The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1863-03-17

where The train of cars had halle,i
stood an old fashioned building, with
an exceedingly dilapida'ed picture
probably meant for General Washing,
ton, swinging over the front door
Here entered, and, after relieving
myself Of the dust Of the railroad in.
quired Of the landlord " he could di.
rect me 10 the house of Iulson Smith
which I had been given 10 understand
was somewhere i the neighborhood.
=" Oh. yes" replied the proprietor oI
the Washington Hotel, " II just over
the top Of tie hin there a yaller house
with 4 Morellor cherry.tree in front on
/ Il s; you can't mis- 1t"
Thanking him Tor his information
sailed forth to call upon my respect
ed faiher-in-law. Before reaching the
top OF the bill which had been pointed
out to me, | had apparently passed
beyond the outskirts Of the village
and when | arrived al the hollow on
the other side. ! saw, close upon the
road. a yellow house with very for.
lorn looking cherry-tree in front Of
il. evidently the abode of Judson
Smith. ] had been prepared to find
somewhat rustic homestead, but,
with every possible desire TO be pleas
ed with the birthplace Of my Pauline,
| could not help feeling disappointed
The house was not merely rustic, but
mean-looking. and Of extremely con
tracted proportions for so large fami-
ly as that which knew must inhabit
il.
Like one who has made mp his mind
TO take cold water bath, | determin-
ed not to stand lettering on the brink.
but to make the plunge at once. The
front door was open. and a large,
coarse, raw-boned, red-faced woman
stood little way inside. staring at me
with all her might. while half a dozen
dirty children, with mouths wide open
and eyes dilated, seemed trying. each
one. to outstare the mother and the
rest.
Il this Judson SIN -:"
Before had time 10 finish my M
quiry the ready dame broke forth With
great volubility, " To be sure il Is. and
I'm his wifc--who mought yoa be =
| was strongly tempted 10 best !
retreat forthwith, and leave this
straightforward question unanswered /;
but | reflected how difficult it would
be 10 account to Pauline for such a
procedure, and, nerying myself to thr
trial which ! felt was before me, re-
piled to her query by propounding
another
Have YOU not daughter in
Georgia z"
"A darer in Georgy?' cried Mrs.
Iudson Smith; TO be sure ] have
Our Paulie's in Georgy. What dc you
know on her r.
am her husband"
"Our Paulic's husband Oh, ei
out, MANICURE a jokin.''
Il am perfectly serious, madam, l
assure you," land so was, most con-
foundedly seriously Have you moi
been informed Of your daughters mar
rige7"
Lor', yes But who'd have thought
Of her ever marryin' sich / lookin' fel-
low as you. Dew tell Wal, | want
to know And be you rally my SON.
in-law?'
Positively, yes. II is not quite
four weeks since we were married"
Dew tell Wal, rally, now, you
don't look as If you could arm your
victuals and clothes. What mought
you do for a livin'?'
" Very little Of anything, madam"
"Jist ezaely what | thought. You
never could have done no work, to
speak on, with them saft.lookin'
hands"
! admitted the "saft impeachment"
The old lady looked actually savage.
but at length new idea seemed 10
strike her.
" What shiny boots! And what
slick-Iookin' coat May be you're a
gambler n
" No, madam. lin a planter--a
farmer
"0h. gil out You never farmed
nor planted nauthin' with them hands.
/ was resolved to keep cool. II pos
sible, and | had entered the house with
the determination TO treat my parents
in-law with dignifed propriety, under
all circumstances but il must be con-
iessed that | was beginning to feel
little unamiabIe, and in order to get
upon safer ground, | assured Mrs.
Smith that her daughter should want
for nothing, and then proceeded to
make some allusion to the children.
lio still formed a gaping circle round
the chair in which | had seated my
self without an invitation. This operat-
ed so as to turn the tide ia another di.
rection. and formal presentation to
the family group followed.