Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1880-03-18
Tom Thumb and His Wife.



Down stairs rushed the crowd, and in
few moments the curtain that concealed
small stage was drawn up, and particularly
long and lean man cantered out to an
nounce Mr.. and Mrs. Charles Stratton. A
man at the piano struck up, "See the Con-
quering Hero Comes!' and the tiny couple
entered. Tiny, did l say? Then let me
take it back, as far as the general is con-
cerned, for he has grown fearfully and won
derfully fat, rather yellow and very wrinkled.
He looked, in fact, like ali orange that had
been sat upon, and his gray goatee and hair
added to his evident accumulation of wears.
He must weigh a, least 40 pounds, which
considering his height to the square inch, is
doing very well.
His little wife looks careworn, and is
hardly stouter than when she first appeared,
but she wore charming toilet of pink satin
and pearls, and smiled the same five for a
cent little smiles as of yore. She sang in a
voice fine as 100 thread, song about the
shamrock, and then the general appeared in
his tavorite character of Napoleon. l think
the spectacle would have made the great
warrior wrggle in his grave even more than
Nine. Remusat's memoirs )" and when the
plump exhibitor went to strike the attitude
of meditation he lost his balance and top
pied over on one side, to the amusement of
the audience. Then tall, slim young man
came out as a Chinaman and danced and
slid round on parlor skates and the matinee
was over.
After the people had dispersed had a
little chat with the famous small couple
"How long have you been before the pub
lie. general ~ was asked.
Over 40 years." said he, folding his arms
and striking an attitude. People seem to
have an idea tha, | have retired, but the
truth is can't do without the excitement of
public life, though my wife is getting rather
tired of it"
YES" said Mrs. Thumb, with weary lit
tie sigh. I'VE have been married Il years to-
day, and think it's about time we STAYED
at home. YOU see, | am domestic in my
taste, and love housekeeping. but the
general wants to be on the go all the time"
We'll, we'll" said the husband, with an
imperial wave of his short, fat hand. '.In
summer have my yacht and fast horses,
and that passes the time away, but the
winter season is pretty dull in Middle
borough"
Yes" said Nine Thumb with an express
sive look, ''If it were not for so much yacht
ing and fast driving our bank account would
be little bigger to-day"
My dear :" said the general, and an awk-
ward pause ensued, broken by our correspon-
dent rcmarkng: People were very sorry
to hear of your sisters Miss Minnie War
REM death.
Yes" said the wee woman with tears in
her eyes and as much feeling as six footer.
1t was great blow to me, and then came
the loss of my dear little son. A good many
people thought he was nothing but an ad-
vertisement," she continued, growing a trife
ncoherent; but If they had known how |
felt they wouldn't"
And what has become of little Maj
Newell. your brother-in-law ?"
Why, didn't YOU see him in the Chinese
song and dance ?"
''Iha, tall Young man? Impossible"
"Oh, YES that was the major. You see,
about the time that Minnie died the poor
fellow began to grow tthis very mournfullyl,
and he kept on growing and growing until
he was just like anybody else. OF course it
ruined his business, and he had TO 90 into
the varieties, so We try to get him engage
ments with Us"
And where is Commodore Mutt, nova
days."
''Oh, he is making his money fly in San
Francisco"
Here the carriage was announced, and
with Come along, my dear" the general
led his wife and helped her in the coupe,
and filed up one seat himself The colored
driver whipped up the dapple gray ponies,
and off they went, smiling and bowling.