Sharp County record., 1880-01-29

tOothless face, grooming "DOes him
want to kill um precious little darlin'?
Naughty man, him shan't touch the little
angelin
Tim, abashed, crept close to the bed
side, while Mrs. Tim laughed, merrily,
and cried, "Never mind, Tim, you'll
get used to them after while" an as
surance that frightened the little mans
face in wonderful manner.
"They are my presents to you, Tim, "
said the happy mother; "you know to-
morrow is Christmas
$50 it isl so it isl and fine pres
ent you've given me, tool" Tim replied,
glancing again at the twins, despite the
! female ogre who watched over them.
"Gracious mel" exclaimed Tim,
soon after starting up suddenly and
glancing at the clock. 1t was actually
almost 9 80! Never since he had first
entered the banking office of Joshua
Bullion, twenty years ago, until now,
when he occupied the position OF head
bookkeeper, had he failed to reach the
bank at the turn of the hour, and now
! full thirty minutes would be gone before
he could present himself! With hur-
ried goodbye he trotted off down town
as fast as his short legs would allow
him, and in short time was i'll his usu-
al place in the bank, on his stool, with a
linen duster on, and an imposing array
of huge fOlioS before him. SlOWl y the
dull hours went by, and Tim continued
at his task, but somehow the figures
would 90 dancing over the pages, and
would change into strange, ellin little
creatures, whose features bore striking
resemblance to his own; the words he
wrote-instead of reading "JOneS,"
and "Brown," and "IntereSt,n and
like commercial termS-would continu-
ally assume the one form, "Tim's
twins!" " "Tim's twinsn - and 90 chaS-
ing the spritely figures up and down
their long columns till his eyes were
weak for following them. These were
pleasant fancies to Tim, but there were
others that were not so agreeable, and
these were caused by his poverty-for
Tim was as poor as a church-mouse-
and caused him occasionally to heave a
sigh, though for the most part he was
as cheerful as the day was long,
At last the day drew to a close, the
shadows doepened in the dingy office,
the customers ceased their calls, and
the little bookkeeper closed his books,
changed the linen duster for the well
worn pepper-and-salt jacket that served
the double purpose OF undercoat and
overcoat, looked wistfully at the door of
old Bullion's private room, and waited.
1t would never do to leave the Office
without old Bullion's knowledge-be-
sides, Tim wanted some, money.
The banker soon came out, eyed Tim
sharply moment, and growled, "You
were half an hour late this morning, Mr..
wilkins"
eyes, sir" Tim replied, blushing to
the very roots of his hair. "But, please,
sir, it was an extraordinary occasion; it
was, that is-please, sir-sir, I'm the IA
ther of twins"
"The father of twins, sir?n cried old
Bullion, amazed, "what business have
you to be the father of twins?n
But Tim could not answer this ques-
ton to his own satisfaction, and so he
remained silent, while old Bullion con-
tinued:
"Some more of your Internal folly, |
see. Made a fool Of yourself when you
married, and now you are the father of
twins! Worse and worse! And pray,
Mr.. wilkins, how do you expect to sup
port such a family, sir, on eight hundred
a year,"
III don't know, SIR" Tim answered,
meekly, and he didn't, poor fellow.
"Of course not, of course not.
Humph, suppose you think I'll raise
your salary, but l won't, l won't"
cried old Bullion, walking up and down,
and calculating, "But won't, Iwon't." "
GAS you please, SIR" assented Tim,
"I have made no complaint; l think 1
can get along; but could you let me
have little money tonight EXtraor-
dinary occasion, you know" he added,
seeing the growing frown on old Bull
lions face, "and tomorrow is Christ
mas, too"
can extraordinary request, too, sir!"
gasped Bullion, choking with rage.
"You know well enough | never pay
salaries except on the first of the month!
And Christmas, tOo-waDt to throw
away your money, too! What will you
be asking for next, I'd like to know?n
"But my expenses have been unusu-
ally heavy of late, sir,n pleaded Tim;
''doctor's bills and the nurse, and girl
to do the work. l would not ask you
for money, but for these things"
Cant help it, sir! none of my busi-
ness, sir! What did you marry for?
Why are you the father of twins, sir? l
can't be the banker of every fellow con-
founded silly enough to marry! can't
father all the twins, sir! No, sir, | can't,
and WON'T
And poor Tim Wilkins went home
without the money he needed 50 much.