St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1882-11-24
NV Little Mistakes.

The Phelans had baby. Tom sent
me il telegram announcing what he
called the happy event; for | had
known him since we were both at
school, where he was generally called
the Fat Boy, and many of the fellows
entertained the rooted idea that he was
Il lineal descendant of the "fat boy"
whom Charles Dickens has immortal
ized in '.Pickwick."
Tom Phelan was not only fat boy,
but in accordance with the promise of
his youth. he became fat young man,
with IL mellow face like an Over-ripe
rear, and an amply-prOpOrtiOned per
son. Indeed, it was because of that
genial, happy look and general air of
comfort which his fatness impaired,
that little Mary O'ROurke fell in love
with him and finally married him. For
this sufficient reason Tom thought her
the wisest woman of her generation,
and quite believed in his inner con-
Sciousr ess that nature had endowed
her with rare and admirable taste.
Twelve months ago | had acted as
Toms best man; he had asked me to
stand by him to the last, and | did.
saw him through the painful ceremony,
during which he was stared at i'll the
keenest way by all the brides female
friends, including eight charming
bridesmaids, not one of whom during
the time vouchsafed me a glance, for,
10y comparison with the bridegroom,
was an uninteresting man, who had
not the heart, the courage, the good
taste or the sense to take any woman
for better or worse; therefore, i'll the
presence of this noble specimen of hu-
manity, the bridegroom, | was insig-
niticant.
If ever a man was uncomfortable il
his life, Tom Phelan was, under the
uninterrupted gaze of these fair crea-
lures and of the crowds of the brides
relations assembled for the occasion
in all their strength and glory, inside
the walls of st. Brides church, Dub
lin.
At the breakfast some one made {
long speech, in which so many mag,
nificent things were said, with so mucl
grandiloquence, that the bride began
to weep; and poor Tom, who thought
it his duty to harmOnize III all thing:
with the feelings of his new mad,
wife, was about to allow himself to b,
overcome and shed few tears also
when he caught the stern and reproach
full gaze of his new-made mother-in
law, and that one glance decided th'
matter and stayed his emotion imme
diately.
| saw him through it all, poor fellow
as promised. | was true to my trust
and at the last moment, whilst the ear
Iiage which was to convey him and hi
bride away waited, | extracted a fey
grains of rice which had lodged them
selves in his left eye, and picked up hi
best hat, which had been nearl
knocked off his head by the blow of IA
old slipper from some friendly but awk
ward hand.
SO, as | commenced by stating, the
had now a baby, and they made a
much fuss and excitement over the fac
as if it were the most wonderful in
stead of the most natural thing in life
The day after receiving the telegram
had a letter from Tom, in which he de
scribed the infant as the finest bab
his sisters, his cousins and his aunts-
and, collectively, their names are le
4 gion-had ever seen. 1t was boy
and nothing would please him but tina
; | should, IA fortnight after the receiI
of his letter, cross the Chaanel, an
stand god-f father to his tirst-bOrn.
No doubt he considered he paid me
compliment; for he seemed to lay grei
stress on the fact of my being reques
ed to stand in such a position to I'll
.'first-bOrn," and gave me to unde
stand the honor would not be so grei
: if | were, ill the coming time, asked {
hold the same position toward 9th,
little types of humanity that in ii
. course of years he fully expected
hoped would present themselves.
| would do anything to oblige an o
friend like Tom Phelan, even in gettir
ea-sick; so | crossed over to King
town, suffering that malady in all
horrors, during which time did not e
actly bless this young Phelan on who
account | had undertaken the jOurne
My old friend was waiting for me
the pier, his round ruddy face beamil
=; with happiness. and brimming Ov
st with smiles. | felt at that moment tn
u he must be a complete contrast to III
self, for NAL de mer always made l
look the color of an unripe lemon, al
certainly did not improve my temper
- "Well, my boy" he said, seizing L
hand, and jerking my arm up a
.. q. down as if he had mistaken it fol
- pumn- lauIln sshnu- ora Vou -