The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1861-06-18
BROTHER TOMS WIFE.
BY ISAAC NJ. GREGORY.


Igot a letter from my laundering brother
Tom, one day. Folded and enyoloped, it
looked shockingy like a welI-squeezed
brick it was dirty enough, anyway. The
letter itself was composed principally Of
scratches, blots, and hard grammar. 1t
was remarkable for an utter absence of
punctuatioa-marks, neatness, or regard for
lis readers eelings-supposing, chariia-
bly,, that that respected individual had any.
Ii strikes me forcihly that he had.
Brothe. Tom was a reckless, dash-away
boy, who was never known, even to the
Oldest inhabitant Of Bubbletown, 10 do any
thing correctly. lie scorned the idea. lie
wrote letters and transacted business about
as he put on his shocking bad hat--a catch,
a swing, press down, and tie thing was
done inyariable result-papers sticking
out between hat and uncombed hair, and
lodos hanging over forehead with an utter
disregard Of appearances.
had been ~tearing around Tom ex-
pression) in this place and that, and sew
eral others, for a number Of weeks--away
from home mean TO say-when ! got
Toms letter. was then some three hum
dred miles away from Bubbletown; wish
could say in Italy, and make myself a
hero at once but the fact is, | hadn't
money enough 10 20 there; and, to tell the
truth, ! didn't really want TO. You see, in
Bubbletown lived Eleanor Smith---.Smih,
that's the name, and | don't care if it isn't
romantic.
But Qhe printer win her insert a sigh
Of the hugest order, preparatory Of a few
sentences about Eleanor,) Italy had no
skies rs blue as Eleanor's eyes Chats poe
try--I knew | couldn't help it } nor no
sunset that could commence with the soft
enod gold Il think that's correct) Of Flea
nor's hair" auburn locks" YOU know nor
no pictures Of the old masters, cor any
other man." that could begin with tho
dimpled chin, or low forehead, or full, faint
ly.rcd cheeks of--of Eleanor.
don't Ike that last paragraph bit it
isn't half good enough. However never
could pen-pcture that girl. I've tried il
dozens OF times and at the end Of every
sentence I've had 10 stop TO "takc love
of her. You know how it is, Of course
You've been so, too. Sick-love-sick
heavy load at heart very often; aching
eye-balIs, brought on by vain endeavors to
look the stars out Of countenancc; head
aches, caused by sleepless nights absence
Of substance in stomach-aching void there
pains in arms and legs-cause, hard labor
in the way Of air-castes and endeayors to
kick out, and pound out, into metre, the
poetry within you, which is evidently bound
out for twenty-five years 10 Mr. Morpheus
NOT half Of which period has expired.
III try again. Eleanor: medium size,
plump as a partridge plump partridge
fair skin, low forehead, dark-blue eyes,
dainty nose--not too much so, you know
full, rather red cheeks; full, short lips
dark-brown hair, small hands, 10. ? dear
little gaitcry-ateries, a low, ,sicn voice, free
dashing, aaanclng way--a look Of health
and a step to match il That was Eleanor
as near as ! can picture her; and ! have
gfB sCAAiftts ~ rrif shr- AaiN f+sA'At @NNf41~'
/ Two is no better than Effort Number One
However, as to Toms letter. II ran
/ thus:
any DEaR Bon I'm going to get marrios
/ week after next, and want you 70 come hon'
| right away. How it was is this, Eleanor smitl
ara Susan Jones cane 10 our house the ether day
and III says why don, you marry Susie, Tom
I You're IN old bachelor, and know she like
yoa.' Susan Was ou,. thought about il, ani
/ concluded liked Eleanor; so that night asko,
her 10 have me- and she said she would, 70 it's al
rsrbt. and Fl and will he married the 22nd Q
ne1i month Hurrah give ne joy, Bob elisi
Is pretty girl, you know, sos Eleanor. Hin
for YOU Come bone 0n first train. 9 ",
ssToN BRows"
Nv dear brother Tom When ] rea'
that letter was leaning against lamp
post; !, was evening, and had Just get ]
cat of tie ofliee--ihe letter mesn.
/ And tie GiokeriDg, dancing light locke
idawp uf,oa "a sorrowfnl man. Tom. then