The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1879-05-08
u,i,KEHs HrsLK


Il was the boar % tail Of pleasant mem.
ories-thoughts Of The past, both sweet
aud sAd-twilight when BInkers and BIZ
wife were seated around the open CRATE
in their coscy sitting room, Outside, The
Wind howlcd, the snow was whlrled up
into great drias, suggesting the paying
OF at least a quarter TO The boy who
should come 10 The morning to shove the
Sidewalk clean, and every thing Vas
cherries aud drear inside, all was
peace aud comfort, aud these two carte
that had promised to beat together, aud
to have only Que thought Tor two OF them,
were seated before the hre, recalling the
days when they SWING over the same
front gale and exchanged, with that ten.
derness that only belongs to lovers, well.
chewed pieces Of gum, ltwas bcaati.
ful pieture-a regular tea-store chrome
OF domestic happiness but broken 10 up.
on by the book agent, lie had called to
show a superior quality OF Bibles, one
that would not only stand the wear and
tear OF family that busted Il twice a
week, but which could be given to the
baby when it was leething Il was just
such book as every family should have
on the center table ia the pSrlor, and the
book agent seemed to think that the pur.
chase of one OF bis Bibles would just
about Gil the mustsche-eup OF tho Blink
ers' family happiness 10 the brim, aud
let little run over into the saucer. The
price was only $40 for the word OF God,
and payable in weekly installments Of
fifty cents; 81 10 advance, and the re-
naming payments 10 be made one week
from date. What family could afford to
be without Bible on such terms2 more
especially since there were leaves in 1t for
the record of birls, marriages, the milk
Blinkers was charmed with the idea, and
insisted that this book should come into
the family. Mr.. Blinkers was in that
mood when he could refuse nothing TO
the wife OF his bosom, and, OF course con-
sented. A dollar was extracted from the
Russia leathered paper pocket book OF the
head of the household, receipt was
signed, aud the book agent departed to
seek more Bibleless families. The new
acquisition TO the family treasures was
carefully scanned by Mrs, Blinkers, and
then pen aud ink was called into requi-
sition to aid in filling up The blank leaves.
She wrote tho name John Augustus
Blinkers, and the time OF his birth, and
then Blinkers insisted that bis first wife's
name should come before that of the pres
ent Mrs. Binkers. There was some lit
tie discussion over this, not much, but
the neighbors across the street afterwards
said they heard it distinctly, and then
the lady wrote her own name, with the
date OF her birth. Blinkers who had riS-
en- 10 the warmth Of the late discussion,
was looking over her shoulder and
noticed that she made the date 1886
What he screamed, why, that only makes
you twenty.three years old Exactly, re-
sponded Mrs. Blinkers. You are forty II
you are day. guess know my own
age; guess know how old am, retort-
ed the lady, laying hold Of the word of
God as il she would crush her husband
by the argument. OF course You do, and
you know you are telling a blamed lie
when you say you were born in 1856, re.
ponded Mr.. Blinkers, raising bis voice
just trife. That's the way wrote IL
down, and that's the way it'll show up TO
posterity, or I'm mistaken. Mr.. Blink |
ers appeared TO wish be had never
bought holy writ by instalments, aud bis |
short, gray hair very nearly stood on end
as be replied, not mildly, let II stand
there, let It stand there, and III chuck IN |
Caroline Elizsbeth's name ahead OF yonrs /
and put it that she was born in 1868. /
That's what III do. DO ii II you dare
just let me catch You putting your fret
wfe's name ahead OF mine. DO IL; let
me sec You do III There was considers.
bic more conversation OF the same sort,
but The words were spoken so rapidly
that II was impossible to bear them dis
tinctly. There was rush, crash,
general breaking up OF housekeeping,
and then there futtered out IN the chill
night air a beautiful Bible and two or
three gray hairs. Only these and moth
ing more. Then tde angel OF night
spread her wings over all, snd perhaps
there was peace in BinkerS household.