Litchfield enquirer., 1868-11-05

riage entailed never should have done if.
 '.Neither should l." he replied, .
 This brief conversation took place over cold dinner, served on table innocent oi cloth and without napkins Cold yit- uals were too much for he, and reyenged myself on Tom, so he retorted. Then did break down, and went to bed on, the floor with raging headache. Both of us felt more araiable the next day, and said we didn't mean it..
 Thank Heaven there's an end to all things, even to misery, and gradually the house was set to rights. The boys behav- ed so we'll, and were of so much use to me, that, in a moment of effusion, I promised Tom junior and Bob that they should go to the Museum They bad been once, and now quite forgot the swans in their long and highly scientific conversations on the sub- ject of wild animals. Saturday afternoon came, and though faint-hearted at the idea of Tom and Bob going to New York alone I still gave them permission, being urged on by my husband, who wants his children to be men before they have gone into pan taloons. .,.'z,s. .i
 Dressed in their Sunday clothes, the boys came to bid me good-by, Bob having one of his chickens tied up under his arm.
 Why Bob what are you going to do with that ch1cken! asked.
 Yes, you better ask, burst forth Tom junior. I told him not to do it. He's go- ing to give tito the 'structor' - 'What! exclaimed.
 lsWell, I don't care if am, now answer ed Bob, with tears in his eyes. 'The 'structer swallows things alive, and God made him so, and want to see him do it. The chicken won't feel it much, because the structer will eat him whole.' took the chicken from Bob and looked very stern. To think that my husband should belong to the Society for the Pre- vention of Cruelty to Animals, and that a son of his should be born with such blood thirsty propensities! Yet I could not scold Bob very severely, for, after all, it was knowledge that he was in pursuit of.
 I don feel wicked a bit, persisted Bob. If anybody s cruel it's God, for he made 'structers, and they must have live animals and my chicken might as well be gobbled5 up as MT. Barnum's chickens What reply could l make to this incon- trovertible logic, saving that severe silence which parents always fall back upon when their children are too much for them?
 Tom came home early that afternoon to arrange tue books in the back parlor, and as had all the carpets down gave myself adelightful surprise party by reposing up- on lounge and watching my 'better half grow dusty and red in the face setting his department to rights. ....
 After all, Sue. Brooklyn is pleasant sort of place, don't you think SOP" said Tom.
 ''I can't tell yet. I've not been outside of the house.
 AndTI really find a great charm about the ferry, Sue. The coloring in the sky this afternoon was beautiful
 I dare say the ferry would be very nice lift were not for the water.
 Why, what's the matter with the water?' Him drsadfullyi afraid the boys will tump- ble into it. "@
 'Nonsense!'
 'rhen think, Tom, of the winter season, and being blocked up with ice.'
 'Pshaw! we're to have bridge, which will save us from that annoyance
 Only to give you more rheumatism. One will wrap you up in fannels for the win ter.
 Now, Sue, this isn't fair. You promis- - ed not ztosgrumble.' -1st gEgs U-
 ffan not grumbling. wish to be pre- pared for r1tffe tho worst; that's all.'
 But say Sue, where's the first 7E'eellngme e of my Heavenly Arcana?'
 There, suppose. All the books were packed together " =.
 'The deuce they were! And where's the rare old edition of Milton, and Mickles 'Lusiad?'
 'Why, Tom, can't you find them?'
 No, nor you either.'
 :Alas, it was too true! The books could not be found. searched from top to bot tom of the house. They were gone; and they had been carefully packed.
 s.lhis is too bad! exclaimed Tom, as he oareered up and down the parlors like a caged tiger with a ferocious appetite.
 It was too bad, and I was raging inter- nally quite as much as Toms legs and arms were, when we were startled by a vio- lent ringing of the bell, followed by the entrance of Tom junior and an unknown man bearing Bob in his arms; the latter dripping with water that fell in pleasant streams on my Turkey carpet. ne Don't be frightened, mother" exclaim- ed Tom junior. Bob isn t hurt; he's only frightened a good deal and stunned some. He tired to jump on to the pier before the chain was let down-like the men you know-and fell into the river instead; but 2 man jumped right straight after him be- fore he went down once."
 Inever tainted in. my life, but came very near it then. Poor Tom grew quite distracted trying to attend to Bob and me at the same time. But it was over in a minute. The man had deposited Bob on my damask sofa, and the darling lay there looking so pale and penitent that l could have cried, but I didn't. at last realized that he was catching cold in his wet clothes and running my yellow damask, at the same time.
 ''Carry Bob to the bath-tub, " I said; and to the bath tub he went, where, after under going rubbing enough to have brought mummy to life, he was put to bed with kiss and 0 short sermon.
 'sMother," murmured Bob, after prom ising that he would never do so any more ''.I wouldn't have drowned any way, for I struck out just as I'd seen the frogs do; and I do believe I can swim, because you see I've practiced on the piano-stool'' -
 After remaining by Bob's side until the dear boy fell asleep, and assuring myself that there was no danger of fever, went down stairs to find Tom with his face bu- ried in his hands. Looking up as Ienter- ed he said: