The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-01-10

afternoon nap by a tit Of coughing. He
was subject TO bronchitis. He took the
red and yellow handkerchief from his
face and laid il across his knees. Then
he fumbled in his pocket and produced
small piece of tissue paper containing
a few sticky glycerine tablets. He car
ried one 10 his mouth with his trembling
fingers, and began TO suck it contented-
~. This indulgence in sweets was his
one extravaganza; but then, as he said
10 Mr.. Peters, "a ha'p'oCth went
long way and seemed to loosen the
throat" Mr. Dinick lived in the two
pair front and Mr.. Peters in the two
pair back; and they were both on the
parish The proximity Of their homes
and the similarity of their circumstances
had induced a strong friendship. They
usually took their tea together, and al
ways their evening pipes, and they had
the same friends. When they went 10
church which they usually did on fine
Sunday mornings, they accompanied
each other and sat side by side, and
when either manifested a tendency 10
slumber the other took upon himself
to touch him sharply in the ribs. Per
haps what bound them together more
than anything else was their mutual
suspicion Of the designs OF the parish
They felt that it grudged them their
haIf-a-crown a week. and would gladly
have seen them settled in 1.-The house,
and each did his best TO keep the other
in health. because. said Mr. Peters, If
YOU or me. Dimck, was 10 be took
with stroke. or "A fit. or any SIGH
thing. off TO the house they'd bundle
US, sure as my eye"
Mr. Dimick was in slightly better cir
cumstances than Mr.. Peters, owing to
the fact that he had a daughter in the
country who had married a chimney
sweep. and who was in tolerable cir
cumstances a disincIination on Mr.
Dirnick's part TO quit the capital. and
the demands her numerous offspring
made upon her time and powers, pre-
vented his living with her. but she made
him with small allowance, which the
little old man accepted gratefully. He
was grateful for most things, and was
very guiIeless and confding; so much so
that his enemies had been wont TO con-
slider him touched In appearance ne
was not unattractive. He was clean,
and his wrinkled skin was pink and
white He had small blue eyes, to which
the tears came very readily. On either
cheek he had a TUT of white whisker;
and his hair, what remained Of it, was
also white. He stopped from the Shout
der and habitually carried his head
slightly 10 one side.
When the sweet was reduced TO min
ute proportions and his cough and the
irritation which induced it had subsided.
Mr. Dimick took his stick and tottered
in to see Mr.. Peters.
Mr.. Peters had also been mapping,
but. reused by Mr. Dimick's entrance. sat
up and cleared his throat noisily. Then
he pointed with his bony forefnger TO
The seat opposite his own, which Mr..
Dimick took in silence. BIr. Peters wore
all his wardrobe at Once but even then
he felt the cold; and he and rheumatism
We're intimate acquaintance.
In appearance Mr.. Peters, did not at
all resemble his friend and neighbOr
There was more of him, and in his
younger days he had been very tall. He
had keen old eyes, with buShy gray eye
brOws above them, a large aQuiline nose,
and the fact that he had only two teeth
remaining in his mouth made the width
Of that feature more striking; there
was, he was wont to remark in his joe
ular moods. space to let for advertise
ments-there was likely TO be more, for
the tenure of the remaining molars was
very insecure, and they had to be treat
ed with great respect
well, Dimick. said he at length,
'and how might you be feelin2 / don't
seem TO have heerd you a-cOughin since
I've been settin' here"
Mr. Peters had a loud voice. and he
always adopted a somewhat patronizing
tone toward Mr. Dimick. The latter
thought he expected 10 be looked up to
and looked up 10 him accordingly. He
had a large bump Of veneration.
oh answered he. in his shrill tones,
Il amt lOokin for my bronchitis steady
for another month to come. Just
touch OCCasiOnal-ain't worth talkin' on.
And how might you be-"
why. for a gentleman Of my years
I'm fairish. I'm gettin' big boy now.
Dimick. Eighty-three next birthday,
Dimick. Ha, har'
This conversation took place daily.
Mr.. Peters made the most OF his small
joke. Mr.. Dimick who was a little deaf,
did not always hear it, but a special
shake Of the head which accompanied
il invariably enlightened him as to the
point at which he ought to laugh.
'Ha, ha"' he said. You're joviaI
chap Peters. Ha- ha. ha, So you're
getting big boy now, are you. Peters?
Wal, l might say as I'm a CROWN boy
myself. but I'm a CROWN downwards.
Peters
Mr.. Dimick had evolved this Joke in
the watches of the night many months
ago. It had done duty steadily since
then
"Ha ha, And so you are You don't
measure what you did. Dimick You
amt 50 upright You'll have to go i'm
for drillin'r
Mr.. Dimick shook his mead
lid have to swallow a poker afore
lid some straight" he said
We'll. how'ld it be TO swallow a CUP
Of tea instead? III just put on the kit
tie to boil But il won't do ter make
II Ike / did this mOTnin'. Why. il was
riling at the time But really now it
strikes me as rayther funny too. 1
billed I'D the kttle yer see, for break
fast, and / put it i'm the teapot And
then / thought I'D be a good boy and
make the room bit tidy first and have
my breakfus in comfort. So I set the
pot on the 'Ob to draw. and i was a look
In forward 70 a nice strong cup And
when 1 set down tC pour it out il hadn't
so much color as a drop Of whisky; it
was just water, and that was all. I'd
clean forgot the tea And there was the
kittle of the boil. Now. YOU know that's
one Of them occasions when swear words
come handy But, lor', now. it do seem
rather funny. me expecting IL TO be so
nice and brown, and out it comes
water"
Dear, dear, dearr' said Mr.. Dinick
land you with such "a good memory
too"
Yes, I've got a good memory. that's
true; but it serves me better for things
a. vxraTy off for