Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-07-24
HOW SIZE MANAGED IT.

PETER l'EENywisE was IN deep grief.
All the hopes o. a lifetime wee 10 be
frustrated. The fond ambition he had so
long nursed, his pet scheme to make the
name of PENNY isc the greatest in the
land, was now no more. His only son,
Iauncclot, was 10 be married to plebei-
an-to girl who had wealth, but no
name, no family, no ancestry, or no coat
Ot-arms on the panel Of her coach.
Could human misery be greater? Could
the Ossa of grief, piled on the Pelion of
disappointment, make a heavier load Of
sorrow? No The cup Of Pcnnywise
was full to the brim, and he must drain it
to the lees, however bitter the draught.
Such was the tenor Of old Pennywises
musings as he paced the velvet-carpeted
floor OF his library on the evening when
our story opens. A conversation his son
had had with him, as they sat together
slipping their wine, after dinner, had been
the cause Of this tumult in the breast of
Peter Pennywise.
LauncelOt was a weak-eyed and pink
skinned youth, with thin, yellow hair,
which he parted in the center and little
whisp of saffron whisker on each side of
his face, the pulling of which with his
nervous little hand constituted the princi-
pal employment of the scion of the house
of PGnnywise.
Father" said Launcelot, after gulping
down two or three glasses of wine to give
him courage Father"
"Well, my son, what do you wants"
asked the pompous head of the house.
what do you think of marriage9"
"What do think of what?" questioned
the surprised Pennywise.
Marriage" replied Launcelot. "Mat-
rimony, you know. Two hearts with but
single thought, two souls that beat as
one, and all that"
II think that every man should marry,
and | would be glad to hear that you had
fixed your affections on some lady with
the proper qualifications"
"What are the proper qualifications"
inquired Launcelot.
Family" replied his father, "family-
whatever else you do, be sure to never dis
grace the name OF PennyWise by plebeian
connection,
"Why, is our family such very great
one?" demanded the young man.
"A great onew echoed Pennywise !:
why, it's the greatest in the land. Study
carefully the genealogical tree that hangs
in the hall, and which cost me five thou
sand dollars to have properly traced, and
you Will see that the name of Pennywise
was as well known as that of William at
the time of the Norman conquest, and
that the cOat-ot arms is one of the most
respectable and ancient that ever heraldry
boosted Of
Well, of course, that's true, father
but I've heard some Of the fellers at the
club say that grandfather was pawn"
Your grandfather was a broker and
banker, as | myself am, and was fully
aware of the responsibility of being wor-
thy of his family" said Mr. Pennywise
interrupting his son; therefore he began
my education by impressng the value of
a family name upon my youthful mind,
and SO, when | had gruwn older, and he
intimated to me that | ought to marry the
highly respectable Miss Poundfoolish, l
went to that lady, proposed, and was ac-
copied. Thus l consolidated the two
great families of Pennywise and Pound
foolish, and you and your two sisters are
the result. But you ask my opinion of
matrlmony, and you think of marrying?"
"le-es, sir" gasped Launcelot.
AND whom do you propose honoring
With your name?"
"Miss-a-iss Petersham answered the
youthful Pennywise
"FeterSham-Petersh never heard
of a Petersham Who is she sr de-
manded the old gentleman with a darken-
ing brow.
"She is very rich"
And Launce faltered
Riches are very well, but you do not
need them. Your mother left you all her
fortune, and | shall leave you half of mine
if you marry as | wish. Who is this
this Petersham What does her father
do 2"
HE keeps large clothing establish
ment"
'What !" roared Pennywise! A tailor
Itshall not be. The arms of Fennywise
shall never be married with needle, or