Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1877-10-04
WHAT is IN A NAME.

name is Thomas Brown. This
is not q remarkable fact in itself,
but this particular Brown met with
"a little adventure not long ago, that
is really toogood to let pass. Brown
is q wifUwer, on the otker shady
side of forty, and rather well to do
'in.this worlds goods. He In not
good looking; In fact he looks rather
the other way, but somehow he has
managed SO secure two better
halves, oEtGviRg both. Since his
last wife's death, he has been living
In our village inn (digniied by the
name of hotel), and has spent more
OK his time in-well, looking around
or third Mrs. Brown. Not long
90 the landlord handed him q let
ter directed to Thomas Brown, Esq
Hotel, saltwater. He opened it and
read:
MY DEAR BRowN:-I have just
Bought n house in the town of B
end have moved my wife and daugh-
ter there for the summer. will be
detained in the city for week yet;
couldn't you, like the good fellow
you are. 60 over 10 B-and stay there
until L come ? It's true you never
met any of my family but me, but
this letter will be sufficient INTRO
duction to them, and will guaran-
tee you a hearty welcome. Make
yourself completely at home, as if /
was there, and have an eye over
things in general. DO this for your
own school fellow.
HIRAM JUDKlNs.
Brown stared at this letter for
fun two minutes after reading, and
then broke his spell of enchantmeat
by commencing to vigorously
scratch his head. He thought over
all the boys he used TO 60 to school
with and play marbles with, but did
not remember any Hiram Judkins.
He. never recollected hearing the
name before, and the harder he
scratched his head the more mysti-
fed he became. He looked mp the
address on the envelope and read
Thomas Brown, ESQ.,, again. He
was the only one of that name in
Saltwater, consequently the letter
must be meant for him; but who
and what was Hiram Judkins ? So
deep did his cogitations become and
SO engross ed was he In solving the
enigma that he twisted his face into
every imaginable shape, to the con-
sternation of the landlord, who had
been standing by watching mis- bords-
er and who asked him liz he had pain,
and advised little gin and water
as relief. Brown replied by turn
ing on his heel and walking off. All
that day he spent in endeayoring to
freshen his mem DRY of school days.
but at night had eoniured up no
vision of a Hiram Judkins. He
used to know a Hiram Sands, and
as the recollection flashed upon him
he Thought he had solved the enig-
ina, as Hiram might have married
somebody by the name of Judking,
and reversed the order of things by
dropping his own name and taking
the lady's. But on second thought
Ale scoRteG this idea eRzreag. and by
night he was no nearer the solution
than IN the morning. One thing he
decided upon though. lie would 90
to B@and seek up the Judkins
family, minus Hiram, and then de-
eide whether the letter was intend
ed for him. That night lie dream
ed of a man who had a Thousand and
one names pinned on his back, and
all of these names were Hiram Jud-
kins. lie trisd to catch a glimpse
of the mans face, but lie persist
emily turned his back to him. The
next mr. ming he made his nee
essary arrangements and started in
the noon tram for B-arriving
there he had a little difficulty i'm
finding the neat little cottage which
Mrs. Judkins and her daughter had
gust commenced to occupy, and with
J-ather nervous tread he walked up
sthe pretty path frcrn the gate to the
tfront porch and timidly knocked at /
the door.
He was ushered into a neat little
larlor by matronly lady, who when
lle inquired after Mrs. Hiram Jud-
kins, informed him that she was the
person.
ssI have just received this letter
from your husband y he commenc-
.td, as he pulled it out of his pocket
and handed l. to her.
She took it, and upon looking over
its contents exclaimed, "Ah, yes;
SO this is Mr.. Brown 2 am glad
TO see you, sir. My husbands
friends are mine, snd you must
make yourself mt home here-do just
AS y0il please. Perhaps you would
like towash after travelling" and
not waiting for an answer she rang
s.fhashpll and continued tn the vouno