The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-01-17
s1RrHs--MRs. MEEK OF 4 SON

My name IS Meek. l am, in fact, MT. Meek. That sonis mine aad Mrs. Meek's. When l saw the announcement in the QSmss, dropped the paper. had put it in myself, and paid for it, but it looked so noble tf at It everpowered me.
 As soon as could compose my feel- ingsI took thepaper up to Mrs. Meeks beside. Maria Jane, said ( I allude to Mrs. Meek). s'you are now public char acter." We,rcad the. reView of oar chii- dren, several times, witk feelings of the strongest emotions and l sent the boy who cleans the boots and shoes, to the office for 6fssen copies No rednctioa was made on that quantity.
 1t ts scarcely necessary for me to say that oslr chiad had been expec ed. In fact, it had been exSected with com parati~e conscience for some moaths. Mrs. Meek's mother, who resides with us-of the name of 'B4gby--had made every srepar asicn for its admission to cur circle.
 haee'and believe I am a quiet man. '. l wild go fareker. -kaow am a Qviet man. My co0stitutiou Is tremuloas, my voice was never loud, and, in point of stature, l have'teen, ireRn infancy, smaR. l have the greatest respect for Mana Jane's Aamma. She is q most rem arka.- ble woman. honor Maria Jane's man. ma. In my oPiEion she would storm { town, single handed, with a hearth broom, and carry it. Ihave never known her to yield any point, whatever, to mortal nan. She is calculated to terrify the stoutest heart.
 Still-hct will not anticipate.
 The 6rst animation had of any pre- lparatioos ssing inProgresss on the part Of Maria Jane's mamwa, was one afternoon several moaths ago. I came home earlier than usual from the sGce, and, proceeding iato the dining-<oom, fouad an obstruction behiad the door which prevented 1t fsOm opening freely. It was an obstruction of soEt nature. On look ing in, foual it to bedemale.
 The female dn question stood in the conner behind the door, consuming sherry wine. From the .nutty smell ofshat bev- craze pevading she apartment have no douat she was consuming a second glasalul. She weGe a clock bonnet of large dimensions and was copiaus in figure. The exSsessien -et her oannte- nance Was severe and discontented The words to which she gave utteranoe on seeing me were these, "Oh, git along with yes, sir, if yox please; me and Mrs. Big6y don't ~aat no male parties here!'
 That fe@ale was Mes. Psodgik.
 immediately withdsew, of course. { was rather hurt, but made s.s remark. Whether it was that 1 showed lowness ef spirit alter dinner, in consequence of Eeeling that | seemed to intrude, can not say. Bat Maria lanes mamma said to ne on her retiring for the night, in a l0w, distinct voice, and with look o( re- proach that completely subdued ne, George Meek, Nn. Prodgit is your wife's aurse p
 bear no i'll will towards Mrs. PEodgk. Is it likely that I, writing this with tears in my eyes, should be capable of delib- crate animosity toward female 90 esssn- tial to the welfare of Maria Jane2 am willing to admit that fate may have been to blame, and net Mra Prodgit bat 1t is undeniabIy true that the latter female brought desolation and devastation into my lowiy dwelling.
 We were happy afiex the 6rst appear ance we were sometimes exceedingly %. lint whenever she parlor door was opened, and Mrx Prodgitr announced land she vas very often announced) misery enSued. l could not bear Mrs. Prodgit's look. felt that was fax from wanted, and had no business to exist h Mrs. Prodgits presence. Between Maria Jane5 mamma and Mrs. Psodgix there