Saint Mary's beacon., 1880-01-08

sBroiled spriagehickens for tea. ets
said 4. "And lobster salad. and flied
oysiersl Upon my word. thss iooks q
II we were going % have coupany.v
$50 We are. my dear. " said my wife,
looking little guilty. as she pol
ished up the surface ol the Big silver
fea-tray with new chamois IealheF.--
sThey are aII come "a visit me--uaeIe
Sllas, and aunt hieliceut, and the chiI-
dren, and consin Joab. and the two
Miss WiImerdings, and nv aunt Loules.
10 meet ihe Reverend III SpeekwelI.
gs.snss A1innts sofa. who naaFfied my sec-
ond cousin, Mr.. Jerusha Wilde. Mr..
SpeskwelI is troubled with catarrh, and
he thinks Of staying at our house for .
few weeks, while be is treated BY DR..
Dosem -
put down my linen duster aud
brown paper parcels with some emPha-
sis.
"oh. confound the Reverend Ms.
SpeakweIll" said 1.
'sJohnP calculated my wife,.
"Well. my dear. | can't help It, !"
said I.
ats not In human nature to endure
everything. And Pve been relalioned
out Of all patience, ever since our mar
riage. The Jenkinses went away lart
week, the BlrdsaIIs took an afectionate
leave yesterday. and now, just as was
contemplating peaceful evening by
ourselves, here's new swarm, hun-
erier than the rest, just about TO settle
down upon us In my opinion, Kitty,
my dear, relations should be abol-
ished Z"
II am surprised at you. John." said
my wife. My own people, that are 50
fond OF me !"
There's where you are mistaken.
my dear" said /. ''Ifs your comforta-
bic spring beds, and good cookery, that
they are fond Of. not you."
"John I"
''l'd be willing to wager good round
sum on the truth OF my assertion" said
1.
Because you have no relations your
self"
"Thank Providence fer thatl" said |.
81 was reared in found
ling asylum, and have nobody TO thank
but myself tor my tolerable success in
the world"
"It's no reason you should find fault
with mine" said Kitty, with her bright
blue eyes full of tears. "And Mr..
ell is such a spiritually-mlnded
man, and dear uncle Silas loves you
Just as il you were his only son, and
cousin Joab is SO interested in the chill
dren.
"I'm much obliged to EN-" SAID ],
dryly. "But slept all last week on
sofa cushions laid in the bath tub; and
we had fourteen people here over
the anniversaries; and | was obliged to
give up my own room tor a month last
winter tn old Mr.. Manswell, not to
speak Of our being half-poisoned with
aunt Louisa's hygeian messes, in the
fall. When the poet said. There's no
place like home," | presume he meant
when there were no relations visiting
him. "I'll tell you what, my dear.
with sudden inspiration, "I've a great
mind formally TO deed over this house to
your relations, if they will agree SOL
emnly TO leave me in peace Tor the rest
of my life, wheresoever | may set up
my family tent!"
Nonsense !" said my wife. 'Do go
up stairs and charge your things, and
brush your hair, and get ready for
tea. They're all waiting in the best
parlor, and was expecting your re-
turn to see about hiring some cot-beds
from the village hotel, to put up in The
attic for those four little Speakwell
children. You see, aunt LousIa has lhe
blue bedroom, and cousin Joab sleeps
10 the little wing-chamber. and Mr.. and
Mrs. Speakwell viii have our room.
and"
"lndeed p said |. "And we are to
sleep in the barn. suppose"
Don't be cross, John" said my
wife, apPealingly, Zone must be hosPi-
table, you know. And can easily
make up the sofa bed in the back par
or for our use, for week or two."
said nothing. but ground my teeth
IN silent despair, as sprung up stairs.
two steps at "A time, to make what
changes / could in my toilet by the
lid OF ten by twelve glass, hung over
he washstand Of q stufy little bath
room.
The Reverend Mr.. Speakwell was
Dig man, with still bigger voice, and
imp, faded little wife, whose sole earth
y interests seemed centered in her
our white eyed, ireekle faced children.
Uncle Silas and aunt MeIicent were
! silent couple, with excellent appe-
lies. and two tall boys who giggled and
.niekered at each other in the intervals
If the conversation.
Cousin Joab talked necessarily with bis
mouth full, and the two Miss Wilmer
sings served as general echoes to the
-est; while aunt Louisa devoured lob
ter salad ad libitum and kept on send
ng mp her cup for more green tea, un-
ia 1 treHbled for her nerves.
While my wife, careful and t-oubled
ike Martha Of old, with many things,
Iooked ready TO drop with the hospita-
ble exertions she had made; and sit
ling mere CIPHER at the head Of my
table, felt as if were keeping board
ing house. without any OF the pecunia-
~ emoIument therefrom.
"My trunks will be up on the six
o'clock train. said the Reverend AIr.
Speakwell. '.l'il trouble you, cousin
Poyntz. 10 send an exprrssman 10 the
depot Tor 'em. And IL ihere's any
apartment 70 this domicsle, ccusia