Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-01-21
Gales anb Sketibes.
HOW TON AND 1 KEPT HOUSE.
fContinned from Yesterday

room. and softly whispered look here
Bob" l tip-toed along expecting TO find
rattlesnake, but what sight met my
eye; there sat a Miss Grimalkin and her
interesting family of four. tapping the
milk reserved for our pudding. Woman's
weapon was IN great demand. and di
vorce was granted between Mr.. Broom
and Mr.. Handle, and our biscuit also
fastened the exit Of the GrimalkiD. Jr..
two Of whom never again made their
appearance, while their affectionate
mother made shining path through
square OF glass. As Tom was errand boy
he took large pitcher ard went ont for
more milk, While he was gone, j amused
myself by singing, ''There'll be no more
sorrow there when to nv sorrow the
door bell rang, and being directly over
nv head was the cause ola gymnastic ex-
hibition, which closed with the downfall Of
China, and with santOmine gestures.
! stood amid the ruins. and thought Of the
confusion Of Babel. Ding. ding. went the
bell. each peal louder than the last.
could not 90 to the door for I was not
dressed to receive callers. could peep
out of the side curtain and see who had
favored me by calling. As ! was creeping
along, and when almost tn the door.
stepped upon my aporn, and like duti
full subject ] obeyed the laws Of gravita-
ton, and struck nv head with such force
that saw stars without looking for them.
heard "A laugh outside, and someone said.
'Oh, can wait; plo,se put the trunk ON
the steps" eroaned both mctally and
physically. "Oh. II Tom would only
come he could 20 to the door. for he
looked quite decent. Our caller whoever
II might be. was determined to enter
'Oh Tom. why don't YOU come ?" and a
IL in answer to my wish heard a crash
down below.
| ran down stairs and there lay poor
Tom on his face completely deluged with
milk-the pitcher broken, and the frag-
ments scattered all over the floor-streams
ofmilk running in all directions.
II should think you ought to know bet
ter than to leave broomstick across the
doorway for a fellow to tumble over :
here I've spoiIt NV clothes. cut my nose
and cant tell what Internal injuries |
have sustained. and all through your care
lessn. 80. II this is what you call house
keeping. | must say that am heartily sick
of it. You NAV finish that pudding-l
won't touch it," Hush. Tom. don't
speak so loud. il You do we are
ruined men. We have no time to cry for
split milk, for we have company on the
door steps. and they are determined 10
gain entrance there's that bell again; it's
no use, might rs well 90 to the door y
took off my apron. smoothed nv hair
washed nv hands and put on my compa-
ny face, while Tom went 10 his room 10
make himself whole. leaving footprints
by the way not such rs Longfcllow would
have us leave to cheer the heart Of for
inr hnf nj hat IN
tious brother might see. and like his pre-
decessor. aspire to tread the milky way.
opened the door. and there stood the
handsomest specimen of humanity my
eyes ever beheld. As soon as she look ed
ut. me she burst into hearty laugh and
when she recovered her breath. laugh
was introduced between each word. as she
asked me if Mrs. c., was at home.
mo. Miss. she is not at home she il
out of town." | stammcred.
.'She will not be gone long. | suppose,
and can stop until she returns
Visions of broken China, split milk and
half baked pies floatcd before me. and |
thought il no sin To tell one of Mrs Optics
''She will probably he gone some time,
six weeks | believe"
II never knew aunt To stay so long
from home. but | must stop Mt least one
night. for il is past car time. and I cannot
return until Tomorrow.
What could do; surely was born
under an unlucky star-before me was the
nece. the heircss of whom heard suck
extravagant praises. and what made me
feel still more uncomfortable was the pro-
voking smile that appeared whenever she
looked mt me. | wondered what could be
the cause of her merriment. Surely it
could not be me. who was called the finest
looking young man in town. Something
must he done. so invited the Young lady
in. and cxcusing myself. went To- Toms
room to see il he had survived his down
tall The exclamation that greeted me as
opened the door was in no way flatter-
ing TO my PRIDE
"My, Bob. you haven't been to tho
door with that face ?"
''Of course have. served not only as
door tender. but rs committee of arrange
ments. and introduced the lady into the
par'or, and am now waiting for YOU to go
down with me and entertain her"
''Oh. dear. | shall die look in the glass
Bob" and holding on his sides he slid
from his chair to the floor. and rolled over
aud over with such velocity. that | really
thought he had gone crazy. looked in
the glass. q, horrors. what a lace pre-
sented itself Nv head looked as il ii had
hlossomed from the Hour barrel. on nv
forehead were two marks. commonly
called beauty spots (but | called them
horrid spots). my nose. my beautiful nose.
that was the most marked feature of my
FACET looked as il il had been dipped in
ink.
.'IIow do YOU like the looks: don't Won
think the lady will be charmed? oh +,
dear" and Tom went into a rolling fit
made no answer. but made for the door.
where are You goinga to complete
the fascination ?" ''Going 10 make clean
breast. rs well rs n clean face of the whole
natter" aud while Tom was dressing in
his best. explained matters to our lady
visitor. and joined with her in laughing ut
our mishaps. She insisted on being shown
to the scene of the late disaster. and find
ing resistance useless. | went with her to
the regions below. Tom soon came down.
and acting as her servants. We soon put
things in shape and place. DOMINIC one
of her aunt's ample aprons, the little fig-
ure fitted from room 10 room aud soon
dispatched the baking. tended the stove !;
Ton, syath,r,,j mn th. fras-p,anfS nNaau-