Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1885-02-04
A Husband Who Could not Stand
Prosperity. ....t....

prosperity. .|.
1--WE shall have to take new CEN
sus soon if this thing continues" re-
marked Main street merchant to the
Journal correspondent to-day.
whats up nowp asked the lat
ter.
"More new arrivals at Hugh
Blair's," answered the merchant as
he turned to wait upon customer.
Every man, woman and children in
this city knew what the remark meant
as soon as it was uttered. Hugh
Blair is an iron moulder, and is en-
ployed in the Vulcan foundry Of this
city. He has wife and constant
ly increasing family. Mr.. Blair lives
in pretty little cottage on Alabama
street. His wife is q native of this
country, and is now but 26 years Of
age. The family consists of IL child
rem. About 10 months ago Mrs.
Blair became the happy mother OF
triplets-three bouncing boys. The
father, who is not a rich man, was
somewhat disheartened by the unex-
pected increase in his family, but he
welcomed the little newcomers with
Southern hospitality. Friends OF
the family helped them with gifts
of clothing and tin rattles, and Mr..
Blair became resigned and even proud
of his interesting progeny. The Gov
ernor of the State sent Mr.. Blair $15,
as an old law allows $5 for each trip
let born in Tennessee.
When Mr.. Blair returned home
last evening an uuwonted activity
around the house aroused his curiosi-
ty. Several female neighbors ran in
and out, carrying bundles of clothing,
bottles of soothing syrup and other
preparations of which the very young
have monopoly.
"The triplets must be sick, " thought
Mr.. Blair, as he entered his home.
"Hush!" warned Mrs. Davis, who
lives next door, as she raised her fin
gers warningly."
whats the matter?" gasped Mr.
Blair, as dreadful suspicion crossed
his mind.
Three more," said Mrs. Davis in
an exultant tone. Gall girls, too"
The astonished father fell over a
trundle bed, in which several of his
children were lying, and the uproal
which followed was deafening. Peo
pie in the vicinity thought cat show
had opened in the city, and the police
man on that beat complained that he
was kept awake all night. Things
quieted down toward morning, and
the Journal correspondent mustered
courage to call at the Blair abode.
The scene inside resembled baby
show. Cradles of all makes and de-
signs stood around the Aoor, and half
the young girls of the neighborhood
stood around holding portion of the
Blair family in their arms.
Mr.. Blair had taken refuge in the
cellar and refused to see any callers.
"The babies are all doing well, bless
their little hearts," remarked Mrs.
Davis, as she held several of them
up to the correspondents view. "Mr.
Blair has already been called upon
by circus agent from Cincinnati,
who wants to engage the family to
travel, and he need not be frightened
about this affair. The babies will get
good treatment"
A friend of Mr.. Blair who came up
from the cellar represented the gen.
tleman as gradually becoming resign
ed to the inevitable. The father ex.
presses strong desire to know "when
this is going to stop"
Friends of the family have already
notified the Governor that another
$15 is due. 1t is said that the Gov
ernor will recommend the introduc-
ton of a bill in the Legislature abol-
ishing the gratuity. He is afraid that
the small surplus now in the State
Treasury will soon be used up.-Chat-
anooga Correspondence New York
Journal.