Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1874-05-21

to offend, and, under these circumstances, l am
sure you will excuse our not asking you next
Tuesday. Best love, etc. Yours very affection
ately, Nd. HENRY.
This is how Harry addressed his pros.
porous relative in the Borough:
DEAR OLD UScLE-Excuse this familiarity, but
we want you 10 act in an Official capacity at the
christening on Tuesday next Don't trouble TO
answer this, because we are determined to enlist
your sympathies on behalf Of our boy in \ practical
manner. T1lly JOINS in love, and am, yours ever,
HARRY HIGHFLY.
Scarcely had these important communi-
cations been penned than loud knock
was heard at the front door; hastily gath.
ering up the letters into couple OF
envelopes Mr.. Highly placed them in
his pocket, ready to post the next morn
ing; while his wife proceeded to the STAIR
head to ascertain who were their visitors.
1t proved to be only Mr. and Mrs. Foozle,
who had called to have quiet chat; and
in their pleasant company we, for that
evening, drop the curtain upon Harry and
his wife.
AT last came the eventful day. Won
drous preparations for the great occasion
had been made by Mrs. Highly (who was
really an excellent housewife), and the
result was that Mr.. and Mrs. Foozle saw
awaiting them, when the ceremony should
be over, a repast in every way enticing
Harry was indeed proud of the manage
| rial capabilities of his wife, as he gazed
from end TO end of the well.filled table,
and could not refrain from enlarging
upon her merits to Foozle as they stood
together before the mantel-piece waiting
the arrival of the other sponsor.
Mrs. Highly was too nervous vet to
make her appearance; she was very busy
upstairs preparing baby tor church; that
young imp. with his face as red as
| fresh boiled lobster, exhibiting the great.
est disinclination to be dressed in be-
coming manner, and loudly proclaiming
the fact by continued series of the most
discordant yells. The anxious mamma
and nurse shut the door, bnt still the
voice of Harry's offspring predominated
over everything else, and caused the two
gentlemen below to cease their debate
upon the probabilities of rise or fall in
the bank rate of discount, and the pros.
poets of the new Pawangalo loan, until
more fitting opportunity.
"Ah, sir" remarked Foozle, helping
himself 10 third glass of port, "it's
grand thing to be father; magnificent
feeling, sir; gives man such sense of
responsibility Throughout an expert.
ence of many years never knew a good
father who was not good man." Harry,
glancing at his watch, looked from the
window, but failed to see Aristides Brown.
john approaching, and was, with in
creased mental perturbation, preparing
himself for renewal of his neighbor's
prosy argument, when Matilda Jane,
blushing with maternal pride, and &C
companied by her mamma and baby,
entered the apartment.
What" exclaimed Mrs. Highly, "has
Uncle Aristides not arrivedf I do hope
nothing has happened 10 the dear soul. If
he don't come in few minutes, you shall
walk up 10 the station, Harry, and ask if
any accident has occurred on the line"
Her husband not seeming quite to enter
into her views-the nearest railway sta.
ticn being quite mile from their abode
Mrs. Highly impatiently turned toward
her visitors, and proceeded to extol the
virtues of the missing one. Suffering
from his spouse's loquacity, and the anx-
ietpp he experienced Test Uffd fOOZte, by
reason of his fondness for port, should
have TO remain at home and be put to
bed, il was with no small degree of salts
faction that Harry heard the sound of rat.
tat.
The assembled company are eagerly
listening for the approach Of footsteps,
and when the door opens expect TO see
the majestic form of the great Aristides.
There enters instead the maid-servant; she
whispers TO Harry, who, In turn, murmurs
to his agitated wife: Pm afraid, dear,
there Is some mistaken" and both leave the
room,
In as brief space as II takes to read
this line they were In the passage. Be
fore them, attired in suit of seedy but
well brushed black, and with his hand
gently smoothing a suspiciously shiny
hat, stood the discarded Job Smith,
"Well, Harry" said the newcomer, per
ceiving their confusion, whats the mean
ing of all thisY Is the christening over"
"Did-didnt you receive Matilda's
letters" gasped Harry.
IL got one from you, and here IL is"
Before the eyes of the bewildered Highly
there futtered the epistle which had been
intended for old Brownjohnl In the
hurry occasioned by the arrival OF visitors
on the evening when the letters had been
written they had got into the wrong en-
velopes, and the wealthy uncle had doubt.
less received the missive that had been
meant for the despised Job! =.
Cold drops stood upon the foreheads OF
both husband and wife as they saw the
mistake that had been made; their
tongues seemed locked within their teeth;
their limbs appeared deprived Of motion,
and thus they stood, to the wonderment
of unsuspecfing Uncle Smith.
"Why don't one of you speak' What's
happenedf Isn't there a babyr Or are
you so delighted to see me that you've
each gone stark, staring madY Are you
--n What further interrogatory the
amazed Job would have put will never
be known, inasmuch as at that moment
the street door Immediately behind hlm
was heavily smitten by means Of the
knocker. The person who, without
word Of inquiry, strobe into the passage
and stood twixt the Highfys and Job
created MS much surprise TO Harry's rela-
tive as he had occasioned but few min
utes previously. :,
"0h, Uncle BrowDjohn" exclaimed
Matilda Jane, suddenly recovering her
speech and rushing into his arms, I'm
so glad you've come. Now all can be
explained"
Brownjohn firmly withdrew from his
I'D nfprnIV af