The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-06-09


 But, Hiram, said Mrs. Riggs, "i, seems so dreadful.
 Not half so dreadful as visitation of the whole Biggs family would be-" said Hiram with groan.
 But Hiram knew little of the persever- ance and energy of the Biggses if he be- lieved so trifing an impeachment as lack of invitation or a delay in sending ad- dresses would keep out the invasion. It was Canute and the ocean over again :: and in three days the whole family ar- rived, all packed into one hack to save expense, with perfect Leaning Tower of Pisa of baggage on the roof, the driver perched in iron, nobody kneS how, and Mrs. Luke's two boys astride of the very apex of the tower.
 At the first wholesale grocery store on Barclay street directory was handed in and duly studied, and the driver, hang ing halfway down, like one who gathers saInphire, dreadful trade was bidden to drive to No. a6,oI2 Thirteenth street.
 H. Biggs." said Mrs. Horaiio.
 Book-maker and news agent" added old Mrs. Riggs, in high falsetto.
 And the man chirped to his horses and drove on.
 .Humph "' sniffed Miss Josepha, who had had the good luck to secure a win dow, If this is Hiram's elegant city mansion. it don't come up to my ideas of style. Brown brick, with dormer-win- dows. and only two stories high and the whole front store, with the shutters up :: just exactly as if there had been death Tn the family
 "Dear me- said old Mrs. Riggs. how you do startle one. Bu, there ain't no crape on the door,
 :. Mother takes everything so dead in earnest" said MT. Luke Riggs, seorn- fully.
 "Lemme see" said Mrs. Horatio, crowding across the old lady, and giving her best hat poke" not intended by the milliner. "Well, declare. guess the book-maker's business ain't so dread- ful full of money after all"
 :" And a liquor store next door, and a pawn-broker's across the street" Jeeringly observed Miss yosepha.
 "Praps that's the way folks lives in New York" said old Mr. Biggs, who was squeezed nearly flat between his wife, and Mrs. Luke on the back seat.
 "Tain't what expected 10 sec" said Mrs. Horatio in accents of scarcely sup pressed scorn.
 1 don't know how they can accom- modate us all,n sighed old Mrs. Riggs. vainly endeavoring to straigh;en her bon net.
 That's their lookout" said Mrs. Luke, leaning comfortably back, with the heel of her boot balanced on her father in-law's most sensitive corn.
 The driver having by this time tumblcd off his perilous seat. and rung the door, bell twice without evoking any signs of life from within, looked appealingly toward his fares.
 "What am to do? said he
 Ring again" said Mrs. Hora:io.
 And the hackman rang again this time with so much energy IS l. pull the whole bell-wire oGt. and precipi,atc hlri- self backwards on the pavement. like Hamlet ai the ,lrst sight of his fathers ghost. at which the little boys laughed engasingiy. and l hlt-boN ;.llnblcd down from the Leaning Tower ii.to the gutter. where | spit open like m orer-r.pc nut, revealing ar Horace Eggs bes, black fcl, hat.
 Boys. boys. do steady up ,here." screamed Mrs. Biggs. Look There's some one coming ], las:. Is it Hiram: Or is il Elizabeth :"
 It was neither one nor the other, as i, happened. but stout old woman in a flannel dressing gown, carpet slippers, and a rcd nose.
 |" MT. Riggs folks to home:" shrilly inquired Mrs. Hora,io. who had con- stitu,ed herself spokeswoman for the party, without any formal appointment.
 "Oh. yes answered the old woman. in snutiy. confidential sort of tone. they're to hum; but Taps the children hadn't better come in.
 Not. cone in :" said she. Why. we're their relations-com 10 visit 'em."
 Not bu, what they're deal better. and the doctor says there ain't ID more danger of con,agion, reassuringly added the old lady.
 "Contagion echoed the Biggs fam fly.
 Hadn't you heard ?" said the old wo- man, with the s,olid satisfaction which old women generally evinee in commu- nicating any startling piece of informa- ton. Well. il ain't no secre, in the neighborhood, especially as the people ain't best pleased with the board of heal,h's concludin' to insulate 'em here, instead of sendin' 'em ,o hospital. They've every one of 'em had the small pox. And that's the reason the stores shut up. I'm here to nurse 'em ain't afraid of smallpox, bein' as I've had it already
 (Which was seli-cviden. fact 10 any one who looked upon her broad, smiling countenance).
 Bless me-" said Mrs. Luke, promptly re,rea;ing into the hack. "Nery thought less of Hiram's folks not to le, US know Mother. Josepha. Harrie, Ann, come in at once. Pick up the ha,-box. Tell the man to drive back 10 the ferry as fast as he can. P'r'aps we'll be able to catch the four o'clock train back ,o Blggsville.r
 ''l don, know" suggested the old wo- man. rather disappointed a, this sudden ui,h 1 rau.al of the ,r.aI,r~ t,--ae .. h,,