Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-12-09
TIM TWINKLETON'S TWINS

TIM TWINKLET0N'S TWINS.
'weIl, ma'am, what is to" inquired Tim,
placing on his plate the crust OF bresd-sn
butter at which his teeth had been neryously
nibbling for the past twenty minutes
- oh, sir, it's twins
Good gTaeious!'' exclaimed Tim. over
vhelmed with the double blessing that had
falleE upon the matrimonial hearth.
Now Mr.. Timothy TwinkletOn was by trade a
ionIIne! man tailor, and as good-heaIted little
mas morning. His sympathies were as warm as
the irons he used, his temper was eqGabie a.
the material upon which he worked, and his
heart was as staunch in the cause of friendship
IS the seams and hens issuing from his nimble
fingers. AZ fitting reward for his kindness and
integrity, Tim was blessed with a partner in
every way worthy of him, who stroVe with all
her might and main to render his humble abode
in Pipeclay Alley, Whitechapel, as pleasant and
comfortable as his scant earnings would permit;
and very truthful were the remarks constantly
made by her neigh ors, that Mrs. Twinkleton
of those who praised her economical tact could
accomplish with fifteen shillings-
And it was not alone in the judicious spending
OF her husbands money (fOr every woman can
do that with more or less easel that Mrs Twink
ieton's virtues as a wife were conspicuous The
cleanliness and neatness of her external appear
ance were reflected in her home III you had
gone to the cottage of some rural plowman
fresh and sparkling with the honor of having
won prize at one Of those curious agricultural
ties possessed by certain persons-just at the
Agricultural Hall they distingui cattle, sheep.
pigs, and rOOts-I defy you to find home that
could exhibit more tidincss. cleanliness, and
general ceziness than that in which Mr., Mrs.
and the little Twinkletons lived, moved, and
sai their being.
The Twinkletons and the Twinkletons' home
not Unnaturslly became the theme of all the
houses round. / say not unnaturally, because
while some families could Oh thirty shillings per
week only cOntrive to occupy the lower Oh the
two floors of which each house in the alley con-
sisted, the Twinkletons managed, with Less than
that amount-eyery source of iRcoms told-to
keep the whole OF No. 6. They Didn't even let
a little back room to a lodger; no. they kept the
entire house. The Twinkletons mi CHIT, in short
have been regarded as the arlstocrats OF the dis
trict; and how ever Mrs L. managed it-with
such family toO.-vas mystery to everybody.
What experienced matrOns-and there were
many such in Pipeelay Alley-could not fathom,
can hardly be explained by those living without
the CHAINED circle. Still, ii may be safely haZ-
arded that Mrs. Twinkleton's industrious ha bits
and good management had something to do with
the matter Furthermore. it must be known
that while Mr. Il. made the outer habiliments OF
mankind, Mrs. L. washed, ir0ned, and starehed
the linen which the aforesaid hsbiiments were
In great measure constructed to conceal. In
brief, neat card in the ground-hoor iront-room
window of the TwinkletOn sanctuary conveyed
the intelligence to the outside world that Mrs L.
was a washer woman; while a small painted
board, swinging just below the nrst-fiOor win
dow, testified In equally lucid terms to the fact
that the mysterious operation known As "man-
CLING was performed inside. Deriving increased
zest from the admiring plaudlts vi their neigh-
bOrs, Mr. and Mrs. TwinkletOn We'd with each
other in industry. They were never idle-that
y, in the common aceeptaton OF the term: for
though, of course, they took their family out on
holidays, Jet their little trips were generally 80
skilfully contrived that the children derived
pleasure and instruction from their excursions.
combined with fresh, healthful breezes.
The minds of both Mr.. and Mrs. Twinkleton
we're eminently practical; and 50 it came about
that, prior TO these periodical outings, the little
ones found that the lessons taught them h.
father and mother when the days work wa,
done took rather peculiar form. For instance
if a visit to the Geological Gardens was in con-
temptation, the little TwinkletOn's would find
about a fortnight before the anticipated visit,
relating 10 the better known animals-becsme
the wisdom Of Mr. and Mrs. Twinkieton becomes
apparent Ii followed, a natural result, that
while the youngsters were gazing, open-mouthed
a., with diated eyelids, at the lions, bears and
tiger papa or mamma caused the converse
ton to as>'ume an interrogstiye form, and that
the childreN soon found they were expected to
answer inouir,,s that had formed the subject
OF previous studies. The juvenile recoilections
were at times confused, Ana. the replies occa-
sionally pUZzlng; but on the whole, they
always proved satisfactory to Mrs. Il, who would
reward each successful response with a hearty,
sounding kiss that did one good to hear. Mrs.
Il. was proud of her children; and whether in
the privacy of her chamber, or the crowded fash
ionable haunts of the Zoo on a sixpenny day,
in Victoria Park on Sunday afternoon, would
.
future of her offspring. lt is commonly reported
that some other mothers are not lacking in this
respect; but Mrs. i. did not niinee the matter
by merely notifying the fact TO her husband; she
generally on such occasions proclaimed her ut
terances Just where the crowd was the thickest,
and at the conclusion OF her prophecy would
look round defiantly, as though daring any one
to dispute her claims 10 judge OF the ability
already 50 consciously displayed by the fruit OF
her union with Mr.. Twinkleton. The virtues OF
Mrs. T., whose personal appearance ii is not
tresPassing the bonds OF propriety to describe as
short but buxOm, were 20 manifest that those OF
her husband stood a good chance OF being n
recognized, save by those who knew him init
mateiy. Tin unquestiOnably acked the fine pro-
protioils OF his wife; indeed, when he stood ia
his boot-and they were made with rather high
heels too-he could not attain altitude OF
more than i've feet two inches. But though his
appearance was not so striking as that Of his
wife, vet his heart was quite a big. and he was
of his children principles Of rectitude, Charity
and benevOlenee that would have done credit to
man OF Tar greater Pretension than the happy
Reference has been throu ghout made TO the
oliye-branches which graced the Twinkleton
table; but the number thereof remains TO be
stated In brief, they amounted, on Christmas
eve, lSG-, to exactly double the number OF feet
enumerated when Mr.. Twinkleton's height was
in question; that is to say, there were six girls
and four boys
IL was the contemplation Of these ten little
ones more or less artistically grouped in various
parts Of the ground. foo, front-Ioom, that in
cious." when q certain high pa iestese entered
the apartment at breakfast time on Christmas
morning, and announced the fact that Mrs. I.
had just added two more to their happy circle.
His first astonishment over, the little tailor of
Pipeclay Alley, when he had. gazed upon the
most recent pledges of affection with which his
wife had presented him, inwardiy ackpow ledged
with thankfulness, that the matter might have
been worse. He knew the blessings Of triplefs
was vouchaafed % sOme men and he had read
occasional dark funoss in fke nswspap ers Or
four 1t birth; but 1winkieton was not Of an en-
vious disposition, and speedily reconeiled himself
n would REQUIRE he pen Of Macaulay, of a
CARLYLE or Of some ether world-Fenowned word
painter 10 describe the emotions which thrilled
through the breast a TYipkletou - those FRESH
manifestations q connabiAi love were placed be-
fore his eyes Skilled r. he VAIN the handling
of infants, il required some judgpasnt - take 70
his arms the two boys held out TO- him blythe
neighbor who acted - nurse. However he
managed to hold them long enough FOR all his
ether offspring TO bestov kiss upoa their DeW
brothers, and then restored then 10 the eare Of
the good natured woman who had % joyfully
brought him the intelligence of his domestic in.
crease.
Would you like to step mp to see Mrs T wink.