The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-02-26

WSti VIII iIdNC Vut i"Vhls utfo
"Indeed !" said L, "and we are to
sleep in the barn, l suppose ?"
"Don't be cross. John," said my
wife, aDpealingly; one must be hos
pitable you know; and L can easily
make up the sofa bed in the back
parlor for our use for week or two"
Isaid nothing, but ground my teeth
in silent despair; and | sprang up
stairs, two steps at a time, to make
what changes / could in my toilet by
the aid of ten by twelve glass. hung
over the washstand OF snuffy little
bathroom. %
The Rev. Mr.. Spark was big
man, with still bigger voiye, and a
limp. faded little wife, whose sole
earthly interest seemed centered in
the tour white;eysd, frcckie saccfss
children. Uncle Silas and Aunt
Millicent were silent pair, with ex-
cellent appelites, and two tall boys
who giggled and snickered at each
other in the intervals Of the conver.
sation.
Cousin Joab talked necessarily
with his mouth full, and the two
Miss Wilmerlings served as general
echoes of the rest while Aunt Leu
lse devoured lobster salad ad
libitun, and kept one sending up her
cup for more green tea, until l
trembled for her nerves
While my wife, careful and troub
led, like Martha of old, with many
things looked ready to drop with the
hospitable exertions she had made,
ard |, sitting a mere cipher at the
head of my table, felt as if | were
keeping "A boarding bouse without
any of the pecuniary emoluments
therefrom.
my trunks will be up in the six
O'Clock train" said the Rev. Mr..
Sparkwell. I'll trouble you, Cousin
Poyntz, to send an expressman to
the depot for 'em. And if there's
any apartment in this domicile,
Cousin PoyntZ, that could be fitted
up as a study for my temporary use,
it would greatly facilitate my intel.
lectual occupation during my sojourn
in the suburbs of this great city. And
/ must beg that you will keep the
house very still during the hours
which / devote to nv study"
Here my wife looked at me aghast,
thinking of little Johnnie and the
baby.
Never mind, my dear" remark
ed, sotto voce. "We can easily get
'em boarded somewhere.
"And," went on the Rev. Mr.
Sparkwell," should deem it favor
if horse and buggy could be pro
cured for my daily use when going
to DR.. Dosem, in the city, as the mo.
tion of the train disagrees with my
nervous system"
81 don't happen to own acarriage,' y
said l. "But l might buy one."
81 hank you, thank you, Cousin
Poyntz," said Mr.. Spark well. bland.
ly.
And if there's any other little
thing you should happen to want" /
added, "pray don't be backw in
mentioning it,"
"No, won't, Cousin Poyntz," said
the reverend gentleman, with the ut
most gravity Imaginable.
And l am bound to say that he
kept his word.
For three days l endured the
swarm of visitors which literally in.
tested my home, and 1 made up my
mind that patience had ceased to be a
virtue.
"I'll put stop to this thing" said
1. a4
l came home one night with a
tragical expression on my face.
Katherine" said / to my wife,
"I'm ruined"
What" cried all the company at
once.
''ThOse shares in the Western
Union, you know" said l, shifting
my forehead.
"Yes. DEAR" groaned poor Kitty.
"They have gone down." said l..
"Not worth ii penny"
"Oh, John v'
II wish l had taken your advice
and let 'em alone" said. "But after
all it doesn't so much matter, as if
had no friends, you know"
L looked beaming around at my
wifs's relations. They returned the
glance by the blankest OF slarss.
"If l could borrow $500 apiece of
all these Kindred" said l, with OBJ
trusive cheerfulness, ''and request
Uncle Silas to indorse my business
netes-"
81 couldn't think ofsuch a thing,n
hurriedly interrupted that gentle
man