The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-12-09
MY LITTLE MISTAKES.

l. ut L uClduS udu u DiONs IOlh oChO
mea telegram announcing what he called
the happy event; for had known him
since we were both at school, where he
was generally called the Eat Boy and
many of the fellows entertained the root
ed idea that he was lineal descendant
of the fat boy'' whom Charles Dickens
has immortalized in 'Pickwck."
Tom Phelan was not only a fat boy,
but, in accordance with the promise of
his youth, he became fat young man,
with mellow face like an Over-ripe pear,
and an amply proportioned person. In
deed, it was because of that genial, hap
ply look and general air of comfort which
his fairness impaired that little Mary
O'Rourke fell in love with and finally
married him. For this sufficient reason
Tom thought her the wisest woman of
her generation, and quite believed in his
inner consciousness that Nature had en-
dowed her with rare and admirable
taste.
Twelve months ago I had acted as
Tom 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 in the keenest
way by all the brides female friends, in
Guiding eight charming bridesmaids,
not one of whom during the time vOuch-
safed me glance; for by comparison
with the bridegroom | was an uninter-
esting man, who had not the heart, the
courage, the good taste or the sense to
take any woman for better or for worse;
therefore, in the presence of this noble
specimen of humanity, the bridegroom.
I wac insignificant.
If ever a man was uncomfortable in
his life, Tom Phelan was, under the I'M
interrupted gaze of these fair creatures,
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. Dublin.
At the breakfast some one made q
long speech, in which so many magnifi-
cent things were said with so much
grandiloquence, that the bride began to
weep; and poor Tom, who thought it his
duty to harmonic in all things with the
feelings of his new-made wife, was about
to allow himself to be overcome, and
shed a few tears also, when he caught
the stern and reproachful gaze of his
newly-made m0ther-in-law, and that one
glance decided the matter and stayed
his emotion Immediately.
| saw him through it all, poor fellow.
as | promised. | was true to my trust,
and at the last moment, whilst the car
rage which was to convey him and his
bride away waited, | extracted few
grains of rice which had lodged them.
selves in his left eye and picked up his
best hat, which had been rudely knocked
off his head by the blow of an old slip
per from some friendly, but awkward
hand.
So, as ! commenced by stating they
had now baby, and they made as much
fuss and excitement over the fact as if it
were the most wonderful instead of the
most natural thing in life. The day
after receiving the telegram had let
ter from Tom, in which he described the
infant as the finest baby his sisters, his
cousins and his aunts-and, collectively,
their names are legion-had ever seen.
1t was boy and nothing would please
but that | should, q fortnight after the
receipt of his letter, cross the Channel
and stand godfather to his first-born.
No doubt he considered he paid me a
compliment; for he seemed to Law great
stress on the fact of my being re-
quested to stand in such posi-
ton to the "first-born." and gave
me to understand the honor would
not be so great if | were in the coming
time, asked to hold the same position to.
ward other little types of humanity.
lwoud do anything to oblige and old
friend like Tom Phelan, even to getting
seasick so crossed over to Kingstown,
suffering that malady in all its horrors.
during which time did not exactly bless
this young Phelan on whose account /
had undertaken the journey.
My old friend was waiting for me on
the pier, his round, ruddy face beaming
with happiness and trimming over with
smiles. | felt at that moment that he
must be a complete contrast to myself,
for n1dt de mcr always made me look the
color of an unripe lemon and certainly
did not improve my temper.
"Well, my boy" he said, Selling my
hand and Jerking my arm up and down
as if he had mistaken it for pump
handle, "How are you?"
every bad. We have had a rough
night ! replied, as briefly as l could,