The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1875-11-15
The Family Torture.

| ~ lNllllS Vi NDluC VicttHHl'lIN, hNlhS
on Nelson street, bad IL party Of five to
ten one evening. The table was set i'll
fine style, Ms the company were from the
city, and it WIS absolutely necessary to
show them that folks may live in vii.
lage like Danbury, and yet understand
tho requirements OF good society. When
they were all nc the table, md the lady
was preparing to dish up the tea, her
little son, whose face shone like the
knees Of q 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, mar"
"What is it I"
"Ain't this ono OF Miss Perry's
knives2" holding up the article in his
hand, aud looking, rs he properly
should, very much grati,ied by Snch m
evidence OF his discernment.
She made no reply in words, but she
gave him look that was calculated to
annihilate him.
The tea was disled out, and the party
were buttering their biscuit, when the
youth suddenly whispered agNin, look
ing ut his plate with pleased express.
sion:
"Why, ma, my plate is different from
the others
"Thomas /" she calculated, urderher
breath.
"Why, it It's, ma," persisted Thomas.
SNOW, Just see here, this platc -
"Thomas calculated his mother,
with crimsoned face, while his father
assumed frown nearly an inch thick;
"if you don't let your victuals stop your
mouth, I'll send you away from the
table"
This quieted Thomas at once. He
was not q very particular boy, and he
concluded TINT the difference in tho
plates was not Of such moment as to nd-
nit OF tedious argument Mt this time.
Several minutes passed without any
further interruption. The young man
industriously attended to his food, but
at the same time kept close eye On
what was going on around him. He was
lifting mp his cup for sip, when his
glance unfortunately fclluponthe saucer.
Ii was but n glanc but with tho keen
ness OF Il young eye lie saw that the two
were not originally designed for each
other.
"Why, ma," ho eagerly whispered,
"this cup don't belong to-
Then he suddenly stopped. Tho ex-
preston OF his mothers face actually
rendered him speechless, and for mo-
ment he applied himself to his meal in
depressed silence; but ho was young,
and Of an elastic temper, and he soon
recovered his beanfing expression. A
little later he observed lady opposite
putting spoon Of preserved grapes in
her mouth. Then he twitched his
mothers dres :, mud said again:
"Ma!"
Tho unhappy woman shivered at the
sound; but his remark this time appear
ed to DO on IN entirely different subject,
as he asked:
"Ain't Miss Walker funny womanl"
"Funuy9" said his mother, with n
sigh of relief. And then turning to the
company WILL tlle cAphHhtl"Ht nIs'
Walker is IN old lady WHO lives across
the way" she smiled on her hopeful son
and asked: "What makes you think
she is funnyl"
"Why, you know-you know" began
Thomas in TINT rapid, moist way which
an only son assumes when le is impart
ing information before company, in re.
sponse to cordial invitation, "whcn l
went over there this afternoon to getthe
spoons, sho said she hoped the com.
pauy wouldn't bite 'em, rs it would
tlent"-
"Thomas," shrieked the unhappy
mother, rs soon rs she could break i'll.
"Young mani" gasped the father,
"leaye this table at once"
And Thomas left Mt once. His father
subsequently followed him, and tho two
met in back room, and had both been
flying express trains coming together
there could have scarcely been more
noise.-DanGouy Ncws.