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

ioxy ordeF,) Is Jemimy Ann, and them
two, with their eyes all black and
blue, is the twins, Caster and Polk.
They do tell me that Caster and POI
lix IS boys name BY rights but my
/ old man tuck fancy to EN-, and give
'em 10 the gals. They're twins
names, and Scripier names. | b1ievn.
They're right down gVod lookin' gals.
but the pesky critlurs is 50 ugly that
they fight like cat and dog cen
a'rnost every time my backs turned.
These here two little fellers IL named
Pardon and Increase, arter their two
/ grand-daddies; and that's all that's
TO hum but there's two more gals
that's out for helps, and three more
boys that's with the old man at the
shop. That makes eleven, and one
hat died and Paulie jist makes up the
bakers dozcu."
What might be the meaning Of be.
ing out for helps" did not know !;
but these girls were unquestonably
the sisters Of my gentle Pauline. ]
was absolutely siunned--slruck dumb
with mingled amazement and vexa-
tion and | endured, in unresisting
silence, the vigorous shakes OF the
huge dirty paws OF my delectable sis.
ters, and the fingers ofthe smaller but
still dirtier cubs, their brothers. Could
| really be awake and IN the posses
sion Of my senses? Had not some
horrid dream, some hileous night
mare, usurped possession of my facul-
ties Alas it was sad reality, and
| must teach myself to bear il with
such forlitudc as | could command
The bitterest thought Of all was that
Pauline had deceived me. If she had
given me the least hint Of the true
state Of the case, even nfier our mar
riage, the modification, the misery !
may call it, Of this visit would have
beea spared me. And that conve.
nient sprained ankle, 100, just in the
nick Of time to prevent her from ac-
companying me. Could ever forgive
her This duplcity!
While thoughts like these were
coursing through my brain, rickety
table had been hauled out into the
ccafrc Of the floor. by the twin maid
c@s, ca tor and, Pellix, and a cloth,
all soilod and greasy, had been spread
upon il. During the performance Of
this operation, quarrel arose between
them, and the modern representatives
of Ledas children were soon engaged
in sparring match. Castor, like her
nanesake OF immortal descent, seemed
to be no mean proficient in the art Of
self-defence," and was in fair way
to give Pollix's eye fresh suit Of
morning, when a vulgar looking
man, with the dirtiest face | had yet
seen, sprang through the doorway, and
commenced cutting the belligerents
with such hearty good will that their
yells Of rage soon changed 10 yells Of
pain, aud both speedily disappeared
by the back door, into some invisible
region beyond it.
As | feared, the man with The su.
perlatively dirty face proved to be my
Paulines father. 1t seemed that he
was Smith by occupation ms well as
by name, rs were also three grown
sons, who speedily followed him from
the shop, a few rods distant from the
house. | looked anxiously at each
one as he entered, hoping to discern
some trace OF education and good feel
ing, il not of refinement but all was
blank--a hopeless waste of brute-like
stolility, with the predominating ami
NAL expression stamped on every |
countenance. Leaving out the father,
it was hard TO say which was the least
dirty, least stupid and mean-looking |
oil the set
Having been introduced TO them
All, ! was agitafing IN my own mind |
the question how | should escape the
dinncr, which loomed up" more and
more threateningly every moment,
when one Of the younger children |
burst into the room, in breatIsless haste,
crying
"Oh ! what do you thinks Our
Paulie's come home She got out o
the cars just a minute ago, and told me
to run down here and tell you all how
that she was comm here directly"
81 want TO know !" shouted the
whole generation with one breath.
said nothing; but | certainly did
want 10 know" what could possibly
bring my wife to Connecticut, under
such circumstances, as sincerely as
could well be imagined.
The ejaculalions Of the family had
hardly subsidized when the door flew
open, and in boanced--not my Pau
line, nor anything like her, but tall,
awkward. raw-boned girl, bearing a
strong resemblance to the females Of
the blacksmith's household. After
certain oneouih and not over-affec-
tionse salatations, Mrs. Smith cried