The Evening post. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1888-1889, 1888-12-17
L'ENvoI.
Since marriage is a failure, |
In single blessedness will die.
JACKS LITTLE SWEETHEART.

To have company for dinner always
threw our family into q state of confu-
sion, because there was never anything |
on hand to feed them with, compelling |
us to resort to the most peculiar methods !
TO find food was settling down to write |
story one day, when little Nina burst in
upon me with the information that papa |
lad-brought home q gentleman to dinner |
and that there was the usual absence OF |
anything in the family larder.
II wish papa's friends would occasion.
ally eat at home" i cried, dashing down |
my pen in disgust.
ooh, Perry" she said, warningly. |
"He will hear you. The study window
is open.
II wish he would, | cried, pettishly. |
''But then, something must be done.
Are there no bits of meat in the house
we can stew or make pie OFF,
'eNot bone even. The boys cleaned
up everything this morning"
e''Well," said, there's nothing to do
but sacrifice the pigeons"
"What! Jacks pigeonsF' cried Flossy
who had entered during the discussion,
and now stood regarding me in Mortified
silence. HE gave them to you as a
parting gift. Oh, 'Perryp
Yes, Jacks pigeons must go. Ne
cessity demands it. / may be driven to
broil little Nina here if detachment of
company should happen to arrive
This bold assertion threw us all three
into fit of Cycling which terminated
only with the necessity for immediate
cxertions. Nina ran off to pull radishes
and pick peas. Flossy began to mix
biscuit on the snowy moulding board,
and ! went out and commissioned the
little Irish boy who lived at the foot of
the lane to catch and kill the ten white
pigeons that lived in the barn loft
"They are very gentle" I said. "You
won't have much trouble"
And I cried a little, under my SUM-
bonnet, as returned, for Jack Willis
had given me the little white pigeons
scarcely q year ago.
"But he don't deserve half quarter of
tear" cried ], dashing the moisture
out OF my eyes when came up the lane.
"He hasn't written to me for three
months Why should / be sentimental
about his pigeons?"
Papa was learned professor in half
starved country institution in Canada,
which called itself "The Pallington Uni
versity," and his scientific wisdom al
ways flooded our house with equally
learned company. And the wiser we
grew, apparently, the poorer we became.
Mamma, who had been Quebec lady,
was in delicate health and quite un-
equal to managing the housekeeping be-
low SO that all the responsibility came
on Flossy and me, and we had solemnly
interpledged each other never, never,
never to marry professor, or scientific
man, or a man who was poor.
For we've seen enough of genteel
starvation" said l.
''Quite enough, said Flossy.
Well, after all, the table didn't look so
bad when the clock struck one, A lit
lie, well-preserved old damask, a few of
the silver forks ana spoons that had
been the bequest of Grandmamma Har-
per, and bunch of jacqueminot roses,
arranged in cloud of feathery ferns,
went far to redeem other shortcomings.
Flossy's biscuits, as usual, were per
lection, and she had made delicious
apple pudding, while my nigeon-pie was
certainly triumph in the culinary line,
though /, the cook, had, perhaps, no
right to make the assertion. But j felt
that could not muster courage to cary Q
the pie that held Jacks pigeons.
"No," cried |, Historically. 81 can't
do It'll can't!"
Perry, don't be SO foolish" pleaded
Flossy.
~ couldn't eat 'em," said l. 81 know
] should burst out crying if any one else
did"
"But who is to take the head of the
tabler' said Flossy, with mamma ill.,
not if the encouragement Of Canada
was there, with all his staff
And just as the footsteps Of the gen
tlemen were heard emerging from papa s
study flew out to the bench under the
old apple tree, close beside the we'll.
sweep, and began to cry bitterly.
Here was moral courage for you'll Here
was first'class heroinei
But as cried and sobbed like the silli
est school girl in all the Dominion OF
Canada, sound more definite than the
wind in the apple boughs struck OF
my ear--the sound of advancing fee
and hand fell lightly on my arm.
"Perry, my darling girl, spoke {
soothing voice, ''what are you crying
for2 Flossy says it is about those misera
BILE pigeons. In themselves they arr
gift"
started up with the curious sensation
of being in dream. But it was M
dream. 1t was Jack-the real living
and breathing Jack-that stood befor,
me.
"Jackl' was all that could stammer
"Oh, ack,-I-I thought you had for
gotten meP'
my darlingl-my own Perryl,' was al
that he said. But that was enough.
For Jack had been the company, afte
all-my true lover, Jack, who had re
Ceived an appointment to go out to VA
Diemen's land colony as resident consul
and had come directly to tell me tn
news and ask if could get ready t
marry him and go out there with him
If, indeed
81 wanted to go to you at once" sal
Jack, 'but your father kept me talldn
until the dinner bell rang. He give
his consent, Perry, although he say
he don't know what he shall d
when you are gone, But we are to hay
snug salary, pet, and the residence is
fine stone mansion, and we can Away
have either Flossy or Nina staying wit
us. And now let's go back and eat til
pigeon pic darling"
But | was n great deal too happy
cat. made prolcnsc Of nibbling !
the biscuits and drinking II little mill
but a was quite enough to see Jack d.
your the poor pigeons. There never VIZ
a. l..kaNN Inulr "a