The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1866-12-10
edo YOU know any storiesr she asked

confessions: "No."
"What Ounce you must be, mustn't
your said Polly.
He was reduced to the humiliating
confessions: "Yes."
"Would you like me to teach you
story! But you must remember it, you
know, and be able to tell it right to
somebody else afterwards"
He professed that it would afford him
the highest mental qualification to be
taught story, and that he would hum
bly, endeavor to retain it in his mind.
Whereupon Polly, giving her hand a
new little turn in his, expressive OF set.
Ting down for enjoyment, commenced
a long romance, of which every relishing
clause began with the words, $50 this
or. "And so this" As, so this boy;
or, $50 this fairy, or, "And so this pie
was four yards round, and two yards
and quarter deep"
The interest of the romance was de-
rived from the intervention of this fairy
to punish this boy for having a greedy
appetite. To achieve which purpose,
this fairy made this pie, and this boy
ate and ate and ate, and his cheeks
swelled and swellcd and swelled. There
were many tributary circumstances, but
fhc forcible interest eliminated in the
total consumption of this pie, and the
bursting of this boy. Truly he was a
fine sight, Barbox Brothers, with seri-
ous attentive face, and ear bent down,
much jostlcd OH the pavements OF the
busy town, but afraid of losing single
incident of the epic, lest he should be
examined in it by and by and found de-
| ficient.
Tie whole establishment turned out
to look at the little girl. Nobody knew
her; nobody could make ont her name,
| as she set it forth, except one chamber
maid, who said it was Constantinople-
which it wasn't.
'I will dine with my young friend in
private room," said BarboX Brothers
to the hotel proprietors, "and perhaps
you will be so good as to let the police
know that the pretty baby is here. L
suppose she is sure to be inquired for,
soon, if she has not been already. Come
along, Polly"
Perfectly at ease and peace, Polly
came along, but, finding the stairs rather
stiff work, was carried up by BarboX
| DIOIIltTS. Hc tillHCi W sio iiocb ti"i
scrndcnt success, and the BarboN sheep
ishneSs, under Polly's directions how to
mince her meat for her, and how to dlt-
fuse gravy over the plate with liberal
and equal hand, was another fine sight.
"And now," said Polly, "while we are
at dinner, you be good, and tell me that
story | taught you."
With the tremors of civil service
examination on him, and very uncer-
tain indeed, not only as to the epoch
at which tho pie appeared in
history, but also as to the meas
uremcn of that Indispensable fact,
Barbox Brothers made shaky be-
ginning, but under encouragement dld
very fairly. There was want OF
breadth observable in his rendering OF
the cheeks, as well as the appetite OF
the boy; and there was certain tame
ness in his fairy, referrable to an under
current of desire to account for her.
Still, as the first numbering performance
of a cood-humored monster, 1T passed
muster.
81 told you to be good" said Polly,
''and you are good, ain't youT
81 hope So" replied Barbox Brothers.
Such was his Difference that Polly,
elevated on platform of sofa-cushions
in n chair at his right hand. encouraged
him with pat or two on the face from
the greasy bowl of her spoon, and even
with gracious kiss. In getting on her
feet upon her chair, however, to give
him this last reward, she toppled for
ward among the dishes, and caused HIM
to exclaim as he effected her rescue 4:
"Gracous Angels! Whew! | thought
we were in the fire, Polly"
hat coward you are, amt you I
said Polly, when replaced.
"Yes, | am rather nervous" he re-
piled. "Whew! Don't Polly! Don't
flourish your spoon, or you'll 80 over
sideways. Don't tilt up your legs when
you laugh, Polly, or you'll go over back
wards. Whcw! Polly, Polly, Polly"
said Barbox Brothers, nearly succomb-
ing to dispair, "we are enrivoned with
dangersn
Indeed, he could descry no security
from the pitfalls that were yawnIng
for Polly, but in proposing to her after
dinner to sit upon low stool. Il will,
if YOU will said Polly. So, as peace OF
mind should 90 before all, he begged
the waiter to wheel aside the table,
bring a pack of cards, couple OF foot
stools and screen, and close i'll Polly and
himself before the fire, IS it were III a
snug room within the room. Then,
finest sight of all, was BarboX Brothers
on his footStool, with pint decanter on
the rug. contemplating Polly as she built
successfully, and growing blue IN the
face with holding his breath, lest he
should blow the house down.
"IIow you stare, don't your said
Polly, in houseless pause.
Detected in the ignoble fact, he felt
obliged to admit, alphabetically: 81
am afraid was looking rather hard at
you, Polly"
"Why do You stare'" asked Polly.
II cannot" he murmured to himself,
"recall why. Idon't know, Polly
"You must be simpletOn to do things
and not know why, must MT your" sad
Polly.
In spite of which reproof, he looked at
/ the child again, intently, as she bent her
head over her card-structure, her rich
curls shading her face. at is impossl-
ble,n he thought, ''that / can ever have
seen this pretty baby before. Can L
have dreamed of herr In some sorrow-
| ful dreamW
He could make nothing Of it. So he
went into the building trade as jour
noymau under Polly, and they built
three stories high, four stories high: even
| five.
Il say. Who do you think is coming''
asked Polly, rubbing her eyes after
tea.
He guessed: "The waiterf"
"No," said Polly, "the dustman. ain
getting sleepy"
A new embarrassment for Barbox
Brothers!
Il don't think am going to be fetched
tonight" said Polly; what do you
think
He thought not, either. After anoth-
er quarter of an hour, the dustman not
merely impending but actually arriving,
recourse was had to the Constantine
politan chambermaid: who cheerily un-
dcrtook that the child shonld sleep in a
II. II,