keep talking, and never stop till you have
given me leave to have that party. So you
have warning.
At the end of half an hour, during which
Mrs. Belcher kept her tongue in constant
motion, her husband, finding it quite impos-
sible to check the torrent in any other way,
gave his consent to the party, and five min
utes after was in a refreshing slumber.