The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-01-31
CHAPTER SIXTH.

Jack Dparrow's coming birthday party We'd
with the GoodstoDe races in exciting the joyous
aniicipaiions of the younger population of G..
Jack Sparrow, everybody knew. He was
good-hesrted, whole-souled young fellow. He
never saw q child crying in the streets without
stopping TO ask the reason, and, If possible, ale
viste Its bitter griefs. He did not grind down
into the earth with his passing heel the marbles
OF small boys playing on the sidewalks or in the
squares. He never had been known TO do a
mean or ungentemsnly act to anybody, rich or
poor. Tom Sparrow was proud of his boy, and
with good cause, for every one liked him and
promised well for him in the future.
he had come home from his second term Sopho-
more at Y TO celebrate his birthday, which
came in the college holidays, fortunately. Now,
on his arrival. he found that Invitations had been
Issued, and that scores upon scores of his
acquaintaDces, intimate and otherwise, were to
celebrate with him, in his fathers parlors, his
completion of eighteen years existence in this
transitory world.
He found the house topsy.turvy with prepare.
ton. His indulgent parental relative, to whose
plesdiDgs he had, when boy and taken to court
by his father to keep him out of mischief at home
listened with respectful awe, he saw Invested of
bis professional dignity, dancing about the house
IN high state of expectant activity. He found
his afectionste mother who called him her dear
little boy to this day, too busy to ask him all the
news OF bis absence. he concluded to surrender
at discretion and to appear in the character host
in style commensurate with the preparations.
Tom Sparrow came home rather puzzled from
his interview al the hotel. every strange wife "
said be. Ibid you read the Gazette this morn
ing ?n
snow don't you know, Tom, havn't even had
time to eat a mouthful of dinner"
Yes, yes, remember" said Tom dancing out
OF the way of a servant, bouncing in with waiter
full Of glassware. Something very funny
though. LoriDg's gone out into the harbor to meet
brig on which he thinks his wife is.n
why, he is q widower. thought"
That's just what he thought himself =" said the
little man. roguishly, "until he the paper this
morning, reporting the safety of three survivors
Oh shipWreck where his wife was supposed to
have been lost. Can't | persuade you, my dear
MRS. L., to take an ocean voyage with me!"
Now, Tom, don't joke on such subjects. beg
Of you And so Major Loring is in this terrible sus-
Pense! pray that she may be restored TO him.
What would be my feelings, you dear old fellow,
II were sailing back TO you after you thought
me dead ?"
sand mine, Molly (he always called her Molly
IN extremely snecuonate moments), If were ex-
pectiDg you"
Glow Jack would Iaugh,r she said, "to hear
Us talking so. But now, while think Of il, /
want you TO go to the depot tomorrow morning
and see about that fruit and wine Psrmelee was
to send me up from New York. Don't forget it."
Precisely twent, -four hours after Major Loring
and Kate had reached c. the express train
came dashing in again, and its passengers came
pouring out upon the platform where, among
Others stood dApper Tom Sparrow waiting the
new arrivals.
he saw the passengers come pouring out, men,
women and children-homely and handsome, rich
and poor-all in the American hurry to get to
their destinations as expedtiously as possible. He
saw the baggage men and drivers rushing hither
and thither, .beckoning to this one, speaking to
that one, Jostling everybody. BE saw the passen-
gers who only alighted for breakfast at the eating
saloon, hurrying into to swallow a cup OF coffee
and piece Of railroad beefsteak, as IL their lives
depended upon Q combination OF speed and yo-
racity. BE saw the cases Of wine and the box of |
fruit bearing his address deposited in the express
wagon, and was turning to 20 when he heard A |
female voice inquiring:
" lie there gentleman by the name Of Major |
Loring at the Wilton House, do you know
The question was addressed to the hotel bag. |