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

what would be the effect upon Harry, and
observing that he was unconcernedly sip
ping his tea, she bounced from the room,
noisilv banging the door after her.
While the good lady of the house has
gone to vent her spite upon the domestic
below stairs the opportunity may be
taken of introducing Mr.. and Mrs. High
fly in more satisfactory manner.
From his youth upward Harry Highly
had been clerk in Cashit & Bullion's
bank in Threadneedle street, and from
being one of the Juniors had risen to
confidential and important position He
owed none Of his advancement to infuen.
tial relatives, since his parents had been
humble country folk, who died soon after
their son came to the metropolis. He
was an only child ana knew no blood re.
lations but an uncle on his mothers side.
Uncle Job Smith, however, was sort of
nobody-that is to say, he had tried q
good many things, and always failed; he
was bachelor, but liked company;
Uncle Job was, in fact, a choice spirit;"
his friends always welcomed him when
they wanted a bright, jovial, mirth- Great.
ing fellow among them; but the same
good people invariably "cut" poor Job
when they met him next day in crowd
ed thoroughfare. 1t was all very we'll to
know him in private, but in public it was
an entirely different matter. Job was a
good generous soul, ready to lend
his last shilling to any one who asked
him; an act, however, seldom within his
power, inasmuch as he was more often
compelled to borrow than able to lend.
OF course, people with any reputation
wouldn't publicly recognize Job Smith,
for he had three times figured in the
Gdzette-three times in fifteen years Is
not that shocking? The first occasion
was when he was in partnership with
Steppit, the grocer, in Bristol. A noble
establishment they had, too. The
shop was blocked with tea chests, but,
unfortunately, the chests were empty.
The partnership existed for six months,
and then Steppit ran away, leaving Job
to settle all claims. A good many peo-
pie averred Job had been swindled, but
he himself did not say much about it. BY
the way, you would not have expected
Job would, for he was never known to
utter an unkind or ill-natured word to
anyone. Harry, however, stuck to his
uncle amid this and his other reverses, for
the remembrance of his former kindnesses
lived in his memory. When Harry was
in his thirtieth year, and had obtained
good position in the banking establish
ment, he looked about him for a wife.
He is very small of stature, and, follow
ing the example of most little men, fell in
love with lady who was above the aver
age height of her sex. Matilda Jane
Brownjohn, like her sutton, had but few
relatives living-a mother and an uncle.
This was at the outset wonderful recon-
mendation, but it was not the only one.
nj. j. Brownjohn had money-G1,5 800 in
round numbers, left her by deceased con.
nections, in addition to some $500 more
saved by careful economy during the
twenty eight years of her existence. She
was not exactly good-looking when Harry
married her, and has not improved since;
but many people / know have rather a
preference for sharp features, lurid
tinge in the hair, long neck, and bony
figure. Harry, for example, considered
her very fine woman-a splendid Great
ure-and he backed his opinion by max
ing her Mrs. Highly. The lady had
borne this honorable title some fifteen
months when an heir came to share the
family prosperity. Harry, it need scarcely
be said, was immensely proud of his Oft.
spring, who was reported by everyone to
be exactly like his father. Had the opin-
ion been ofce versa, perhaps Harry would
not have been quite so jubilant, for he
had discovered (come closer, dear reader,
that may whisper this) that he had mar
ried "deuce of temper" as well as
magnificent woman. Happily, the little
man was not easily reused; and when
she had tired, his good humor remained
undisturbed, and the wonted merry twin
kle of his eye was not in the slightest de-
gree dimmed. When the infant was a
couple of months old the subject of the
christening arose, and many battle
royal was fought over the choice of
sponsors. When he had married, Harry
had taken small semi-detached villa
just outside Ealing, and their next neigh
bors being the Foozles an intimacy soon
arose. Mrs. Foozle having been sum-
moned TO the bedside of Matilda Jane,
and having with Mr.. r. expressed de-
sire to act as god-parents to the youthful
Highly, it 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 de-
tcT lfidb uCJ SuSlC al intfdCo, bSi
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 a
very clever and practical man. This gen.
tleman, like Matilda James surviving
parent, snubbed Harry, and considered
him as much inferior TO them in intel
lectual and moral attributes as he was in
size; so, altogether, very pretty family
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 half's peace ere she returned to re-
new the attack. Harry, being in the calm
enjoyment OF a cigar and the latest novel,
was indisposed TO resume hostilitles; but
the lady was not to be defeated in her OBJ
ject. She hustled about the place, noisily
arranging the chairs, etc, savagely stir.
ring the fire, and ringing the hand bell
for the servant with such vehcmence that
at last Harry was fain TO put aside his
novel and content himself with smoking
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