The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1871-04-13
Kitten.

Ellen, the elder, was rocking herself in
front of the glass between the windows,
and Bessie was standing tiptoc before the
mirror on the mantel-piecc, "iixing" her.
self. as ladies call it-that is, rearranging
her dress generally without rhyme or
reason, taking off the bow at her throat,
shaking out her false curls, putting up
her panier, and betting in her waist.
These two sisters, the only children of
u rich widowed stock-broker, We're, in
every particular of dress and thought,
girls OF the period.
They never quameled exactly, but were
always at variance in their opinions, and
permitted themselves to use that unpleas
ant frankness which is the banc of too
great intimacy, and the downright con-
tradiction which prevails with relatives
who are not obliged to be polite in the
home circle.
Il wi%h," said Ellen, that that Kitten
wouldn't come here any more"
"i wish,n replied Bessie, 'that you
would stop calling him Kitten. | don't
see any fun in it, He's not \ bit lik a
kitten"
"IIe is. then, " laughed Ellen; ''his hair
is light, what | call kitten gray, or drab
his eyes are gray, so is his compleXion
he wears Il gray hat, gray pants, gray
gloves; his sparse moustache sticks out
Just like Il eats, and he speaks in Il pur-
ring voice. Externally he is very like II
kitten. but morally think he is more of
the mouse order, without Il grain OF spirit.
Whenever see him siding up to you,
without the courage TO pay you open at
tcntion, think of such is the kingdom of
hrnpeckcu husbandsn
Il hope" rctorted her sister, ''that
when you enter the kingdom Of hen
pecked husbands, yours may have purse
as long rs long rs your tongue, ELL
Il tell You, Bessie, if what pa said yes
tcrday comes to pass. and old Mr.. Far
ringdon's bank breaks, your mild-man-
nercd man will have to take y nurse
maids situatlon.n
And Ellen rocked back far enough to
reflect the heels of her tiny boots; but
Bessie sighed, and said, thoughtfully:
II suppose it would 90 very hard with
poor Kitten to work for his living,
There's Il great deal said nowadays about
the Young folks of the period; but no
blame is ever attached To the way in
which the old people bring them up
particularly grls-in idlencss, ignorance,
and extravaganza. Rich parents take it
for granted that their wealth is going to
last forever, and poor ones that, by hook
or by crook their children will get rich;
and so they never teach them anything
that will be of service in advcrsity; then,
when they are thrown out into the world
to shift for themselves, they do it badly
enougil-thc men often by their wits. and
the women by worse. Now there's poor
Donald Farringdon; what earthly thing
could he do to earn his salt, TO say moth
ing of bread ?-or YOU? or +? It's a hard,
hollow world.'
| ''There you are mistaken; its not hard
nor hollow, being an incandescent mass
Of
"Bother your science! There's pa
let's go down to dinner"
1t was true, he told them during dinner,
that Farringdon e. Brother had suspend
ed payment; their liabilities were large,
and the merchant princes of yesterday
were the beggars of to-day.
How did the meek and purring exit
ten'' bear the blow?
An only son, he had been reared in lux
ury, and in the belief that a great fortune
would be his that, therefore, labor
mental or physical -wonld never be
necessary.
lie knew positively nothing Of practical
use, although he could swim like u duck,
| sing like the tenor of an opera, ana dance
like Il Polish prince. He could drive q
pair Of fast horses without splitting his
tight violet kid gloves, was a celebrated
amateur ''catch'' at baseball, the pride
of the rowing club, MIN rod with the
gun, and u lIollander on the skating rink
| but he had never studied n profession,
nor learned any honest, har,l-handed
trade lie wouldn't become Il music
teacher nor salesman, so he tried to keep
set of books. He found that he could
not make in one year by that as much he
had formerly spent in neck ties and gloves;