Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-06-16
NO. 142.
J0aNSON'S INVITATION.
CONTINUED FROM YEsTERDAY.l

CONTINUED FROM YEsTERDAY.1
We entered fairly.sized room, not
| over burdened with furniture, and though
the weather was cold, not provided with
more fire than could be squeezed into
corner of the CRATE. Worse than all there
was no perceptible preparation for din.
ner.
Stuff" l soliloquized; '.this is large
house; the meal is being arranged in some
other room that (bright CLEAN of hope y
is the reason why Mrs. j. is not here to
receive u.s. Again listened to the voice
of "Pluto."
"That's nobby glass on the chimney
piece. gave bran new fi'-pun-note for
it. Everything is good here. bought
these curtains at wholesale house, and
if you're judge You can tell what paid
for EN-" And SO he went on through the
catalogue of his furniture, just as though
it were quite as good as in nv widest
dreams had pictured it. Or better
At last the room door opened and |
turned eagerly, expecting to hear the
summons for dinner, but my luck. to fol-
low my host in his expressions. was dead
out, and the youngster had seen the day
before burst in.
'Hallo, Tommy give dadda a kiss,
and then 60 and shake hands with Mr..
Cheltman."
Horror! the child's hands were covered
with the residnm of slice of bread and
| treacle, portions of which were also left
on his face, and as he was not at all bash
ful, but climbed up on my knee Qeaving
his landmarks by the way,) and. in his
efforts to kiss me, gradually secured bis
face upon mine. my situation was not to
be envied.
where's mamma, Tommy?''
"Cleaning herself, pa. She's got all her
best things out, and she's been at it ever
since dinner'' ea
What would 1 now have given for the
homely beefsteak or the Irish stew Alas
as my hopes of food became fainter my
hunger increased ten-fold; and had the
Junior johnson been but properly washed.
could have devoured him.
''Said "Pluto," '.l'll go and fetch my
little lady,
Another half hour passed, and I gradu-
ally sank into a doze, during which
dreamed that, seated at a banquet. obse-
quious walters We'd in placing dishes be-
fore me, but that some unseen power pre-
vented my partaking OF them. Tantass-
like sat, but soon voice arose and dis
solved the dreadful spell, saying a
"Allow me, Mrs. johnson, Mr.. Chelt-
man; Mr.. Cheltman, Mrs. Johnson
| started up and mumbled out some
thing about great pleasure. But what
sight met my eyes! had never suspect
ed johnson of being a joker-anything but
that-and therefore had always taken the
term "little lady" in its literal sense, more
soJl l. 1:a.1. at
little voice, and little mild manner A
tall, gaunt woman, dressed In hoavy vel
vet, stood before me, and in deep sepnl-
chral tones said was welcome under her
humble roof. She plunged at my hand.
then dropped it as if she did not care at
all about it, and striding across the room
potamus. impressively seated herself, and
from the prayer book:
Tommy. you naughty boy, l have
warned you. that you should not make
sir, and make pourself tidy. | have not
forgotten your conduct of Friday. exit
Tommy, howlng) Turning to ME,
hope, sir, you like our situation. 1t is
airy. Light. Comfortable. And con-
venient."
This was said in SO defiant manner
that was obliged to reply that thought
it was beautiful, but am afraid my ut
ter wretchedness showed itself in my face,
for, tossing her head eontemptuously, she
almost shouted:
''Some folks are never satisfied. They
never know what they want. l should
like to have the handling of lot Of those
consequential persons. I'd tame there
proud stomachs for them. Jeffery, where
is Yesterdays newspaper" Hs
Had this fierce matron but known how
humble my interior had become. even she
could not have failed to be satisfied. As
it was, on my agreeing with her views,
she appeared Modified and relapsed into
silence. Silent she remained for nearly
an hour. except that now and again she
would look up from the police reports, to
which she seemed much addicted as q
kind Of light refreshments. to express
dreadful wishes about certain criminals.
"Why not burn the brute alive p" "l'd
have him trampled to death with wild
Irish laborers ?" The vixen I'd slap her
face for her" Such were few of the
mildest escapes from her safety valve.
During all this time Pluto remained
quite still, fascinated by his wfe's glance.
which visited him whenever he moved,
no matter how slightly. Once, when he
was about to make a remark, she seemed
to impale him with her eye, and his mouth
closed as though it worked with a spring.
"Ruifs Guide the ''Racing Calendar"
and two or three handicap books were
the only specimens of literature the place
possessed, and as | looked over these,
vainly endeavored to devise some excuse
for departing suddenly. Fears that, could
| invent anything of sufficient importance
to take me away, this weird woman would
use force to detan me. preyed upon my
mind, but at last worked myself into
state of desperation, and feeling really
i'll, was about to make desperate rush,
when an old woman slowly entered, bear
a tea-tray, and l felt that all was over.
l am not much of ea-drinker. like
a cup after dinner once in way, but tea
upon an empty stomach means to me sui-
iering and pain. Upon the tray were
plate containing half a dozen shaYiDps of