Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-03-09

Samson bushes red like young girl: his
gaze has already been fixed on little trembling
Emma as she places the succplent dainty be-
fore him; now it droops away Ike one brought
to confession Of sin.
Why, why" he falters Emma in the
little talks we've had, often told me of that
old Berkshire farm where she was born and
reared and how. on Christmas Ewes, she had
Ten trudged with you to get holly from rare
old tree growing on an upland about mile
from where you lived. She had said dav or
two ago, Oh that she had sprsy of holly
from that tree So, as L wanted country air.
snd a country walk and wished to please one
so kind TO me, and one whose pleasures are 40
few, set of by the earliest train this morning
Go the place Emmy had described. A lone
and weary walk 1T was, for L was wholly igno.
rant Of the locality; but at last finding the
tarm, pllOted my way thence more easily to
the bleak upland where stood the fine old tree
There L gathered this spray, it is Emmy's
own, And as he speaks, Samson unbuttons
his threadbare coat, and lays the lovely cOro-
mails OF Natures own designing before the
blushing little maid.
Well, we'll. :" laughs John Tucker. as he
Sarves at the cut-and- -come-again pork pie. Il
love Em very dearly, dearer than most fathers.
but shouldn't have had silly stuff enough in
me for this, fear"
You are right John Tucker; as long as the
world shall endure, fathers will never do what
lovers do, be sure
Samson says nothing, and the little maid
says nothing; so John carves away at the pie,
and they are very happy.
Samson" whispers EN-. presently. .sdidn't
you 60 into Raspers, and didn't they tell
you that father had comef''
No; | went in, for-for-fora littIc-parcel
Id left there" he replies, hesitatingly, "but,
as could hear they were at supper, I sought
for what wanted, and crept out again as soft
qS /
L closed the door, and called after me, but |
pretended rot to hear them
Abel Is about the most sunshiny barber
ever saw, says grave John. But now,
think me, pork pie won't do alone-we must
have beer, and a little something else En-,
ind me jug, and I'll fetch it."
Samson dissents to this and proposes to 90
But Tucker will listen to nothing of the kind,
as, indeed, no one with feeling would for Sam
son has the aspect of PROSTATE Hercules: so
the little maid finds up an old handless water
Jug-sueh being the only one not under the
strength of lock and key.
Tucker is shrewd reader of character
though an unlettered man, so he Judges well
of Samson, or he would not thus leave him
and the little maid alone
As soon as her fathers foot is up the stairs
Samson leans back in his chair, and reaches off
the dresSer.the little parcel he has brought
with him. When its papers are unfolded.
covered work-hOxes-a dream of Ems for
many day, but not till now attained
i We saved and pinched for this long
while, says Samson, as he gives the work
box. and put his arm about the little maid;
land 1t would have been a better one still had
L been richer man"
But she is so enchanted with it a. it is. and
thinks Samson so good in having gone so far
to obey her highest wish, that she nestles her
face to his, and indicates, otherwise than by
words, her glowing thanks
But L fear" he says, just now, gloomily,
that our days are few together, nv pretty
one, now your father is come
He Is going to take me back with him 10
New Zealand, in little while; but YOU must
come, too, dear Samson. He wants people 10
90 with him who know about plOughing, and
such things; and you can go, too Ask him,
for L see he likes you. His eyes filled with
tears when told how like brother YOU had
been
50 presently, when John come back with the
ale, and something stronger in a bottle, and
with pipes and tobacco, and when sumner i
cleared away. and the tangible remnants stored
safely In the basket for Samson's private eat.
ing, and when Emma sit. ON her fathers knee
and falls by and by asleep ON his shoulder
the men talk over these and other things: and
ere midnight has come Samson has arranged
to give Qnlicher months warning on the
morrow Then when he is free, he promise:
To diligently assist honest John in all his prep,
sratlonS, and eventually sailing with him t
New Zealand, serve him for one whole wear. a;
the price for the little daughter the strong
man loves so well
SamsOn Acre and John Tucker Joined hands
upon the VOW. When honest men do this
there need be no record of the law. Faith and
truth are more eternal than written parchmen,
or craven stone.
4
Mr.. kneebOne'S goose had been dulv dis
cussed, and pronounced to be of wonderful ex.
cellence. Dessert and tea have followed: then
punch, cards, and scandal; eventually sunpe,
crowns the board, and somewhere about half
past eleven p. m. the Quilchers depart from
Mr.. kneebone's ''willa" Assoon as that hos.
Pitable mansion is out Of sight. and no folks in
hearing, Quilcher nudges his wife on the arm,
fretty extravagant going On. eh, didn'
you think so' Hot pirtridges for supper. and
all that solt OF things. But il won't last long
MI Bitter, who eat So largely of tho goose, m y
dear, and fourished off that jelly at supper
ninted thst crash was near at hand, bills
dlshonored, and | know not what"
All, L thought rs much,'' replied Mrs
Quiicher, who always relishes other people :
troubles. Her dress, did you notice that
And then TO think of all that nice pudding and
other things going out into the kitchen at din
ner time. I'd soon had a look on 'au r
would
II don't doubt you, my dear; but other
folks extravagances amt ours. / only know
1t uncommon nice thing to have dinner you
amt to pay for"
Mrs Quilcher singles yes" and so they
reach the omnibus
Thus the world does. Eats your bread
grssps your hand, and, at pace from your
threshold, defames you And | have known
higher people than Mr.. and Mrs Quilcher
OF knightsbridge. do the same.
Aightlng from the omnibus, Mrs Quilcher's
misgivings are aroused
In sure We shall have some trouble to.
nlgnt, Tor my nose itches so. P'raps that girls
broken into the cupboard and stole the drip-
ping; or that vagsbOnd Ssmson's come home.
ana set the house on tre-Or-or'-'
Her disJunctive parentheses are not conclu.
ded when they reach their own street. and
nearly their own door Here they meet police
man z. 80, who has not the suspicious nature
OF the brother he has recently relieved.
"All well, policeman, at No. 40" asks Ouil-
cher, respectfully, for one or two little Incl.
dents In his and his wife's career, since they
Inhabited the street. have made him in awe of
the authorities of Scotland Yard.
Yes, says z, 80. slowly retracing his
steps, there seems one or two quiet people in
the kitchen-that4s all -