The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1874-06-17
HOwsIEE DID HI.

ELCI Gun W iSC was III QGcp
grief All the hopes of q lifetime
were to be frustrated The fond am
bition he had so long nursed, his pet
scheme to make the name of Penny
wise the greatest in the land, was no
more His only son, Launcelot, was
to be married, and married to a pc
bleian-to girl who had wealth but
no name, no family ancestry, or no
coat-of-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 Pennywise was full to the brim
and be must drain it to the lees, how
ever bitter the draught. Such was
the tenor of old Pennywise's musings
as he paced the velvet carpeted floor
Of his library on the evening when
our story opens. a conversation
his son had with him as they sat
together slipping their wine after din
ner, had been the cause of this tn
multi in the breast of Peter Penny
wise. :
Launcelot was a weak eyed
and pink-skinned youth, with thin
yellow hair, which he parted in the
centre, and a little wisp of saffron
whisker on'each side of his face, the
pulling of which with his nirvous
little hand constituated the principal
employment of the scion of the house
of Pennywise.
Father" said Launcelot, after
gulping down two or three glasses
of wine to give him courage. "Fath-
err"
"Well, my son, what do you WANT"
asked the pompous head of the house
"What'do you think of marriage?"
"What do L think of WHAT" ques-
toned the surprised Pennywise.
Marriage" replied Launcelot.
"Matrimony: you know Two hearts
with but single thought, two souls
that beat as one, and all that.
II think that every man should
marry, aud / would be glad to hear
that you had fixed your affections on
some lady with the proper qualifca-
tons" said Pennywise.
"What are the proper qualifca-
lions?" inquired Launcelot.
Family" replied his father, "fam-
ily-whatever else you do, be sure
never to disgrace the name of Pen
Dywise by plebeian connection"
"Why is our family such q very
great oneg" demanded the young
man.
a great one.n echoed Pennywise;
why, it's the greatest in the land. !
Study carefully the genealogical tree
that hangs in the hall, which cost me
five thousand 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
ofarms is one of the most respectable |
and ancient that ever heraldry boas-
ted Of"
"Well, of course that's all true,
father; but I've heard some OF the
fellows at the club say that grand
father was pawn"
Your grandfather was a broker
and banker as myselfam, and was
fully aware of the responsibility of
being worthy of his family, said Mr..
Pennywise, interupting bis son;
therefore he began my education by
the value of family name /
upon my young mind, and so, when |
had grown older, and he intimated to
NE that / ought to marry the highest
Miss Poundfoolish,
vent to that lady, proposed, and was
Thus | consolidated the
.wo great families of Pennywise and
Poundfoolish, and you and your two
sisters are the result. But you asked
ny opinion of matrimony are you
linking of marrying?"
I'VE es sir,n gasped Launeelot.
And whom do you propose hopor-
ng with your name?n