The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1874-05-21

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was impossible TO balk their wish. Over
the remaining sponsor there ensued the
grand struggle. Harry would have liked
his Uncle Job (whom Matilda Jane seldom
allowed within the house); but his larger
if not better half was determined that her
Uncle Aristides, her late fathers brother.
should be selected. Matilda Jane, be il
noted. believed in her uncle, who had
passed some years in Australia. but was
now an Gilman in the Borough, bachelor
and, by reason of his colonial experiences.
claimed to be very clever and practical
man. This gentleman. like Matilda James
surviving parent, snubbed Harry, and con-
sidered him as much inferior to them in
intellectual and moral attributes as he was
in size; so, altogether, very pretty fami-
ly quarrel seemed to be brewing over the
matter of the christening of the infant
Highly.
On the present occasion, the irritable Mrs.
Highly allowed her spouse an hour and a
half7s peace ere she returned to renew
the attack. Harry, being in the calm en-
iOyment Ofa cigar, and the latest novel, was
indisposed to resume hOstilities; but the
lady was not to be defeated in her object.
She hustled about the place, nOisily arrang-
ing the chairs, etc, Savagely stirring the
fire, and ringing the hand-bell for the SER
want with such vehemence that at last
Harry was fain to put aside his novel, and
content himself with smoking and staring
at the blazing GOALS. Mrs. Highly was an
adept i'm all those petty feminine devices
for annoying the male sex which seem to
be born in some women; so, when she saw
that she had succeeded i'll making her hus-
band fOregO the exciting narrative which
had solaced him in her absence, she began
to make comments about the ill-savOr of
his cigar and the disagreeable consequences
likely to ensue to the winter curtains, only
that morning brought out, and suspended
for the ensuing season.
When ali else failed to arouse the placid
Harry, Mrs Highly invariably fell back
upon the quality of his cigars, which she
querulOusly proceeded to disparage.
"Oh, that's your opinion, is it? Well,
look here; you seem to know lot about
tobacco; but | don't know how you
should, unless the old lady used to have
hers on the quiet, and stuff it up the
chimney" By the ''Old lady," Harry al
luded TO the respectable person who
owned Matilda Jane as her daughter. Ger
tainly, it was highly improper remark
to make, but he was so goaded by his
wife's sneerS that he was not disposed to
SllCh Ut SuCil Il lllllC sls lllidl ltSptNls II
need scarcely be said that at once Matilda
James tlOOd-gates were opened, cOpiOus
shower of tears burst forth, but amid her
SObs she managed to utter such phrases as
''WaS it for this married you? Do you
think my mother was an old Irish woman
my mother, who comes from one of the
| first Scotch families, although she cannot
! now boast of ancestral estates" etc.
Harry was exceedingly fond of his wife,
! despite her aggravating temper, and knew
/ that she worked hard to insure the COM
! fort, and preserve the responsibility of his
! home. He could not bear to see her cry
| so, impatiently fiinging his cigar into the
! fire, he approached, and attempted to
throw oil upon the troubled waters.
"Well, Matilda Jane, perhaps | did &c
little too far. l didn't mean to hurt yOul
feelings"
"Oh. you treat me cruelty" exclaimed
the sObbing lady; 'yOu try my love toe
much. indeed you do. But since you re-
tract, and are sorry for what you've done
| forgive you"
Matilda Jane dried her eyes-it was won.
derful what control she had over those
water-spouts-and in a brief space she
brought her work to the fire, and began
stitching away at baby's first pinafOre, a;
! though nothing had occurred to disturb
the matrimonial harmony. Harry once
more took up his novel, and was getting
! deeply interested in a love scene, wheT
! his wife. noticing that his temper was re
! stored again. returned to the charge
" Harry, DEAR" she said, % don't wisf
| to be troublesome; but, remember, WI
have not yet settled about that christen
! ing"
Her husband TRANQUILITY observed that
although he was then in most critical
portion of the novel, he was quite willing
! to talk about what was so near TO his Ma
tilda James heart; to which his spouse an
\ swered:
That's dear, good fellow; my Harry:
| himself again."
The artful Mrs. II. had an idea that by {
! further exhibition of temper she might
make her husband obstinate; the end she
had in view was more likely to be attained
by a show of conciliation and wifely ODE
| dience. She resumed: "Of course if you
would prefer Uncle Job to Uncle Aristides
why well send the invitation to CnclC
! Job at once; only-you won't be angry
will you, Harry, if tell you why would
rather have Uncle Aristides? Promise
you won't, now, dear!
That insinuating woman, as though
swaved by an uncomfortable impulse o
affection, suddenly thrust baby's pinatOr'
aside, and pulling her gaunt figure up t
its full height, clasped her husbands heaC
between her two hands, and gave him ;
sounding kiss. What loving HUSBAND
could do less than smile benignantly draw
a stool to his side, and invite the partner o
his life to sit thereon? Thus comfOrtabl!
posed, Matilda and her husband debated
] ITn.Ia oh or ITrnln A risfi1nS uva
to carry the day.
Now. Harry" resumed Mrs. Highly
''we can't blind ourselves to the fact tina
there's a vast difference in the social posi-
! ton of our two uncles. Aristides Brown
| John is a thriving tradesman, and he ha
no one TO leave his money to but our
selves we know he's taken great fancy
| to our boy. and expects to beasked. lfht
isn't. perhaps he'll take offense, and leav,
all his property to an hospital or some
thing. Do you see that, Harry?"
Her husband nodded his head. So far
/ Matilda's way of putting the matter wa
certainly sensible, and displayed prOpe
consideration for the future prosperity O
their offspring.
Now. let's look at the other side. I'm
Gle JOb-dear old fellow as he isr' (Har
rv was somewhat surprised to hear hi
wife speak of his sole relative in these al
fectionate termsl-''is is little else but a wal
and stray. Everybody knows it's not hi
fault, but whatever he touches he's sur
TO make mess of. Now, isn't it so?"
To this obvious truth Harry again wa
compelled to nod his head.
"We are sorry to diSappOint Uncle job
but neither you nor would like the tain
of misfortune TO attach to our boy. Uncl
Job would give him something if he could
but then he can't; whereas Uncle Aristide
is sure to bring him fork and spoon, o
silver mug at the least. We can't as
both, because Mr.. Brownjohn has neye
met Mr.. Smith, and they might be jealou
of each other, which would never dc
Now. Harry, how is it TO be?'
After such specious argument as this
what could the plant husband say? LIE
. US put ourselves in his place. We don
like that clustering, leud-voiced, boaStful
and opinionated old humbug Brownjohn
but, then, he's prosperous, and hasn't
relative but ourselves. On the other hand
we do like that good-natured, modest, an
. simple-hearted old angel. Job Smith. an
we know how proud he'd be to stand spon
: sor to the infant; but, then, he's as poo
as a church-mOuse, and people say he
rapidly drifting for the fourth time towar
.la+ fotaI m aal Strn11 thp hankr1lntc1- cor,rt