The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1884-04-03
The TuRss.


The Tuffys were rather remarkable
family, consisting of grandfather, grand
mother and six grandchildren.
They had some points OF resemblance
in common; having exceeding sharp
pointed and prominent noses all of
them, and each sharing the peculiar
family complexion, which might be de-
scribed as leaning toward cinnamon
color.
This alone was enough to distinguish
them in crowd, even if their size,
which varied from three to six inches
in height, failed to mark the difference
between them and ordinary individuals.
The grandfather was never seen
dressed otherwise than in blue pants,
crimson vest. blacl; broadcloth coat and
an old-fashioned stove pipe hat. Always
leaning heavily upon his cane, be looked
very infrm His hat, to save trouble,
was glued to his head.
This curious practice extended to the
whole family, who always wore their
hats without removing them even to
sleep. And the same might truthfully
be told of their c!oaks.
Tne only thing ever known to come
of were grandma's spectacles, which
had trick Of falling off; and as she was
200 stiff in the knees to stoop To pick
them up, and as the whole family like
wise had stiff knees, their united efforts
generally failed to recover them, and
they were obliged to call neighbor to
perform, in their stead, this graceful
and filial act. Grandma also had a
blue cotton umbrella, which never left
her hand night nor day. Like grandpa S
cane, it served the triple purpose OF
ornament, protection and prop.
The three little boys had caps, and
the three little girls. shaker-bonnets;
and all carried either baskets oil
sachels upon their arms. These were
supposed to contain their lunches; but,
as the latter were usually raw beans OF
pebbles, we are slow to believe that
they ever partook of them in their I'M
cooked state. Probably they were tax
ing them homo to boil.
They had several high and influential
friends at Court, who did many won
derful things for them.
Among various articles presented by
them to the Tuffyse was a sled; small
enough, or otherwise large enough, to
accommodate the whole family, who
could be piled on promiscuously and
tied down with a string, and in this
manner enjoy the gentle delights oil
eoasting; all except grandma, whose
blue cotton umbrella so poked every
one else in the back. and whose spec
tacles SO dotted the road. that she was
provided with a seat upon which she
could hang, and become pensiYe OBJ
server of the scene.
Now the hill where the sliding took
place was near the lofty portal of the
Queens palace; and Queen Goldie and
her advisers, generally, had gathered
there to watch the sport.
:" / say. Goldie," cried the foremost
one of the group, named Fairy, do take
Grandpa Tuffy off! He slips sideways
and sticks his legs into the snow; and
that tips them over
mo, said Goldie, tits Jupiter
Tuffy's legs that stick out SO. because,
don't You seeP they're blue.n
"Well,n said Daisy (Adviser No. p,
'.let's take them all off," (Not The
legs, but the fanlily.) "And let's pu
them on again all over; and then let's
90 to Barnes Hill and send EN- down,
swift and hot"
"Oh, 90, oon' said Fairy (Adyisel
No. y, ..I.et'sr'
The Tuffys, chilled through by theil
many ups and downs, seemed TO rejoice
at anything that promised to be '.hot,'
and hung on tightly as they were car
ried to Barnes Hill.
Arrived at the top, which was tht
summit Of long and steep rise, com
mencing at the river.bank, the Tuffyi
were started on their perilous descent.
They had shot about halfway dow
the decline, and were getting too dis
tant for their progress to be noted. wheI
Queen GoIdie and her two Adviser
piled themselves upon a sled, seyera
hundred times bigger than the Tufys'
and followed with lightning speed AMI
much lluzzaing.
"We'll catch them! We'll catch them
Hurrah! Take care, Goldie! we're clos
to them now-don't steer straight on t,
them!n
But she did. And in the general mix
up that followed, the Tuhy family re
solved itself into its original elements o
-walnuts, wish-bones and bits o
bright-colored cloth of various kinds.
For the Tuffy family, as you may al
ready have guessed, was the comic ere
alton of an auntie's ingenious mind. in
tended to furnish entertainment TO Col
die and her friends.
That they answered their purpos
who can doubt that has followed thu
far the annals of the TEfy family
Youths Companion.