The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-01-15
THE DINGWHIFFS.

know; Percy Dingwhiff and his most in
nOcent and estimable wife. Percy Ding
whiff-or "Pu'sey," as for good ground
reasons we invariably pronounce its
genial fellow, and next best to his own
good wife, he loves good company. And
a wonderful way, toe, has Mr.. Dingwhiff
Of shining up tAat little home of his way
out there in the suburbs of the town, 50
far that the street cars just turn round
and waddle back before they get half
wav. So you see there must be something
more than ordinarily bright and attract
i've at the Dingwhiff home that draws us
there at least one evening cut OF every
week.
Been cipherin' on a new dodge for
another time down at the house." said
Mr.. Dingwhiff to d little group Of us at
the post-oflioe corner yesterday. Elk it
for tonight if you say so," he continued
eagerly. ."You see" said Mr.. Dingwhiff,
with lowering of the voice, and really
serious face, "you see it's a-gittin' sorto
monotonous like down home. Been some
queer things goi4 on there now for
several nights past; the woman-folks,
YOU know. kindo congregatin' in of even
ings, and talking spiritulism till dern if
Myrtle amt Altered to turn the lamp
out when she comes to bed. Oh, it's
worryin' her-no mistake about that,
and the more she worries about the more
she believes in it, and the fact is, her
mind needs divertin'-that's it-and
how many of you fellows can count on
for to-night?"
'Tm with youl'' said Mr.. Hunchley
with unwonted eagerness.
"Here, toow said Mr.. Wray, who, by
he bye, as Mr.. Dingwhiff once remarked,
-"can just blow the peth out Of any flute
that toots."
"And here, too" chimed the third
voice, cheerily.
1l's fxed,' said Mr.. Dingwhiff; "now
look here. He drew the winking group
Of us'a little further round the corner;
and, after,,a low, muttering conversation,
in which his little fat fore-finger waved
above us like a baton, and with which
OR three heads nodded in attentive har-
.mony, he left us laughing like a lot of
boys.
"Believe me or not" said Mr.. Hunch-
ley, with extravagent warmth, gazing
after the retreating figure of Mr.. Ding
whif, "Blieve me or not, gentlemen, but
blame me if / couldn't marry man like
that"
r. r. B. Il
"W'y bless nv soul!" said Mr.. Ding
Whit, with an air of pleased surprise, as
the gentle Mrs. Dingwhiff led us into the
cozy little room that evening "W'y
bless me, gentlemen, this is delectable
surprise, indeed! Git'em chairs, Myrtle,
git 'em chairs! Here's my wife's mother
come to see us, gentlemen, and here's my
wife's friend, Miss Miller, amt it? and
here's her other friend, Mrs.-Mrs.-in-
troduce 'em, Myrtle, introduce 'em.
'There now," said Mr.. Dingwhiff, with
an air of gossipy content, "lf this amt
pleasant / don't know. I've been lookin'
helplcssly over the top Of my book at the
ladies the whole blessed evening and a
vainly wishing that was about three
more men, that / might do sometbin'
don't you know, towards entertainin'
'em. Law, I couldn't, to save me, take
care of more'n one-my wife, of course
and so Pvc been leavin' the three OF
'em to better company, and tryin' to in
terest myself in this here spiritualism
book that Myrtle picked up somers-But
how did it happen that YOU three gentle.
men should all drop in, fortnight of al
. flights, that we wanted you and least ex
peeted you? Tell us that!"
And as Mr.. Hunchley entered into an
artistic aud highly ingenious explana
ton as to how the curious occurrence had
really been brought about, as the atten
tive listeners gathered closer beneath the
spell Of his enchanting rhetoric, The
melancholy Mr.. Wray, with listless air
took UP the idle book that lay astride
the fat knee Of our host, and at once be
came absorbed in its perusal.
"Hullo!" said Mr. Hunchley, abruptly
abandoning his theme. ''Hullo, here
What's Wray up to that my usually
entertaining gossip has no charm fo
himp' '
."Hush!'' said Mr.. Dingwhiff, will
mock gravity. "He's in among The spir
its! Wonderful book, though" he con
tinued, as though speaking to himself
then with an impatient flourish Of th'
hand, "all nonsense, Of course, but it i
queer-this spirit business, or whateve
itis-aint it," s ..syf sr"r
"Oh, that's It'll" said Mr.. Hunchley
with dubious nod. eyes, indeed, SOM
wonderful developments in spiritualisn
of late. They tell me that down here a
Terre Haute or LafAyette--forget whicl
place-no matter-they seem to hav
some marvellous clairvoyants and medi
ums down there, materialists, or what
ever they call them; and they reall.
4 have performed some wonderful feats 0
late. Well, spiritualists generally CLAIM
that the thing is coming nearer to a fo
Gus every day. Where was it read, no
long ago, full account of marriage il
heaven? Disremember now just VIII
were the contracting parties, but an,
way, it was described as quite recherch
in all respects, full particulars as to al
notables present, elaborate description