Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1873-04-10


My uncle was very much pleased with
her, and complimented me upon my
good choice in the selection Of a wife
Mrs. Kingsley, Of course, colored most
charmingly at this compliment, and I
could plainly see that she could scarce
ly refrain from laughing.
You have fine boy here" said
my uncle to Mrs. Kingsley, pointing
to the cradle.
"Excuse me SIR said she, coloring
up again, ''its girl
was dumbfounded | was expos
ed in my inquity. Would my uncle
believe me after this ? He looked
from me to my pretty landlady with
apuzzled countenance.
"Your husband told me it was a
boy, he said, and rather suspiciously,
too, | thought.
Well, l always took it for boy"
was my reply, putting on a bold face,
"but | suppose my wife knows best"
Here Mrs. Kingsley fairly scream
ed with laughter, and my uncles stern
face assumed an ironical smile.
"You are 4 nice father amt you ?"
he said, touching me with the point
Of his umbrella "not to know the sex
of your own child. Why, | knew it
was a girl the moment 7 looked at it"
"But, Charley he said again address
ing me, "what did you do with the
goblet and pap-spoon I sent to the
little one?"
"Oh, they are perfectly safe, I as
sure you," I replied 81 have taken
good care of them"
eyes, but where in the deuce are
they? l would like very much to
take another look at them
"Well, have deposited them in a
hank for safe keeping, but I can read
lily produce them-that is in the
course of a weeks time"
He told me to do so. as lie wanted
to see them, and then l got out of the
room, for fear that he might ask me
some more perplexing questions.
a short time afterward, Mrs. Kings
ley came to me, when | was alone, in
an adjoining room and | saw immed-
lately that something very humorous
must have happened, for the corners
Of her lips were breaking into smiles.
'Do you know, sir, into what an
awkward predicament you have got
me?' she inquired, as she took a seat
on the lounge by my side
'Explain YOURSELF | said
"Why your uncle came to me a
short time ago, and asked to see my
marriage certefcate, and he said he
had some money to settle upon us
Immediately, but wanted to be sure
that everything was right first.
Did you expose me? | inquired
anxiously.
mo, sir, did not, for / never en-
ter into deception, or anything else,
by halves"
was so elated that | could not
Withstand the temptation Of embrac-
ing her. This did not make her an
CRY, for she nestled her head costly on
my shoulder and smiled serenely.
"What answer did you make him p
| asked.
She hestated for a moment, and
then said:
81 promised to produce the mar
riage certificate.
But we haven't got any," then
remarked.
She INDUCED in a quiet little laugh
to herself, but said nothing.
"NIw. Kingsley-nay, my dear
) madam--no, l will call you darling
we are both in scrape, and there is
but one way for us to get out Of it.
We must go and get married immed-
lately. Will you be my wife,"
81 shall be delighted,' she answer
ed, frankly, and seizing both my hands,
said that she was ready for frolic Of
any kind.
We lost no time assure you. L
don't think Mrs. Kingsley ever got
into her Sunday clothes in such a
hurry in her life before, while spoil
, ed two pairs of suspenders in my fran
tic endeavors to be on time. We
quite astonished the parson by our
| haste, and at the conclusion of the
r ceremony, | would have forgotten to
t give him the usual "fee,' if he had
l not reminded me of it.
We had secured the coveted mar
riage certificate, signed and sealed,