The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1867-09-19

"A couple OF hours later Mr.. PulHnger
came home again. His broad face look
ed fully two inches longer than when he
went out, and as he hung his hat on its
accustomed peg, sigh escaped from his
lips. Lizzie, a keenly observant cl.ad.
looked hard into her fathers face, and
noticed that, in spite of his apparent
melancholy, there Was sort of solemn
wink in the corner OF his left eye. So
she exclaimed, hastily
Mother, don't be frightened, fathers
only pretending. If he d got bad news
to tell, he'd come up whlstling and sing
ing. / know he's got good news, and
that why he makes believe to be miser-
able. I know you're only pretending,
ain We, father?' added the iittle Wo-
man. going up to him, and bestowing
demure kiss on his weather beaten
cheek. - = 8 : ia ! - ss ~ -
"Wbat do your know about it you.
young monkey p answered. Mr.. Pulling
er, with roughness which did not in the
least appear to discomfort his elder daugh-
ter. How man likely to be any
thing but melancholy when he finds such
thing as this in his pocket, and on
Christmas Eve, too?" Tft
With these words, and humorous
glance at Lizzie, he rang down a sover-.
eign on the table. -
''My dear Bob, exclaimed Mrs. Pull
lmger, with flush of pleasure on her
pale cheek, chow came you by such,
luck % ~
Found it ia the straw at the bottom
of the cab, didn't yer?' asked Lizzie,
sharply.
NO | didn' t. Miss Pert and D. ira ps
it 5 as we'll | didn't t, for should have
been tempted to keep it, without seeking
for the owner, and that wouidn' t be right,
We know No, I borrowed it.
"Who Off asked his wife.
why. of Mr. Wilkinson. | went and
asked for night-work, telling him how
pushed was just now. He hummed
and hawed a Bit and then be said, Can
you drive a handsom, Pullinger?' [
answered. respectfully, L should rayther
think l can, sir : I've drove everything
In my time, from a donkey up ards.
Well he said, Ned Tonlinson's bad
with the rheuraatlcs. Its his bay mare
She S fiier. but she's kicker"
20 Bob !" cried Mrs. Pulhnger, Il
hope she won't kick you T"
SO do L, answered her husband,
gra ,ely. s'But she's more likely to
kicl, my fare than me. Howsomever, if
she's used fairly, lay penny she don t
kick neither. I'm to start to morrow
me rning, and Wilkinson, though we call
him a nlpper, has actually let me have
pound in advance You ain t :. drunk
ard, Pullinger, and you ain a thief, as [
knows on, says the old man in his queer
gruuting way, so I'll let We have it. |
told him | was much obliged to him for
his good opinion, and for the money So
now, Polly, clap on your bonnet and
shawl, and let go and buy bit of beef
and taters. and the raisins and currants,
and orange peel tor the pudding. y
"Hooroar for the pudding" shouted
Bob Junior. WhereHpon Lizzie, with
matronly severity, boxed her brothers
ears, and then being reDroyed by her
mother for spelling the general hilarity,
kissed away the tears which her chastise-
ment had called forth. = y. ~
Il can't fancy you driving hanson,
father, observe Lizzie, refectiveIy.
why not, my dear?' 81
You don seem smart enough.
''Alluding to dress, Lizzie ?''
Partly, father
''Well, then, you re right. A hanson
tleman. | wish [ hadn't been forced to
is as good as water proof. but it don t
look fashionable. I'll tell you what,
Lizzie, I'll step around to Ned Tomln-
son and ask MIN to lend he his hat and
coat. He eau t want EN- while he's in
bed with the rheumatism, and III offer
him shilling a day for the use Of 'eu.
PIT yhaF 81.
against ny driving handsome.
You seem to me, father. TOO humble
for a hanso.n, answered the premature
little woman. Il should say you was
born for four-whceler y
Mr. Pullinger burst into a laugh. II
say Polly, he shouted to his wife, who
was putting on her bonnet in the bed
room, what d We think this little chit
Lizzie been saying of me? She tells
me m only fit to drive a GROWER. says
that OF me, who was a gentleman coach
man for years afore [ was married Ill
drive past the window to- morrow, Lizzie,
o purpose to let you see yer despised
A serious discussion took place among
the family as to the proper hour for the
Christmas dinner As Mr. Pulfinger
would be engaged all Jay with his han
| som, his wife proposed that they should
dine IN the evening, aud call it supper
Mr.. Pulllnger replied that if he dined
late he should prefer calling it dinner, as
a handsom-d driver could not be too fash
ionable in his habits; but advised an earl
Ter on the children S account. Them
poor little things, he observed, can t
wait till eight clock It'll tantaize
them out of their seven senses to hear
the pudding bubeling away for so many
hours
Mr.. Pullinger's plan was followed, and
the dinner was pronounced a success. 1t
is true chat the pudding was hardly so
big as the children would have liked, and
that Bob cast a greedy glance at the Sill
ces put away for father on the top shelf
of the cupboard, arguing in his own mind
that 1t was an unfair deduction from
the general stock; still, he was obliged
to allow that he had eaten sumptuous
repast. And shortly after dinner, lust
as industrious little Lizzie had tucked up
her sleeves, and begun to wash the plates
she heard the rattle of wheels, and a pc
culiar whistle outside in the street. As
this whistle WAS signal agreed apon be-
tween herself and her father, she Instant
" threw up the sash, and summoned the
rest of the family to the window to see
father drive by.
Don't father look nice in Ned Tom
linson' hat and coat?'' she exclaimed
He don't seem like himself
Mr.. Pullinger as he passed, waved a
graceful salute TO his family, and pointed
to the inside of his vehicle as much as
to say, GU see what sort of fare I've
got.
The fare consisted of two vulgar dress
ed young men, with dandifed canes in
their hands, and big cigars in their
mouths holiday customers evidently to