Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1878-12-03
MY WlFE'S SILK DRESS,

We'd only been married about six
months, and the novelty hadn't begun
to wear off. Fannie called me her
s'dear Charles,n besides numberless
pet names. 1t might have sounded
rather foolish to old maids, bachelors
and sober married folks, but to us, it
was an altogether different thing. We
loved each other then, as no words can
express-my darling blue-eyed Fannie!
| was only twenty-five, and Fannie
was just seventeen, so of course we
had neither of us seen great deal Of
the world; but / had never thought
that Fannie could possibly love any
one but her 'tdear Charles. y Jealous
of Fannie? bless mel But remember,
my boy, it is just when one feels most
secure in the love of woman that she
trips. Perhaps | should never have
suspected anything, but for my par
ticular friend Tibbs. He warned me
first. You see Tibbs is a gentleman of
leisure
Tibbs was busy all the while making
preparations. Tibbs selected half the
furniture for the house. He put ii in
order. The piano should stand there,
the lounge here, and the whatnot
should be in this corner. This splen-
did landscape must hang here, where
the light was good, another painting in
water-colors by my dear Fannie,
should hang here, it would look better
in the shade. Fannie couldn't exactly
see that, but then as Mr. Tibbs was a
particular friend of her dear Charles
she had all confidence in him.
TIbbs was groomsman, of course.
He was the first person that kissed my
wife after the ceremony was per-
formed. He took the first piece of our
wedding-cake. He helped himself first
at the marriage feast, and poor Mrs.
Brown (my dear Fannie's mother),
good old soul, being easily confounded
and muddled in her ideas, became con-
fused, and took Tibbs by the hand,
and with great tears in her eyes begged
him to be a good kind husband to ner
daughter; and Tibbs, one of the most
accommodating men you ever saw,
promised he would, and then my dear
Fannie's mother gave him a great
rousing kiss
We were off upon our wedding tour
month. When we returned, Tibbs
stood in the door of our new house to
receive Us. He kissed my wife again.
Now Tibbs is a very particular friend
Of mine, but don't like to have par
ticutar friend make a regular practice
of kissing my dear Fannie. But never
theless | was very thankful to Tibbs
for all his kindness to me.
But at last, when Fannies birthday
was approaching, i bethought me to
make her some sort of a present. But
what should | get her? That puzzled
me. | was just passing Crumlet's,
and through The blinds | saw Tibbs
sitting in an easy-chair, with a paper
in his hand.
s'Ah, yes, there's Tibbs. He can
decide the question
Tibbs sprang up and grasped my
hand, as though he hadn't seen me for
a fortnight.
''Bless you, ole fellah, how are yer?''
Lovely, my cherub, quite lovely,
only it's rather warm.''
Jest so, r said Tibbs, with such an
angelic smile on his countenance.
"Ah, well-Tibbsl''
"Well, my dear Charlie.''
s'Fannie's birthday is approaching
of course she will expect present.
Of course she must have one. Now
what would you advise. What sort OF
a present?n
Present? Well, let me think, = and
Tibbs stroked his whiskers. ''Why, a
silk dress, diamond necklace, any
sort of jewelry, or poodle dog, silver
mounted, a saddle horse, or coach
and four, or "a
''Pshawl Do you remember what my
income tax was?''
"Well, ! didn't know but you wanted
to launch outl But what objection to
the dress? A silk dress, presume,
would be just the article your wife