The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1880-10-14

many, ana ABOUT 10 settle 1Of lie In
university town, but anon had fled from
it in haste, after a long nights dispute,
in the course of which my learned friend
had well-nigh come to blows with the
university's most celebrated professor
At last | heard that they were again in
London and, full of enthusiasm, darted
round the corner to welcome them home.
Nobody was with them but Mrs. Han
way, Winifred's mother. l would enter
unannounced, and surprise the philoso-
pher entered unannounced and was
surprised myself Was this the effect of
matrimony or of foreign travel? Each
occupant Of the room was engaged in
an exercise wholly unconnected. as it
seemed, with those of the rest. My
friends wife, the lady whom | had al
most loved, queen Of all grace and come
illness, was appearing and disappearing
like q flash behind the days Times,
showing ut the moments of disclosure a
face flushed with excitement, and lust
rolls coils Of hair tumbled into the Wild
est disorder, while she accompanied the
whole performance with strange and III
articulate sounds. Her mother, the
same Mrs. Hanway, who was so perfect
a model of dress and carriage that many
of her lady friends were wont to lament
among themselves that she gave herself
such airs, was seated on the floor dressed
for walking but without her bonnet.
Yes, she was certainly drumming on an
inverted tea-tray with the wrong end of
the poker And the philosopher? 1t
was perplcxing, after three years separa-
ton, to meet him thus. The philoso-
phcr was cantering round the room on
Nll-fours, wearing on his head his own
waste-paper basket. Briskly he cantered
round, ever and anon frisking like n
lamb in spring time, until he reached my
feet, which were rooted to the spot with
astonishment. He glanced up sideways.
rose with cry to the normal attitude of
man, and grasped me by the hand At
the sound of his voice his wife. dropping
the paper from her hands raised them
quickly to her hair; and his mother-in-
aw, with as much dignity us the ctlor
would allow, scrambled on TO her feet.
Then, i'll an instant, the cause Of their
eccentric conduct was made clear.
Throncd upon the heartllrug, and show
ing by gracious smile Il few Of the new
est teeth sat fine baby Of some fifteen
months. In one dimpled fist was tightly
clnchcd the brush which had SO neatly
arranged the mothers braids, while the
other was engaged in cXpounding the
grandmother's best bonnet into shape
less mass.
We were all somewhat embarrassed ex-
cept the baby. The ladies knew that
they were untidy, and that was an IN
truder. As for the learned father, he
stood now on one leg and now on the
other, while he shifted the wastc-papel
basket from hand to hand, and continued
to smile almost as persevcringly as his
amiablc offspring. Yet it was he who
ut last put an end to our awkward posi-
tion by expressing wild desire to have
my opinion of the new curtains in his
study. Rather shcepishly | said good
bye to the lady of the house, trying to
express by my eyes that ! would never
call again unannounced. Ikncw that Mrs.
Hanway had not forgiven me, as | hum
bly, took the two fingers which she
offered and felt like II brute, as the
most important member of the family
condescended to leave damp spot by
the edge of my left whisker.
When. however, / had been swept
down stairs by my impulsive friend, anC
was alone with him in his den, my cour
aged returned, and with it some indigna
ton. | confronted him, and sternly
asked why / had not been told that h,
was father. Not been told?" echoed
he. "Do you mean to say that you die
not know about the baby ?"
"Not so much us that it was, | re
piled gloomily.
He was overwhelmed of course he
had supposed that every one knew it.
from the queen downward. OF course
fifty people ought to have told me, who
of course had told me everything else.
At last my curiosity got th" better of my
Indignation, and cut short his apologies
by beginning my questions
docs the shape Of the head content
you ?" | asked.
"Tho shape of whose what ?" cried the
philosopher, apparently too surprised fol
grammar.
"Of the baby's head of course" ! re
piled tartly; II merely wish to know
! if the child is likely to be as intellectual
as yon hoped"
"Isnt the hair love!y?' he asked i'll
consequentially
This was too much, and assuming my
severest manner, ! delivered myself il
this wise 81 thought, though no doub
| was wrong, that the use OLA baby t.
you would he partly to furnish you will
raw material for n philosopher, partly t'
/ enable you by constant observation Il
7 gain further evidence bearing on sucl
vcxcd questions as whether the infan
gains its IDEAS of space by feeling about
whether it is conscious of itself, etc. "
"Well," said he laughing, II don
expect much help from my infant II
those matters, unless | can get insid
/ her and think her thoughts. W.
"Her thoughts o. cried | i'll amaze
ment "you don't mean to say its
girl? Good gracious, you are not goin
/ to educate female philosophers
He looked rather vcxed. "Of cours
it's a girl" he said.
"The father of a female philosopher,
gasped.
"Dear me |" said he, somewhat test
lily; isn't it enough to be father OF
noble woman ?"
Now / have often put up with gren
deal from my learned friend, and l ar
quite aware that | have been spoken {
as "Bozzy" behind my back. Br
there is a turning point even for til
worm, and nobody will sit forever at tn
feet which are constantly kicking him
had been snubbed more than once b
this illogical parent, and assuming m
most sarcastic manner, L inquired, wit
an appearance of deference-" Is it NJ
rather early to speak Of your daughte
as noble woman q
mot at all" said the philosopher.