The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-12-19


As my aunt was not offended At Mr.. Thomas
pertinacity neither was he at his rejeotions His
visits were continued; and SO constantly, that it
came to be thought that Mr.. David Thomas
was an accepted suitor-an idea which my
aunt did not discourage, rs It defended her
from the assaults of other assailants.
"0ld Thomas" was greatly disliked by my
mother and her two cousins, who suggested
that Aunt Graoe's money was the cause of his
constancy, as he was saving to meanness, and
often gave extra trouble by coming late for
dinner; and trouble was all he did give, as no
servant was ever known to be the richer for
him. He never took the young ladies to the
play, nor the opera, nor to any Of the sub
scriPtion balls, then popular with the upper
middle-class; but II Aunt Grace grati6ed the
young people with such amusements, he came
in at half-prioe, or met them at the door,
amply remunerating himself by his indulgence
at supper.
There was always some little plot against
old Thomas. Aunt Grace was fond Of whist,
and would play sixpenDy points in preference
to silver threepennies, which Mr.. Thomas
generally proposed, and no wonder. Mr..
Thomas was very nesr-sighted and had bad
memory, so, as my aunt was invariably his
partner, the young people opposed to them had
no hesitation in taking his queen of hearts
with the king Of diamonds, and covering his
knave of clubs with the queen of spades.
Aunt Grace connlved at these Irregularities,
which had their origin in no other motive
than plaguing old Thomas, who ha ted to lose
his money. am bound to say, for the credit
Of my mother and my aunt and cousins, that
the money was devoted to charitable pur-
poses.
/ have said that my mother was light
hearted woman and her cousin Janet was a
fair match for her. Aunt Grace having taken
a cottage for the summer on the banks of the
IL IL j -
one evening, uninvited. Somewhat to the
CONSERVATION of my aunt, and greatly to the
disgust of the young ladies, he had come to
pass the night, as was evident from his little
valise, which was adapted to most limited
wardrobe, and might have been only intended
rs An intimation to his friends that he required
to be lodged as well as fed. 1t is probable our
good. nstured aunt might have pleaded the
slight improperly of widow and her nieces
receiving bachelor admirer, but the weather
turned out exceedingly wet, aud old Thomas
professed his willingness to sleep on sofa, or
on the kitchen dresser, rather than 60 to the
next inn, some two miles off. He was COM
PEELED, he said, to leave for London by the
first coach in the morning, having business in
court. Under the circumstances, therefore,
he was permitted to remain.
Amongst old Thomas little peculiarities was
his non-adherence to any continuous style of
cream -colored cravat which had originally
been white. At one time he would appear in
tight pantaloons and shoes; at oLher in Cos
sack trousers, through which protruded his
foot encased in black worsted stocking and
shoe, instead of the well-polished Wellington
required to give effect to the once fashionable
garment. On the present occasion he ap-
peared in a pair of blue elastic tights and
Hessian boots, minus one tassel This pecu-
liarity as regards costume was, after time,
discovered to proceed from the fact of his hav
ing obtained the settlement of a bill of costs
in kind, due to him from a dealer in left-Off
wardrObes. The evening being too wet to
admit of going ont of doors, whist had been
resorted to, and old Thomas had bsen cheated
of some shilling or two as usual, which he
made up by requiring q large basin of gruel
amply favored with rum. In the morning
my mother and her cousins were astir by day
light; and as the rain bad left off, they went
out for a walk, leaving word that they should
not return until after the hour which old
Thomas had announced for his departure for
London. The cause of this rather singular
conduct was fully explained when old Thomas
put on his hessians, rs he found that the mis-
chievous cousins had made them the recep-
tacls for the greats used the preceding night.
Old Thomas indignation was naturally very
great; but he was compelled to mount the
coach, vOwiDg that he would never enter the
house of my aunt again. Old Thomas kept
his word 80 long as my aunt remained in the
| country.
His wrath was very great; but, after time,
| not sufficient to keep him away from Aunt
Grace's comfortable freside and hot suppers.
We had gone one Christmas time to spend
| the holidays at Brighton, my fathers health
requiring sea-air, and Aunt Grace had also
taken a small house for herself and her nieoes,
80 that we might have the usual family gath
eripg on Christmas Day. Old Thomas had
been usually guest on these occasions, as he
| had no relations in London, but on this COCA
| sion 1t was not thought necessary to ask him,
| as the journey could at that time be only
| made by coach, and the weather promised to
| be se8sOnably inclement. He was not to be
avoided, however; and letter arrived on the
morning of the Oath, to say that he might bs
expected on Christmas Eve.
When he arrived at Aunt Graee's, his lug
gage was again confined to the little valise.
lie wore a rough Whitney coat-One is rarely
seen nowadays, and was, at the time OF
which | speak, chiefly confined to the use OF
country people and the old watohmen: under
it was a suit of black, consisting of coat,
waistcoat, knee breeohes, and black silk stock
ings; and in this state OF full dress had old
Thomas travelled some fifty odd miles, on a
bitter December day, outside the Item coach.
He was, as might have been expected, nearly
frozen to death; and we'll remember my sur
prise at the quantity OF hot brandy and water
required to thaw him Even Aunt Grace was
vexed at what she felt to be liberty on the
part of her admirer; but her nature was too
| gentle TO be revengeful, and she therefore con-
tented herself with securing bed for him at
the New Ship, which Mr.. Thomas duly occu-
pied, and for which (from sense OF delicacy,