Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-12-09

was smell As Of alarge wash. probably arising
fro0 the steam occasioned BY the boiling of
and a distinS ssvor. of roasting goose Siied the
air. he brought his left leg into position, and, 10!
the gentle bfeezes of PiPeclay Alley waited to,
his senses an door that Tim thought might be
produced By baked pork and potatoes. The ira
grant emanatiOns that greeted his n0gtrils natur
ally brought him to the subject of dinner, and it
was not without some misgIving that he entered
1t was thaSule as well rs fashion among Mr..
Twinkletons aeighbors to belong 70 q club held
at an adjacent l1ostelry, where, by Che pay ment
of sixpence per week for specified time prior
to Christmassa very large goose and . bottle of
superexcellent gin were guaranteed on the eve
of the great anniversary. In such prudent
Twinkleton vas not behind his follows; there
fore it was with much jublation on the part of
the family-and more especially the younger
branches thereof-that fine fat bird had been
the night before suspended in the back kitchen,
which In Mr.. Twinkleton's humble establish
ment had to serve as wash-house, pantry, and
scullery.
1t had been the intention to keep up the char
acter of previous Ciirstmas-dsys by roasting this
magnificent goose for dinner; but by some
curious gift of prophecy, Mrs. Twinkleten, while
she Was preparing the Chelmsford washing YER
night, bad had a resentment Though she kept
IL to herselt) that for once the pleasant annual
custom would he suffered TO lapse. The good
lady who was acting rs nurse unfortunately did
not add to her virtues the artof cooking. Now.
Twinkleton knew this, and that probably, a. a
consequence, his wife would insist upon the
goose Hanging" for a few days. until she was
able to give the directions necessary for the
preparation of such an important dinner 1t
was, therefore, with msgiving as to what had
really been provided for him that he scraped his
boots outside the door and inserted the key in
the lock.
He had, however, suffered undue apprehen-
sion; for though the excellent Mrs. Il. had coun-
fernandez the goose, she had caused some steak
has l.ssr<
upon the table, with a huge pile of potatoes sent
forth such fragrant steam that it seemed to
impre gnate the atmosphere of the apartment in
no time, and made the juvenile Tynkletons
rush for their chairs, and seat themselves rornI
the festive board almost ere their JOYOUS parent
had taken off the wOOllen comforter that had
encompassed his neck.
Mrs. L. getting on all right" was naturally
the little tailor first inquiry of the nurse, who
was quietly informing the children that there.
was pudding in prospective.
Getting on capitally, Mr.. T., but shes
asleep now; 50 you had better not 90 up to sec
her" was the response. -
..Oh, certainly not; and how's the twins?''
"They haven't cried since you've been away"
"Dear me!' said Mr.. TWinkleton, speaking
amidst perfect din of knives and forks; for the
assembled children had had their senses sharp
thought the proper thing to do was to get rid of
the steak and potatoes As speedily as possible.
- They seem To- be very quiet, good children,
Mrs. TOmkins."
"Perfect little angels, Sir, think" said the
good woman, casting radiant smile upon the
parent of the blessings referred to.
Mr.. Twinkleton cOntented himself with the
reply that II they were only as good as the other
children were he should be perfectly satisfied:
att which the ten assembled young Twink Ietsn,
smiled bengnantly, first at each other, and then
at their papa, and at once began to sure pit
tOusly deliver sundry and promiscuOus kick
beneath the table.
a capital bit of steak, and admirably cooked
Mrs. Tomkins,' said Mr.. Twinkleton. helpinr
fish. wh
his family eagerly watched MIN, and with rap
ture bethOught themselves that every bit he con-
sumed brought the pudding nearer to them. 81
suppose, Mrs. TOmkins," continued Mr.. Twink
Teton, thoroughly unaware how greatly, in the
estimation OF the children he was wasting valu-
able time-''I suppose it wouldn't do to give the
twins a little bit. would il maam?'
Mrs. TOmkins smirked. and raised her hasds
in protest at the bare idea OF such a thing; but
Mr.. TwnkletOn hadn't done with his Joke vet
and resumed, much to the ANNOYANCE of the
children, who were now getting thoroughly i'm.
patent.
" Not evena little bit of the gravy wouldn't do
for 'em, Ell, Mrs. Tomkins""
The worthy Mrs. Tomkins at this point could
contain herself no longer, hut, intu ging i'm a dit
of laughter, bid Mr.. Twnkieton Ego along"
whatever that might mean.A
why, sir, she exclaimed, - do they look
dear little things, as If they could enjoy "a bitof
steak No! dada must wait bit FOR that,
mustn't he any preciouss s?''
The latter part OF this sentence was ad.lres ed
Mrs. Tomk;Ds turned in her chair, as thou Oh OK
peeting the mute dsrlin,s to make some sign of
thoroughly coinCi,iing with her, and Offering a
silent protest to the Invitation OF their papa
Not seeing her preciOuses " (tke word had been
coined into the plural number by Mrs. Tomkirs
In order to meet the exigancies of the oc casion)
she rose to her feet and went into the next room.
She quickly returned, and. spea ing to the chill
dren collectively, inquired
Which OF YOU has moved Lao basket with tbe
twins?r -.'.r.
AZ. ~, l., Z
dropped his knife and fork, and gazed from Mrs
Tomkins TO the children, and from the children
to Mrs. TOmkins, with an expression of counte-
nance that made the nurse rush to his side and
'.Bless me, Mr. Twinkieton. you amt i'll, are
you
:. Basket what basket :'' gasped Tim.
.'Why. the clothes basket that stood there bv
the clock. L put 'eIn there because they fell
asleep, and it being close 10y the fire, knew
they'd be all right
A loud gr0an escaped Twinkleton's Inns.
Then, with his face OF an ashy paleneSs, he
gasped,
"rnhsnfy woman that basket contained the
DEMONSTRATING, and lis gone n by the mal-
Mrs. Tomkins, without word, sank into 4
chair. -.... .' ...-F . -
What-what's to be done 2" groaned Twink
Teton. why don't you speak, Mrs. Tomkins:
Tell me, somebody, what's to be done ?"
The children, open mounted, gazed with sur
prise upon their elders; but in answer to their,
parents inquiry as to what was to be DONE lit
was on the lips of at least seven out of the ten
that perhaps the best thing to be done, under
I he circumstances, was to take up the pudding
Can't-can't you telegraph ~ suggested the
grief-stricken TOmkins.
" Telegraph, ma'am they can't send the
twins back on the TOT OF the wire" .
The unhaI py Jenkins grOaned aloud: then.
swaying herself backwar and forward in the
rocking chair, began to weep copiously.
Disappointment at the noIi-appearance of the
pudding, surprise at the rapid change in their
fathers spirits, and, above all, the most over
whelming sympathy with that Nidbe, Mrs Tom
kins struck chord In the hearts OF the children
and with one consent they burst into a blubber
which, being uttered in various keys, according
to the aye OF the juveniles, had effect neither
harmonious 10 the ear nor pleasing to the eve.
The beIeaved father was the first to speak.
"COme, come" he said, ''this won't do !
must &C to the station, and if there's another
train. Ii there amt, must hire trap, and 90
to Chelmsford. Perhaps, however, when I get
there, the children will have been smothered: or
SUPPOSE Mrs. Tomklns, if they've showed the
clothes in a luggage van, and a heavy box or
something been put atop of en-, why, they'll
be squashed TO pancakes :"
ooh don't, don't, DON'T talk like that, Mr..
Twinkleton ~ roared Mrs. Tomkins, in a parox-
ysm of emotion. "Oh, my darling little pre-
ciouses.''
"Wel, ma'am," exclaimed our hero, placing
his right foot I'm the middle Of the center rose or
he hea and Inul-iur like Enioht % t,,o