Weekly Trinity journal., 1875-12-04
A FAMILY SCENE.

A family Of some pretentions, living |
on Nelson street, had a party of five to
tea, Thursday evening. The table was
set out in fine style, as the company were
from the city, and it was absolutely nee
essary to show them that folks may live
in a village like Danbury, and yet under
stand the requirements of good society.
When they were all at the table, and the
lady was preparing to dish up the tea,
her little son, whose face shone like the
knees of country clergyman's pants,
pulled her secretly by the dress. But
she was too busy to notice. He pulled
her again, but receiving no response, he
whispered
MA, ma ?''
"What is it ?"
"Aint this one of Miss Perry's knives?"
holding up the article in his hand and
looking as he properly should, very much
gratfed by such an evidence Of his dis
cernment.
She made no reply in words, but she
gave him look that was calculated to
annihilate him.
The tea was dished out and the party
were buttering their biscuit, when the
youth suddenly whispered again, looking
at his plate with a pleased expression,
Why, ma, my plate is different from
the Others"
"Thomas I" she CALCULATED, under her
breath.
why, it is, ma," persisted Thomas.
"Now just see here. This plate has"
"Thomas % again calculated his moth
er, with crimsoned face, while his father
assumed trown nearly an inch thick,
eff you don't let your victuals stop your
mouth III send you away from the table,"
This quieted Thomas at once. He was
not very particular boy, and he con-
cluded that the difference in the plates
was not of such moment as to admit Of
serious argument at the time.
Several minutes passed without any
further interruption. The young man
attended to his food, but at the same time
kept close eye on what was going on
around him. He was lifting up his cup
for sip, when his glance unfortunately
fell upon his saucer. 1t was but glance
but with the keenness of young eye he
saw that the two were not originally de-
signed for each other.
Why, ma," he eagerly whispered, {,
"this cup don't belong to-"
Then he suddenly stopped. The ex-
preston of his mothers face actually
rendered him speechless, and for mo-
ment he applied himself to his meal in
depressed silence but he was young and
of an elastic temper, and he soon recov-
cred his beaming expression. A little
later he observed lady opposite putting
a spoon of prese rived grapes in her mouth.
Then he twitch he'd his mothers dress
and said again
MA I"
The unhappy woman shivered at the
sound, but his remark this time appeared
to be on an entirely different subject, as
he asked
"Ain't Miss Walker funny woman ?''
Funny !" said his mother, with n
sigh of relief. And then turning to the
company with the explanation, Miss
Walker is an old lady who lives across
the way" she smiled on her hopeful son
and asked: "What makes you think
she is SO funny? ?"
Why, you know-you know" began
Thomas, in that rapid, moist way which
an only son assumes when he is impart-
ing Information before company, in re-
sponse to cordial invitation, "when l
went over there to get the spoons, she
said she hoped the company wouldn't
bite 'em, as it would dent"
"Thomas ~ shrieked the unhappy
mother, as soon as she could break in.
Young man." gasped the father,
"leave this table at once -
And Thomas left at once. His father
subsequently followed him, and the
two met in back room, and had both
been flying express trains coming together
there could have scarcely been more
noise. DanbuIy Nei0s.