The record-union., 1894-02-10

ceedingly red face, an abundance of white
hair seemingly the winter for the color
of his countenance, immense grizzled
gray eyebrows, and he was pertly clad IN
a black dress coat, black waistcoat and
trousers, while wonderful Gladstonian
collar, the points of which nearly reached
his nose, was encircled by huge, old
fashioned black satin stock.
He walked straight to the desk as the
office clerk placed the register before
him.
Put it down yourself, sir"' said Mr..
Pipperchirp with brevity and decision:
The clerk, elevating his brOws lnQulr-
ingly, waited, pen in hand, for the old
gentleman's directions.
Hut, hut! No hurry, young man,
Mr.. PIpperchlrp responded. Can L
have my room?"
mo doubt we can oblige you. When
were you here last?'
in the fifties. No. 123. Mr.. Piper
chirp's room. Fine view. Quiet loca-
ton"
THAT was forty years ago, Mr.. Pip
perchirp," replied the clerk softly, as he
ran his eye quickly along the vacant
room card rack.
Hut, hut! What signifies forty years?"
"Quite true. Your room is ready,
SIR"
Put Mr.. Pipperchirp down, then"
MT.-flpp0rcnlfp.'
Hut, hut! There is only one Pipper-
chirp. Write it Mr.. Pipperchirp, Mad
ras."
Old Mr.. Pipperchirp was as radiant
over the transaction as though he had ac-
compllShed life purpose, as perhaps he
had. He beamed upon the clerk, be-
nlgnly feed the inn porters who relieved
the ships steward of his belongings, and
placed whole shining sovereign in the
q J, 10 aA1
ton 10 the latter to go TO the devil, he and
all his yellow-skinned kind, and patting
the polished carvings along the stairs and
Railways as with Homecoming affection
and delight, he joyfully assembled to his
quaint OLD dOrmitory whose windows
opened upon the loaded root.
If old MIR. Pipperchip's individuality
impressed itself at all upon the hundreds
Of other characters at the SlaviStOrk, it
was not because he differed much from
the punclillious and aged throng about
him, but more for the beaming radiance
which seemed to possess him. This
found expression in countless, nOticea-
ble and almost pathetic little ways. For
a time he was busted in journeys of re-
discovery in every strange old corner OF
the ancient inn. "Dear, dear, DEAR" he
would exclaim as he wandered among
the dim old cellars where the mellow
ports and Aadeiras lay sheeted in cob
webs and Bacchanal dreams, lust as
they were in the titties, dear, dear, dear!'
In the reading-room he would lean
ruminatively over a great armchair by
the fireplace and softly chirp, My very
chair, just as it was. Dear, dear, dear!'
Standing by the glass partition where all
may see the unpretentlous, ample cook
ing of olden times, he would press his al
most childish face against the panes and
murmur, They're at it yet, pom my
soul. Dear, dear, dearW In the coffee
room his swapping little eyes would fairly
gloat over the carvings, the plate. the
glasses and edibles, and rubbing his
hands together with glee, he would
confide to his always smiling waiter,
''Ah, my dear boy, mans long way
from home where he can't get glass OF
Bishop or of Sack O. winter nlghts"
And though still much given to rice and
curry, he glowed over the turbot, brill
and salmon, cut from the fish itself, Or
dered wondrOus plates OF grouse, wood
cock. partridge and venison, and bowed
and nodded and crooned to every one he
met With. ''Ah, dear boy! How dye do,
dear boy? Glad to see you back here
again. Dear, dear. deari" as though he
had awakened from half century's
slumber, bright, clipper, and joyous
with deep-heart gladness that all the
things and faces he had loved were here
again to beam back his own happy recog-
milton aud delight.
Not month later the Slavirstork office
clerk one morning saw standing in front
of the desk another dapper little old man,
behind whom was waiting brown faced
ship's steward bearing In his arms
small. stout oaken chest, while his head
and shoulders were swathed and hung
with gaudy rugs, mysterious bundles and
packages of curious knotted canes.
- I frrr flrn -NrT1
said the little old man warningly to the
steward, as the Clerk houueo d pleasan1
good morning.
"Going to leave US, Mr.. Plpperchlrp?"
asked the clerk blandly.
The little old man gave start.
"Bless me, bless me-" he returned
after little, and if as half to himself.
"Can't be possible" And then louder to
the clerk, Young man, how OLD might
you be?'
"Oh, not far from So"
Thought so,' murmured the little old
man obviously. Very strange, very.
probably some one told him about Pip
nercbirp. Only one of us alive. Could Mt
forget the name. Oh, dear, no!''
Re took up the desk pen as if about to
register his name, and then said, hesl-
"Riess me. it's so like home here, if
was ouite sure could have my old room
again I might remain-dear, dear Il
n7ight remain for-for lifen'
IN trouble about it at all, sir. Rooms
vours as long as you like"
"RIess me, bless me! but that is pleas
ont | feared some changes, sir. Indeed
7 did. Dear, dear. dearv' he seemed
IN a tIutter of delight aud wrote his name
i'm the book tremblingly but carefully as
he could, ,,.
Accnctoined as was this ordinarily i'm
,,ortnrbable clerk to the vagaries of &C.
Ppont,ic old men, it gave him something
20 . tIIrn to see the little old man before
~ t';r annarently so pitifully befogged.
Madras and Ballarat were both very
1n,,Cr Tav otf-the one nearly as far from
tho other as the Slavirstork from either,
and Mr.. Pipperchirp must pc 1ailng
rapidly, he sympatnetlcaiiy reilecteu;
But there could be no mistake ABOUT
the matter. There stood the veritaoie
Pipperchirp he had previously assigned
to No. LIB, with the same oIach coae'
waistcoat and trousers, the same capacl-
ous collar and shiny SATIN STOCK, the
same excessively red face, shaggy eye
brows and silvery hair, with snufioo
and silk kerchief in his nanus, ana tne
same futtering delight IN BIS Iace as MS
ewes wandered from old familiar opJect 10
object. 1oo W.
''Show Mr.. Pipperchirp to No. Iz3," ne
said kindly, nodding signlncantiy 10 one
of the hall porters.
sBless me, bless, mel" exclaimed Mr..
Pipperchirp, almost beside hlmseH Win
resentful disappointment; "l25 you mean