Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1870-07-22

little party by the sitting room fire.
saw Aunt Deborah smiling.
You sit opposite Mr.. Cantelope." sale
Dick, when We were at last summoned tc
our repast.
Mrs Cricton sat next to me. and Dick
beside Mr.. Cantelopc. My uncle ant
aunt occupied their respective ends ofthC
table, and Miss Pecksnif stood round and
waited upon us, with her face looking as
if il had been tied in double bow knot
and wouldn't come straight again. After
blessing was asked, Dick passed the
bread. and the pickles, and the cold meat
and the doughnuts, to Cantelopc. Aunt
Deborah inquired after his family.
II have nobody now but a daughter
about the size of your Rebccca here chow
pilicd her) She's well but wants to GO
TO the factory to live. My wife has been
dead nigh about year, and it's n pretty
! lonesome liic-
Dick passed tho doughnuts. and the
pickles, and the cold meat, anil the butter
and the bread. and Ipinched Mrs. Cricton,
but was sorry for it the next moment.
"I have good kind of house over in
Norton, and am irSt-ratc proyidcr.
always keep barrel ofpork in my cellar,
bin full of potatoes, and onions. and car
rots. etc. Then there is all the corn meal
and rye flour woman wants to use. No.
body is ever scrimped---'
Dick passed the biscuits, the ,!oughnuts,
the cold meat. the pickles. and the bread,
and the old gentleman, intent only npon
overwhelming those present with his in
valuable traits of character. allowed his
plate To overflow, and busted himself with
piling up the provisions in heaps Tor some
distance on the table. when he went on
illustrating
Il furnish plenty Of wood TO keep one
fire always roaring. l like good old
fashioned fire places. They arc SO much
more sociable than your black stoves. and
save candles, too. am kind man: my
wives all would tell you that"
How many have you had'" inter
rupted Dick, holding the plate OF dough-
nuts for Mr.. Cantelopc 10 take his fifth.
Three. | have been uncommonly i'll
fatcd in my conjugal relations. My first
took thcconsumpton young. My second
had the heart disease. and was always
ailing. My third committed suicide"
In trying TO balance his last biscuit up.
on doughnut, Mr.. Cantelope failed and
was brought suddenly to realizing sense
of his grecdiness by the view before hi m
no did no, help the matter any by bit OF
suppressed laughter. He was actually
embarrassed for minute or two. Then,
turning 10 Dick, he asked.
"Were you ever crossed in love, young
man?"
Only a very little rs yet, SIR replied
Dick gravcly.
Then you cannot understand my
present feelings. Ny heart is suffering
hence | am absent minded"
Your heart, sir, Don't you know it's
nothing but great force pump 1t IS
Your brain that is in danger from unre-
Quilted affection"
True, true. have had trouble be-
fore, but nothing like this" He looked
across the table towards Mrs. Cricton,
who was slipping her tea in silence.
MAY not hope for relapse from your
unalterable decision?" he asked in q
deSpairing voice.
"No, sir"
So promptly and get so quietly spoken
that we all felt there was nothing more to
be said. even in Jest. Aunt Deborah and
Uncle Felix adroitly turned the converse
ton, and we soon after returned to the
sitting room. After the chores were done,
Miss Pecksniff, rs was her wont, came IN
with her knitting. Mr.. Cantelope talked
with Uncle Felix Dick worked at his
Latin lesson, and | made pictures on the
slate, instead Of studying, and kept show
ing them to Mrs Cricton. About o'clock
we were electrified by another musical |
tornado from Mr. Cantelope's nasal organ
and he addressed few remarks TO Miss
Pecksniff.
"IIow would YOU like to change your
name"
"What?"
Don't you think PecksnifI sounds very
oddly?"
eft is good enough for me-"
"How old are you?"
Seems to me that is meddling with
what is none Of your business. and don't
know anyhow
"Have you any objections to becoming
Mrs. Simeon Cantelope:?"
"What?"
"If you got all the victuals that we had
for supper think you are the smartest
woman have ever seen yet, and | would
like to make you my wife"
She opened her mouth wide and looked
him square in the face without saying a
word
"Will YOU have me?"
She waited fully five minutes after that
and then turned her head slowly and fix
ing her eyes on the fire she said hesi-
ta,ingly:--
Il don't mind if do