The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1879-05-30
ellancuus.
A Party at Mr.. WiggleswOrth's.

There was social gathering at the resi-
dence of Mr.. Wigglesworth, on Middle street.
one evening last week, and among those who
were present was young man from Belfast,
with II forehead of marvelously developed
bumps, cutaway coat, n delicate tenor voice
and a brilliant red nccktie. AS the gathering
was purely of Il social character, the company
sat around the room on chairs, stared vacantly
at the pictures, pored aimlessly through the
albums without any backs, twisted their fin
gers, and thought up mean things about each
others clothes. Finally during the continued
ull in the conversation the young man from
Belfast cleared his throat, pulled his cuffs down
so they would show, and said, for the cditica-
ton of the company:
"Why does a dog always sneeze three
times? 2"
1t was heroic act thus to break the awful
silence, and the young man actually turned
pale as he realized his temerity, but the com
pany eagerly grasped the rope thrown to their
assistance
"What kind of dog?" inquired pretty
girl in a garnet silk.
ooh, any kind" explained the young
man.
as it because he can't help t." observed q
smart young dry-goods clerk with tall collar
and u smile, who was n little jealous Of the
man from Belfast.
The pretty girl in the garnet silk laughed
ut this but the owner of the cOnundrum only
frowned severely.
Because" said philosophical looking man
in white vest, because it is owing to the
prolongaton of the subtle influences set in
operation consequent upon the irritation of
the inner membrane of the CANNES probes
els"
The company gasped rs the question began
to take ON such serious aspect, but the
young man from Belfast checked their fears
by negative shake of his head. The philo-
sophie man gave little snort of anger at the
reception of his theory and relapsed into
moody silence, while fat woman with gray
hair and jet black switch remarked:
"My husband had dog once that was the
funniest thing. He used to wear n night-cap
to bed-that is, my husband did-and one
night when he was laid up with sore paw
that is the dog--he forgot to put it on-my
husband forgot to put his night-cap on-and
he chewed it all up-the dog did-and my
husband jumped out of bed and it so twisted
around his fcet--found the night cap twisted
that had to hold his hind legs while he cut
it off with his knife"
"Held whose hind legs-the dog's?" anxi-
ously inquired ministerial appearing man
behind the stove
"Of course, sir" frigidly replied the fat
woman.
"But what has that to do with this ques-
ton ?" mildly inquired ameek little woman in
cOrk-screw curls.
"Nothing," responded the fat woman, "only
he was such a funny little brute-thc dog, |
mean"
just at that moment young man by the
door, who had been thinking so hard that he
started q button on the back of his coat, burst
out with:
because it is the sneeziest thing to do p
At this atrocious act the fat woman almost
tainted, and the frowns of the whole compa-
ny so abashed the unfortunate young man
| that he struck out of sight behind the door
"And why?" finally asked Mr.. Wiggles-
worth, rs the silence became painful "why
| does n dog always sneeze three times ?"
The company held their breath for the an
swer.
"He doesn't" replied the young man from
| Belfast, very softly.
"Ehp exclaimed Mr.. Wigglesworth, in con-
densed amazement, while the company resolv-
ed itself into an alegory of petritied amaze
| mcnt
ale doesn't" repeated the young man from
Belfast in the same soft voice, as he toyed with
the bumps on his forehead.
And then it seemed as if sort of gloom set
tied down upon the company, and after the
refreshments had been served, the young man
from Belfast, noticing that the weather had
grown suddenly very cool, went home. And
of all the throng there was none who babe
him goodnight. No, not one.-R0ckland
| Courier