The Baltimore County union., 1881-02-05
TOMS TRIALS.

Mrs. Hacker and her daughter sat in
the little parlor behind the shop taking
tea. 1t was frosty winter night, and
the brown teapot was kept on the back
Of the stove that it might not chill So
was the pan Of sausages, which tasted
all the more crisp and savory in consc-
quence. The door between the store
and room stood open that any chance
customer might be seen at once by the
tea drinkers, but the bell had not jingled
since they took their seats.
"Trade is dreadful, Emma Jane, /"
said Mrs. Hacker, dipping her bread
into the sausage pan and transferring it
to her plate by means Of the long cook
ing fork. "Trade is dreadful should
just give up il it got little worse but,
dear me, | never had any luck in any
thing. There's Mr.. Ninnever putting
plate glass-whole panes-into his win
dows, and beginning TO talk of hiring
the second floor for ready-made suits,
and my things hang on my hands, though
am sure make better selections than
he knows how to. Another cup, Emma
Jane-what comfort tea is, to be sure.
"Then give me 4 cup, won't you,
Mrs. Hacker1" said a voice behind
them. 'I want comfort, I'm sure.-
Here's grandma gone out and forgot to
leave the key, and nothing for me to do
but to sit on the stairs and cool my
heels"
Thomas la how you scared me
coming in SO sudden !" screamed Emma
Jane.
"Sit down, do" said Mrs. Hacker.
"Take your seat here, Tom, and have
your supper with us. Your grandma
stopped to tell me she wouldn't be back
until late, and the key is in the money.
drawer"
"About all there is there, too," said
Emma Jane, with pout; "and want
4 new winter bonnet"
"Look here, Mrs. Hacker" said the
young man, slowly turning himself
toward the old lady. "Look here
ma'am herc'ssomc one ready and will.
ing to buy that winter bonnet, and ali
the other bonnc,s Emma Jane viii ever
want. We've been engaged year now,
and at last I've got to be foreman in the
factory. Why should We put it Off any
longer1 Tell Emma Jane that it's MI
nonsense. She won't listen to me-"
"Well, / don't think long engage
mcnts are best" said Mrs. Hacker
"What should say to Emma Jane
would be, 'Have him now.
"Oh, well, suppose shall be both.
cred until do say yes" replied Emma
Jane; and then the anxious lover plead.
ing his cause earnestly, the wedding day
was actually set for Christmas eve, which
was At that time about month of.
This conversation as well rs the even.
ing meal being over Mrs. Hacker dis.
cretely retired to the shop and left the
lovers alone. However, she did not
stay away long. In a few minutes she
came running in with her glasses on hel
nose, and an open letter in her hand.
"Read this, one Of you," she said.
'1've read it, but can't believe un.
derstand il. II seems as Though musl
be crazy. Here, you read il Thomas
have confidence in you.'
Then she put the letter into Thoma.
Hunts hand and sat down at the table
'I found II on the fioor," said she.
"The postman must have thrown il in
at the slit. don't know whether it'ss
hoax or not, but its got regular STAMP
on. an all. My gracious, how queer
fcel."
Meanwhile Thomas Hunt placed the
sheet Of paper before him, read il
through, and turned back to the firsl
line.
'It isn't hoax" said he. ats q
regular lawyers letter, and what il tell.
you is that your old uncle, Samuel
Hacker, Of London, England, is dead,
and You are his hciress to the tune ol