Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1883-05-17
The Sturw Teller.
MY LITTLE MISTAKES.

UnE S1ukg vOkIAFk'
MY LITTLE MISTAKES.
The Phelans had baby. Tom sent me
telegram announcing what he called the
happy event; for had known him since we
were both at school, where he was generally
called the 'sFat Boy" and many of the fel,
lows entertained the rooted idea that ne was
a lineal descendant Of the ''fat boy' whom
Charles Dickens has immortalized IN PICK
wick"
Tom Phelan was not only 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. Indeed, 1t was be.
cause of that genial, happy look and general
i'm love with and married him. For this
sufficient reason Tom thought her the Wlsest
woman of her generation, and quite believ-
ed in his inner consciousness that Nature
had endowed her with rare and admirable
taste.
Twelve months ago I had acted as Toms
best man he had asked me to stand by him
to the last. and did. I saw him through
the painful ceremony, during which he was
stared at in 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 by COM
parison with the bridegroom was an unin-
teresting man, who had not the heart, the
courage, the good taste or the sense to take
any woman for better or worse therefore,
in the presence OF this noble specimen OF l hu-
manity, the bridegroom, Twas insignificant.
nnpOmf0rt16lG
life. Tom Phelan was, under the unlnter-
preted gaze of the 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 breakfast some one made long speech,
in which so many magnificent things We're
said with so much grandiloquence, that the
bride began to weep; and poor Iom, VINO
thought it his duty to harmonlze IN all
things with the feelings Of his new made
wife, was about to allow himself to be over
come, and shed few tears also, when he
CAUGHT the stern and reproachful gaze of his
neWly-made mother-in-laW, and that one
glance decided the matter, and stayed his
emotion Immediately.
1 saw him through it all, poor fellow, as |
promised. I was true to my trust, and at
the last moment, whilst the carriage which
was to convey him and his bride away wait
ed, extracted few grains of rice which
had lodged themselves in his left eye, and
picked up his best hat, which had been rude
ty knocked off his head by the blow of an
old slipper from some friendly, but awk-
ward hand.
So, as 1 commenced by stating, they had
now baby, and they made as much and
excitement over the fact as if it had been the
most wonderful instead of the most natural
thing in life. The day after receiving the
telegram I had letter from Tom, IN Wh!ch
he described the infant as the finest that his
sisters, his cousins, his aunts-and collect
lively, their names are legion-had ever
seen. It was a boy, and nothing would
please him but that should, afortnight at:
ter the receipt OF his letter, cross the channel
and stand godfather to his first born.
No doubt he considered he paid me COM
pliment; for he seemed to lay great stress
on the fact of my being requested to stano
in such a position to the "first-born,"' and
gave me to understand the honor would not
be SO great if it were, in the coming time,
asked to hold the same position toward 9th
er little types of humanity, that in the course
of years, he fully eXpected-nay, hoped
would present themselves.
I would do anything to oblige an old
friend like Tom Phelan, even to getting
sea-sick so I crossed over to Kingstown
suffering that malady in all its horrors, dur.
ING which time did not exactly bless this
Young Phelan on whose account | had un-
dertaken the journey.
NV friend was waiting for me on the pier,
his round, ruddy face beaming with happi::
ness, and brimming over with smiles. l
felt at that moment that he must be a com
plete contrast to myself, for nat de me7' al
Wavs made me look the color of an unrlpe
lemon, and certainly did not improve my
temper.
"Why, my boy" he said, seizing my
hand, and jerking my arm up and down as
if he had mistaken it for pump-handle
chow are you %
every bad. We have had rough night, u
l replied, as briefly as 1 could, whilst |
watched two porters disputing for the pos
session of my portmanteau:
I suppose Tom saw that / was suffering
from the effects of my voyage, and was
somewhat out Of sorts, for he did ot:speaE
to me for some time. When he did 1t was
in a tone of reproach.
"Fritz. YOU have not asked me how he
is" he said.
Gle :-whom >" inquired, rather mys
titled.
"Your little grandson"
"Oh, of course how stupid l am! beg
your pardon, my dear fellow; how is he
All right, hope ?" Of the fond parent hac
only heard my fervent prayers for his he'll
a few hours ago! l thought to myself, feel
ING for the first time in my life, bit of {
hypocrite.) .c. no,. +o,
me-" said the affectionate parent with az
air of pride, and some assumption OF lndlf
ference.
"Is he ~ asked, with what hoped wa
a tone expressive ofinterest.
Tom was so good natured that ne had al
ready forgiven me my want of thought.
"When is it to be, Tom ," asked pres
emily.
"What ." he asked.
"The christening, of course said l.:
"wednesday" he answered "and We
have decided to leave the selection OF nj
name to YOU" o,,
"My dear fellow, that is too much resp0n
sibility if l gave the boy name ne dls
like, like Christopher, or Tobias, or Alonzo
or Simon, he would never forgive me Whef
he grew up, and would hate me to the Gay
of his DEATH" w.
"What nonsense you talk, Fritz! Iol
can talk it over with May, and come u
some arrangement"
Onequestion," said l, abruptly, stopping
in our walk toward the brougham that wa
to carry us to Toms comfortable nome