The Portland daily press., 1881-02-19
THE PRESS.
Read This if You Can.

lChristian UniOn.l

[Christian Union.l
fLet some member of the family read this
story aloud, while with the dictionary, a late
edition of either Worcester or Webster, and
any other good helper to the study of language
: the others critioise and correct or confirm the
readers pronunciation. There are 225 words
here which are frequently mispronounced.l
eGeoffrey, surnamed Winthrop, sat in the
depot at Chicago, waiting for his train and
reading the Tribune, when squadron of street
Arabs Incompatible for squalor) thronging
+ from neighboring alley, uttering hideous
cries, accompanied by inimitable gestures of
heinous exultation, as they tortured a humble
black-and-tan dog. ,s--e.-..s-
"You little blackguards" cried Winthrop
stepping outside and confronting them, adding
the enquiry, '1Whose dog is that?"
"That audacious Caucasian has the bravado
to interfere with our clique" tauntingly
shrieked the indisputable little ruffian, ex-
hibiting combativeness.
"What will you take for him?" asked the
lenient Godfrey, ignoring the venial trade
"Twenty-seven cents" piquantly answered
the r'ha'd urchin, grabbing the croaching dog
by the nape.
you can buy liquorice and share with the
indecorous coadjutors of your condemnable
cruelty" said Winthrop, paying the price and
taking the dog from the child Then catching
up his yalise and umbrella he fastened to his
train. Winthrop satisfied himself that his
sleek protege was not wounded, and then
cleaned the cement from the pretty collar, and
read these words:
Leicester, Licensed, No. II, $780,"
Hearing the pronuR ,iation of his name, the
aocile canine expressed gratitude and pleasure
dnd then sank exhausted at his new patrons
feet and slept. e
Among the other passengers was magazine
contributor writing vagarieS OF Indian litera-
ture, also two physicians, a sombre, irrevoca-
BILE, irrefragable allopathist, and genial ho-
meopathist whe made Speciality Of bronchi-
tbs. Two peremptory attorneys from the legiS-
lature Of Iowa were discussing the politics of
the epoch and the details OF national finance,
while wan, dolorous person wearing concave
glasses alternately ate trocheS and almonds for
sedative, and sought coincidence, in high,
lamentable treble, from lethargic and some
what deaf and enervate comrade, not yet ac
ciimated. Near three exemplary brethren
probably sinecurists) sat group of humorous
youths; and jocose sailor Qately from Asia)
in blouse waist and tarpauln hat was anus
ing his patriotic juvenile listeners by relating
series OF the most extraordinary legends ex-
tant, suggested by the contents of his KNAPP
sack, which he was calmly and leisurly arraDg-
ing in a pyramidal form on a three-legged
stool. Above swung figured placards with mu.
scum and lyceum advertisements, too yer bose
to be miSconstrued. s
A mature matron of medium height and
her comely daughter soon entered the car and
took seats in front of Winthrop (who recalled
having seen them one Tuesday in February in
the parquet of theatre.) The young lady
had recently made her debut in society at
musical solree at her aunt's. She had an OK
quisite bouquet of flowers that exhaled sweet
perfume. She said to her parent: Mamma,
shall we ever find my lost Leicester?'
Geoffrey Immediately addressed her, saying
as he presented his card:
Pardon my apparent intrusiveness; but
prlthee, have you lost a pet dog"
- The explanation that he had been stolen was
scarcely necessary, for Leicester just awaken
ing, vehemently expressed his inexplicable Joy
by buoyantly vibrating between the two like
the sounding lever nsed in telegraphy (for to
neither of them would he show partiality) TILL
succumbing to ennui, he purported to take
recess, and sat on his launches, complaisaLtly
contemplating his friends 1t was truly an in
teresting picture.
They reached their destination ere the sun
was beneath the horizon. Often during tine
summer Winthrop gallantly rowed from the
quay with the naive and blithe Beatrice in her
launty yachting suit; but no coquetry shone
from the depths OF her azure eyes. Little Less,
their Jocund confidante and courier (and who
was as sagacious as spanieD always attended
them on these occasions, and whene'er they
rambled through the woodland paths; while
the band played strains from Beethoven Men,
delsohn, Bach and others, they promenaded
the long corridors of the hotel. And one even-
ing, as Beatrice lighted the gas by the etagere
IN her charming boudoir in their suite of
rooms, there glistened brilliantly valuable
solitaire diamond on her finger. 1g-
Let us look into the future for the SEQUEL to
this perfect romance and round cheerful
hearth we see again Geoffrey and Beatrice,
VINO are paying due homage to their tiny friend
Leicester.