The Osceola times., 1880-10-16
MICROSCOPIC Love-Makine.


Tom Thumb, or Charles Stratton, as he
was called in ms baptismal name, was,
all the world knows, an undersized speci-
men Of humanity. If he was not put
into a quart pot, he might have been.
according TO what was said 10y his mother,
who averred that he hardly measured q
pint. He grew mp In strength of brain
and in physical health, but with only a
small development in anatomical struc-
ture and adipose tissue. Bafnum found
him in his rural home. and, after some
pleasant negotiations with his progeni,
| tors, brought him into notoriety among
the ecuriosiues of the celebrated museum.
1t was forty wears or more ago when the
then great American repertory was at
the corner of Ann street, in New York,
that, wandering its shadowy and mystic
rlOus halls, and wondering over birds,
and beasts, and wax figures, monkeys
and relics of the Revolution, we first
made acquaintance with the little man
OF Bridgeport He was in the prime
and beauty of black coatee, tapering
of like tie tail of a young swallow, while
his trousers, also of the ministerial hue,
and faultless in set, were strapped under
boots that Chinese Princess might
have worn, and that glistened like pol
ished mirrors. Small in size he was,
yet great in his adopted name, because
his measure was advertised in inches.
And SO he continued increasing in fame,
but not in stature, for many years, until
he had gained a comfortable portion of
this worlds goods, and felt that he
might retire from the gaze of admirng
eyes to the quiet fields and forest shades
Of his birthplace.
Lavinia Warren was also small end
understood at her birth, and grew but
little up to the time of ner maidendood.
4 happy thought of Barnum led him to
seek an inverview with her parents, and
to engage her as one of the stars of his
museum. She took her position among
the orbs Of his celebrated tirmament and
held it for several years. 1t was here
that she found her Thnmh it was here
that her Thumb found her. Under the
tapestry of the museum walls, beneath
the gaze OF revolutionary woTthies peer
ing from worm eaten canvasSes, compan-
ioned by Daniel Lambert and the stuffed
tiger from Bengal, and encouraged by
the voice Of the parrot and the chatter
ing Of the monkey, the romantic passion
warmed M ana seethed and bubbled,
and two young and fond hearts, as the
poet has said;
Like suow-talls mcetag
Mellowcd into one.
There was n flame of love, notwith-
standing the coolness of our simile, and
it leaped and tiourished until Lavinla
and Thomas were set into blaze. 1t
gave a new ornament to the green cur
tain. il sparkled in the chandelier, it
added a luster to the footlights, and it
sounded wedding preludes in the inspir-
iting harmonies of the Amazonian bass
viul and other instruments of the Gus
tomary band. And in proper time, after
all professional engagements had been
fulfilled, Layina and Thomas were mar
ried. There were wedding presents, and
sports and junketings after the solemn
ceremony, but the bride and bride
groom, in that modesty which always
marked their character, retired from the
festive scene to the valley in Massachu-
setts which they had selected for their
future home. Aud there ever since they
have lived, undlsturbed by the illusions
Of the public stage, except in occasional
dramatic episodes, and perfectly con-
tented in their sequestered dwelling
among woods and streams and Towering
hedges If the flaming of remembered
chandeliers had occasionally blazed in
upon them. they have only illuminated
the delights of their pleasant retreat,
and the visions Of the polar bear in his
stuffed integument, the happy family,
and the pathetic seal in his tank. have
only added to the pleasures of quiet
abode.
Thomas and Lavinia have grown fat
in their domestic enjoyment. If the
husband has not, like Goliath of Gath.
attained to SIX cubits and a span, he has
risen somewhat in height with larger
extension of abdomen and stomach.
And if the wife has not reached the
stature oil her husband, she grows. new
erth' less, the influences of agricultural
pursuits and a contented mind in reg
ular beat OF her heart and an increased
circumference Of her waist.