St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1885-10-10
AN UMBRELLA STORY.

Mr. Thompson Undergoes a Wonder
full Observation-Disclosures 1t Only
Dream?
Mr.. Thompson was in meditative
and rather reyengeful mood. He had
iust.purchased new silk umbrella with
a curiously carved ivory head, and the
young man who boarded il the house
had whispered at the dinner table that
1.-THE head on the umbrella looks just
like Thompson. ,
Now Mr.. Thompson is not hand
some man, nor does he lay claims to
beauty, but he hardly thought he looked
like the grotesque face carved on the
ivory umbrella handle. So he sat in
his easy-chair and stared atityery hard.
The umbrella stood in the corner and
stared back with its beady eyes until
Mr.. Thompson was startled by seeing
it wink He rubbed his eyes very hard,
and looked again, and to his surprise
the umbrella repeated the wink. This
time Mr.. Thompson could not be mis-
taken; it was wink of the most ag
gressive character-an inlpudently ia
miliar wink. Mr.. Thompson shuddered
in anticipation of something unpleas-
ant about to happen; he did not exactly
know what, and he began to wonder
what it could be- The umbrella winked
again. This was more than Mr.. Thomp-
son could stand.
Whom are you winking atP' he
exclaimed, angrily. You are too
familiar, sir too familiar
''Humphp' answered the umbrella,
contemptuously You needn't be
stuck up because you own me. That
young fellow said that we look like
brothers. y
He did, ehP'' growled Mr.. Thomp-
son. I'D like to break you over his
head"
Now, there you co. said the UNI
breIla. THAT is the disadvantage of
being an umbrella. You get loaned,
and lost, and broken, and can't do a
thing to protect yourself. I.wish I was
a man. and the umbrella sighed
deeply.
Here was new phase Of the ques-
ton, and Mr.. Thompson was inter
ested.
There are many disadvantages in
being man" he said. in an argument
atiye tone. LAS an umbrella You have
no bills to pay, no bores to avoid, no
i1npudent young men to annoy you.
You are carefully treated. and your
mission in life is a beneficial one. How
MANY lovers you may shelter from the
rain! Your lot is one to be envled.
.'Oh, yes; that is all very pretty in
theory: all your theories are pretty. "
oroWled the umbrella. ''The trouble
IS, they haven't solid foundation OF
fact If you think it so delightful, per-
haps YOU would like to try it for awhile.
You wouldn't change for anything.
Eyes, / would, y exclaimed Mr..
Thompson, hastily.
Its a CO. shouted the umbrella.
Mr.. Thompson recognized the phrase
as faYorite slang expression of the
Young man who boarded in the house,
but had no time to think of anything
more, for he suddenly found himself
standing in the corner, and to his dis
gust he saw the umbrella sitting in the
Chair. Mr.. Thompson was compelled
TO admit that there was a likeness, and
was about 10 remark to that effect,
when there was a knock on the door,
the umbrella said .'Come in, q and Miss
Angelina entered.
Ooh, Mr.. thompson she exclaimed,
.I've got to run around to Sixth az
enue to get some tape, and it = raining
and it is getting so late!
Mr. Thompson was about to answer,
but the umbrella was ahead of him
IF you will accept my protection,
it said, Il should be most happy, and
you see / have a new umbrella; and
it glanced maliciously toward poor
Mr.. Thompson, who suddenly real
lied that on account Of his
change of shape he was unable
to move without being carried. Miss
Angelina ran out to get her bonnet and