The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-12-18

wore gloves. But let us be genteel or
die
Caleb sat next his daughter, Dot and
her old schoolfelow were side by side
the good Carrier took care of the bottom
of the table Miss SlowbOy was isolated,
for the time being. from every article
Of furniture but the chair she sat on,
that she might have nothing else to
knock the baby's head against.
Who can forget poor Toby Week and
his trpe? Poor Toby could not be at
home. and needs must eat his dinner
of tripe that Meg had brought him on
a doorstep along the street l say needs
must eat it. for that was his intention, If
he had not been cheated out OF part
Of his feast by the disagreeable Alder
man. No New York alderman would be
as mean as that, to cheat a poor bell
ringer out Of his dinner by gobbling it
all himself.
Toby took the shortest possible sniff
at the edge Of the basket, and cried out
in q rapture:
"Why, it's hotr
ITS burning hot" cried Meg. "Ha, ha,
hai It's scalding hOt!'
"Ha, ha, ha" roared Toby, with a sort
of kick. IT'S scalding hotr
"I}ut what is it, father| said Meg.
Come. You haven't guessed what il is.
And you must guess what it is. l can't
think Of taking it out, till you guess
what 1t is. Don't be in such q hurry.
Wait a minute! \ little bit more of the
cover. Now guess"
Meg was in perfect fright. lest he
should guess right too soon; shrinking
away as she held the basket toward him;
curling up her pretty shoulders; stopping
her ear with her hand, as if by so doing
she could keep the right word out Of
Toby's lips, and laughing softly the whole
time.
Meanwhile Toby, putting a hand on
each knee, bent down his nose to the
basket. and took a long inspiration at
the lid the grin upon his withered face
expanding in the process, as if he were
inhaling laughing gas.
"Ah. it's very nice" said Toby 1T
ANTI suppose it amt poonies?"
mo, no. nor cried Meg. delighted.
Nothing like poloniesw
NO" said Toby. after another sniff
IT'S mellower than polonies. It's very
nice. 1t improves every moment It's
too decided for trotters. Amt it?'
Meg was in an ecstacy lie could not
have gone wider Of the mark than trot-
ters-except polOnies.
Liver" said Toby, communing with
himself NO. There's a mildness about
II that don't answer 10 liver. PettitOes?
No. 1t amt faint enough for pettitoes.
It wants the stringiness Of cocks heads
And l know II amt sausages. I'll tell
you what II IS. It's chitterhngsr
mo, it amt" cried Meg. in burst Of
delight. "No. IL ainf"
"Why, what am I a-thinking of" said
Toby, suddenly recovering a position as
near the perpendicular as il was possible
for him 10 assume. 81 shall forget my
own name next. It's tripel"
Tripe ii was; and Meg in high joy. pro-
tested he should say in half minute
more IL was the best tripe ever stewed.
and so" said Meg. busylng herself
eXultingly with the basket, I'm lay the
cloth at once, father; for / have brought
the tripe IN a basin. and tied the basin
up in pocket handkerchief: and IL
like TO be proud for once. and spread
that for a cloth. and call It cloth.
there's no law TO prevent me. is there,
father?"
Not that know OF. my dear" said
Toby. but they're always a-bringing
up some new law or other"
And according 10 what / was reading
you In the paper The other day, father;
what the judge said. you know; we poor
people are supposed TO know them all
Ha, hal What a mistakel Ny goodness
me, how clever they think usr'
Yes. my dear" cried Trotty ''and
they'd be very fond or any one OF us that
did know 'em all. He'd grow fat upon the
work hs'd set, that man, and be popular