Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1885-07-04
one" answered his brother.

He felt in some mysterious way that
"his jig was up" as he expressed it to
himself that night in the solitude Of his
own chamber. He did not know why,
but he felt perfectly sure his doom was
sealed. He had never been taken in
hand by widow. He had always felt
sure he would have to surrender if one
saw fit to besiege him. Now his time
had come. He felt like lamb being
led to the slaughter, and groaned over
the terrible prospect before him, and
was laughed at and joked numerically
by his brother for being so. foolish as
to be afraid of woman.
81 can't help it," said poor Joseph.
When he went down to the parlor
an hour after his arrival, he found, on
opening the door, that there were sew
eral ladies there, and his heart began
to thump, and his face to yet hot, be,
fore he got over the threshold. 1t
always made him chilly one moment,
and feverlish the next to 60 through
the ordeal of an introduction to a
woman. Now he felt more unnamed
than ever, for she was there.
A very pretty little child was play
ing in the room. 1t looked up at him
delightedly, and then toddled toward
him, and grabbed him round his shak-
ing knees, and lisped, papa, papa!"
Good gracious" Mr.. Brown couldn't
have kept back the frightened exclama-
ton for the world, His face became
covered with profuse perspiration, and
the ladies began to litter at the child's
performance; which demonstration on
their part was hardly calculated to make
the poor man feel very much at ease.
"Mrs. Hooper, this is my brother
Joseph" said William, presenting him
to the first lady they came to. Where
upon Joseph seized her hand and shook
it as if it had been the end of a pump
handle, without beingin the least aware
of what he was doing. Mrs. Hooper
evidently though he was very de-
monstrative man.
"This is Mrs. Drake" said William,
when he succeeded in getting his broth
err away from Mrs. Hooper.
Joseph attempted to bow, trOd on
the baby's toes, and came near fainting
with fright when the cherub set up a
doleful wall.
"And this is Mrs. Parks" said his
brother, indicating the woman who
came to the baby's rescue.
As her hands seemed to be pretty
we'll occupied with the baby, hand
shaking couldn't very well be INDUCED
in, so Joseph bowed several times,
hoped she was we'll and wished for a
better acquaintance" in deep and
solemn voice, after which he fell into
the nearest chair, and longed to commit
suicide.
William watched his opportunity.
When he caught Joseph's eye, he
nodded toward the woman with the
baby, and whispered, "the widow"
"Good gracious" thought Joseph.
GA young one, too, and it calls me
father! It's no use to hold out, if she
goes for me, and she will know it.
The young ones instinct tells it whats
in the mind, and that's why it came to
call me 'Papap Dear me! It's com.
ing this way. It's looking at me. I'm
in for it,"
Papa, papa, cried the young one, ,
putting up her hands for Joseph to
take her.
"You mustn't mind her." said Mrs.
Parks with the prettiest blush he
thought he had ever seen. "She calls
almost every gentleman papa, since her
father died."
ell don't mind it much if-if you
don't" stammered Joseph, at which she
pushed up roster than before.
The child insisted on coming to him,
He had never felt quite so awkward a;
he did when she climbed on his knee
! He was afraid to touch her, Children
and china always seemed to him to bt
composed of the same fragile material
He was afraid of breaking them. HI
felt that the ladies were watching him