Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1888-02-25

ance, he thought that now the cry to
which he was so well accustomed at Mud
ham would Immediately resound, and
that the people would with one voice de-
mand "Tod. Todn And still wonder
ing where he was to stand and speak, he
began clearing his throat and settling his
cravat, as some public speakers have the
habit Of doing.
Instead of calling for Tod, they, on the
contrary, fell into groups with their
backs turned to Tod, and disposed them
selves to listen to quartet, which Tod
thought was by long odds the greatest
private riot he had ever listened to.
And amid the din of the music Tod heard
Miss Henrietta say: "Oh, why is not
Mr.. Cordova here? The music only
wants his triangle to be perfect"
''Perfect?" said Tod to himself. ''How
can all this nonsense advance the sacred
cause of temperance" But imagine the
feelings of Professor Tod when that piece
of music had been finishede Fancy, if
you can, the horror of that good man
when servants entered the room in a
sort of procession, bearing ice cream,
cake baskets, etc., laden with delicacies,
while another bore waiter upon which
were decanters containing. wines and all
such sinful beverages.
Thundsrstricken by a sight so melan-
choly, the professor bore it all in silence
until the servants stopped before him
him! the great apostle Of total abstinence
with the water Of liquid damnation,
and lady inquiring Of him, in a soft,
insidious voice, if he preferred claret,
champagne OF liquor. Had he, then,
been invited to New York only to be
ridiculed and insulted? He rose, and,
thrusting his hands into his waistcoat-
his favorite attitude in his public adj
dresses-he shouted rather than said:
''Look not upon the cup when it is red.' ~
"Dear mel' said the lady, while every
body began to gather round the professor,
''you need not have red wine if you don't
like it. Try Chablis or champagne.
"Avauntr' said Tod, 81 touch not the
accursed thing. Ladies, why was
brought hither to perform my little part
in the great movement now going for
ward, if were not wanted"
"Ohw cried lady, ''this must be Mr..
Cordova all the while, and nobody has
asked him to play" Upon which one
/ gentleman locked up into Tod's face and
propounded this timely and sensible in
/ quiry:
Haven't you brought your triangle,
sir?n
"Ohi insult me, ladies. Shame on
you. Is it a Christian act to bring me
from my happy Mudham home, to find
/ myself useless and contemned?"
my goodness, my dear SIR" said
another, ''wo all want to hear you if you
will have the kindness to Begin
II am quite ready, sir" said Mr.. Tod,
to which another exclaimed:
"All right, sir, we desire no better
where is your triangle?''
''Shame on you, cried Professor Tod
addressing Mr.. Carhart. "Are you the
master of this house?"
"Why, of course am" said Mr.. Car
hart in amazement, and evidently regard
ing me, represented as was by Mr.. Tod
as an outrageous maniac. "Why, Of
course am"
''Well. then," exclaimed Tod, drawing
himself up, ''then let me tell you, Mr.
DOGGY
''He is mad," shouted Mr.. Carhart-
'Mr. DOGGY lives over the way. We dc
not even visit, and do uot know him al
all. Are you Mr.. Cordova, the great
amateur performer on the triangle, Of
who the devil are you2"
triangle again?" cried Tod. "Sir,
am Professor Tod, of Mudham, of whom
you have no doubt read Gf you take Thu
Mudham Register or The Chickenborougl
Palladium as temperance lecturer o.
some little fame, believe, and received
an invitation from you, or rather, as i
appears, from Mr.. Bogey."
sob! will take the good gentleman
over the way" said Mr.. Carhart. and HI
did SO; and Tod slept at Mr.. Bogey'
that night, vowing that never agar
would he be tempted to visit what HI
called ''that sink of iniquity, d" New York
R. J. De Cordova in New York Star.