The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1888-05-17

And their blessings win follow yos down to the tomb
THE BRIGHT CmORDs.
The Browns were the plainest of coun-
try people.
"None Of your new-fangled notions for
me, Mr.. Brown would say. 81 want
comfort, plain, solid comfort. But A. for
all this txin' up, want none Of it. If a
mans home has got to be kept in a stew
and stir, tryin' to keep up with lot of
fashions whims 90 that he never has anv
peace in life, what's the use of livin'p ?
No, indeed, no fashion for me-"
This strict notion of Mr.. Browns had
governed the domestic life of his home to
its very foundations. And though he had
almost waded through fire in order to
maintain it against the more ambitious
wills of his wife and daughters. maintain
it he did through all his matrimonial wears
up to the present time.
But, Judging from the commotion going
on in the home, one would have thought
that the household was being completely
revolutionized on entirely new principles.
The alterations and refurnishing that the
house had undergone were such as to
startle the whole neighborhood. Stylish
touches, too, had been added to the Dress
ing OF Mrs. Brown and her daughters, and
even Mr.. Brown, whose clothes were of
the plainest country style, had been per-
suaded to purchase new suit, and had
promised to wear a white shirt and black
tie on that auspicious occasion.
And what was that occasion? Was
the Governor expected, or, a much more
desired event than the Governors visit. a
marriage of one of the daughters?
Neither. 1t was simply this. Jack
Brown, the eldest son, the hope and pride
Of the family, was expected home in COM
pany with "his girl to spend the day.
Years before, Jack, q bright, adven-
turesome, energetic boy, had left the old
farm and sought his fortune in the large
city, but few hours drive from his home.
He had commenced as office boy for
wealthy and talented lawyer Had final
ly adopted the same profession, and after
years of hard work and study, had risen
from bis humble position to that of part
ner with the same lawyer. And as a
happy elimination to his efforts, he had
won the heart and hand of his partners
beautiful daughter.
To say that Jacks family was proud of
his achievement would but family ex-
press their feelings On the subject. They
regarded him as living embodiment Of
all wisdom and perfection, and never
tired of talking of the greatness of his
fntnre. for they expected him to fiji no
less position than that of the Presidency
itself.
Jack wrote to his mother of his en-
gagement, yet none of the family had
seen bis betrothed. In the imaginative
fancy of his mother and sisters, she was
person of the most august style, the
winning of whose esteem depended solely
on the amount of display one could make.
They had speculated much as to her dis
position, her personal appearance, and
every plan was laid to curry the favor of
this pros pective aristocratic connection.
The household was thrown into the
most intense excitement by receiving a
letter from Jack, saying that as Miss
Layton, bis afianced, wished to become
acquainted with the family they had de-
cided to drive out to the old home on a
certain day. His letter ended by saying
And now mother, you will have every
thing appear just as we'll as possible,
won't you? You know Mr.. tayton's
family live in elegant style, and do not
want my future wife to see too great
contrast between my old home aud
hers"
This letter threw the female members
of the Brown family into the greatest
commotion. Every spark of their pride
was kindled into burning fame, and the
one point that Mr. Brown had fought so
valiantly to maintain in his household,
had now to succumb to the determined
wills of his wife and daughters. Had the
result of the impression they were to make
meant life or death for the entire family
they could not have arranged with
greater persistency. Jack was to them
the hero of the country and his marriage
into . wealthy, prominent family was
such an additional qualification to their
pride that no effort was considered too
great for winning the favor of his wife.
But amidst all their preparation and
anticipation there was one little heavy
heart in the home. 1t was that of Tom
mics, the little ten-year old son. Nature
sometimes seems strangely unfair in the
distribution of her gifts. On some she
bestows the attractions of beauty and ge-
MUS but she had endowed Tommie with
no such charms. Indeed both in character
and person he was strange mixture Of
the disagreeable. He was small, dark
skinned, homely child, in whom the spirit
of mischief had his abode. He had q Pc
culiarity for saying the wrong thing in the
wrong time, was always getting into
trouble by his rude speeches and impolite
WAYS. In fact be was the acknowledged
trial of the household, and enjoyed but
little of the favors usually bestowed on
the younger member Of family.
It would seem, too, that Tommie took q
special delight in his conduct, for all the
Furnishings and scoldings which he re-
ceived, and indeed they were many, had
no effect whatever in subduing it. His
sisters declared that he was born to be
the family's "black Sheep" and there
was no use in trying to make him any
thing else.
Bnt in reality Tommie was q martyr.
He was peculiarly fashioned by nature,
and unfortunately for him, in his home
members there was lack Of sympathy.
and intuition Of childish character.
His mother was . hard-working, practi.
cal woman, whose energies were 30 de-
voted TO the material things Of her home,
that che gave no thought 70 disining the
nature Of this peculisr child. Nor had