The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1861-06-08
BL1FKINs, SILVER wEDD1NG.

Blifkins," said my wife, "we have
been married twenty-one years to-day,
and you never have manifested, by any
demonstration on return, that you were
+ sensible Of the blessing you enjoy. Now
| propose that We celebrate our silver
wedding"
"Very WELL" replied, "havc it your
own way; only it strikes me that the
twenty.ffth anniversary is the one usually
remembered as the silver wedding"
That is just the way with you" said
my wife, bursting into tears, and showing
evidence Of temper, which, am sorry to
say, has increased somewhat of late,
that's just the way with you"
II told my wife that was not sensible
Of any particular way in the premises,
and begged that cstimable woman to ex.
plain what it did mean; indeed, am not
certain that | did not use the words
what in the thunder she meant, as |
frequently hear them used to. strengthen
our idiom, somewhat deficient in empha.
tic terms.
She condcscended to inform me that |
had, by leaving it to her in the first place,
manifested my indifference; and, in the
second place, had destroyed her antlcipa.
tons by mentioning the fact Of the twenty
five years custom; as if only four years
made any diffcrence--as though twenty
one years OF our welded life had not been
fully equal to twenty five of that Of any
body else.
Equal to forty, my love-" interposed,
"of some" My wife lOokel at me in.
quiringly. Reckoning the time by hap.
piness," quickly added, to save the do
mestic bark from going over on its heam
ends. explained to my wife that lcav-
ing the matter to her was another proof
of my confidence in her wisdom, that
twenty-one years had not shaken.
"Then," said she, "Blifkins, we will
celebrate our silver wcdding to-day be-
cause life is very uncertain, and we don't
know what may happen"
4" Very well, said 60 ahead"
went home at night little later than
usual and was agrccably surprised to find
my wife's mother, and my wife's three
sisters, and my wiEe's two maiden aunts
assembled, all dressed in their best bib
and tucker essayed to look cheerful,
but as | entered felt that was regarded
as an offender. My wife was dressed in
her black silk. a sure augurv of trouble,
for TINT black silk ever has been as signi-
ticant TO me Of disaster as the black cap
Of chief justice, assumed while pro.
nouncng sentence Of death.
How d. do? Glad to see you !" |
shouted, and attempted to kiss the sisters,
who appeared to be as rigid rs those dam.
sells mentioned in TcnnySon's {" Princess"
offering no resistance, but caring nothing
about it.
"Mr. Blifkins," said my wife, "if you
had been as energetic in your motions,
while walking as you are in your rudcncss
now, you would have been at home sooner.
We can judge Of q mans interest by the
manner in which he moves. Any body
else would have been at home an hour
sooner than usual on such happy occa.
sion."
any dear old wife," said I, attempting
a modifying eXpedient that at other times
proved successful, "be reasonable
"Yes," she broke in, that is just
your way. am the unreasonable one, of
course cause all the trouble; l am to
blame for everything; and as to being
your old wife, were | younger, perhaps
you would treat me differently"
l attempted a coup de grace by kissing
her as she was taking loaf of cake from
the oven. She held it towards me to pre-
vent my approach, and gave it warm
embrace, which it also warmly returned.
I uttered my feelings with degree Of We.
hemence that might have answered to ex-
press the concentrated spite restrained for
twenty-one years. My wife screamed,
and the whole party rose to their feet and
held up their hands in horror at the afro.
city. In vain strOve to laugh it Oif-the
mOther-in-law and maiden aunts came
over my spirit like cold pack in Janu.
ary. The sisters simpcrcd little, but
their laugh sounded to my pcrturbed Spi.
rit like the rustic Of q chickens feathers
trembling at the appearance of hen.
hawk. subsided into silence, and reach
cd for Boston journal.
"Mr. BlifkIns |" said my mother.in law
abruptly, in tone that made the start to
my feet as though | had been shot, "you
ought to feel happy at the return Of this
joyful day"
'"Huppy ?" repeated, my mind dwell
ing on the doings Of the brokers board
"discount 05 per cent, sales moderate.
Z" How ?" she repeated, sharply.
"Vcry happy" | said, correcting my
self, and putting jolly emphasis on the
very, relapsing into the brokers' board
again.
"And I dare say you properly value
the treasure you have in your wifcy" said
one Of the maiden aunts.
"Value declining A, dividend off," I
said, thinking OF Pcwabic and my two
shares that had bought on speculation.
L" How ?" she Queried in her turn.
"Most assuredly," replied I, in tone
that testified my proper valuation of the
treasure.
"And you would probably take the
same step il you could live your life over
again?" queried one Of the sisters.
"Buyers positively decline purchasing" :"
said |, reading line relating to class Of
fancy stocks.
"Eow ?" asked the sister, not hearing
distinctly.
"Certainly would; of course"
said, redeeming my imperiled reputation
by my earnestneSs.
The children came rushing in, and in q
few moments forgot my momentary an
noyance. The whole thirteen have nat.
ural tastc for music, and while Juliana,
my eldest, who is nineteen, and is courtcd
by long.limbed young gentleman in the
city, played the piano, which l purchased
for her Of the Mcssrs. Chickering, the
others engaged in a pleasant little dance,
till the tea-bell sounded, when We repaired
to the dining.room, where Mrs. b. had
prepared our little rcpast. Everything
was commemorative of the event There
were twenty-One plates upon the table,
twenty.one cups and saucers, twenty -one
spoons, and twenty.One knives and forks,
twenty.One slices Of bread, and twenty
one pieces Of pie.
"Sit down and eat" said I, ain well