The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1894-08-08

Il
know" OF course, no one satisfied
her impertinent curiosity. We all knew
where we came from, if she didn't,
and some of us held strong opinions
as to Miss MRyberry's ultimate destina-
tion, but that is neither here nor
there.
Still, it was "rather a startler"
when old Mr.. Eggleston, of Ber-
mondsey, came down to Willowtown to
live. He was fabulously rich; he
swallowed peas with his knife and
called them 'marrerfats;" he was i'm
patient, headstrong, choleric, apoplec-
tic. Two important facts saved him
from social ostracism-his aldermanic
dinners and his daughter Sempronia.
1t is not very easy to describe
Sempronia. Her beauty had an
elusive way of defying description.
When she entered room people were
vaguely conscious that something
pleasant had happened. If you were
fortunate enough to take her in to
dinner she confirmed that impression.
Even mock turtle lost its mockery
when she sat beside you. Not that
old Eggleston often put people off
with mock turtle; he was far too fond
of dipping his white beard in the gen.
uine thing to wish to impose imita-
tions on his guests.
Poor Harry Nicholson's troubles,
however, began the first time he dined
at the Egglestons', owing to Mr.. Egg
gleston's ambiguous speech. Mr.. Egg
gleston was gobbling away at his soup,
and only left off to observe that he
Couldn't eat the 'ot 'ouse."
"But, my dear sir" observed
Harry, nothing but an ostrich could
heat your hothouse."
"Don't you be imperenU, young
man." retorted Mr.. Eggleston, "or
you and nell ave words. 1 will 'eat
it if like.
Sempronia threw oil on the troubled
waters, but not before Mr.. Eggleston
had remarked to the remains of his
soup that Harry was ga nordacious
sparrer.
Sempronia was very foud of her
father. She didn't obtrude the fact,
but skilfully contrived to throw her
mantle over him at all the social func-
tions of the neighborhood. 1t soon
became an understood thing that any
one who poked fun at Mr.. Eggleston
had no chance of winning the good
graces of his beautiful daughter. Her
mother had been alady-a very feeble
one--and married Eggleston OH ac-
count of his strongmindedness.
Mrs. Eggleston's relatives were so
astounded by the originality of such
a reason that they cut her. 1t preyed
on Mrs. Eggleston good deal, but
she lived very happily with her hus-
band until Sempronia was born. Then,
like Mrs. Dombey, 'she could't make
an effort" and died People who
saw poor Mr.. Eggleston at that
awful time said that he was as one dis
traught. He sat by the dead woman,
holding her hand, until she was taken
away to the grave. Then he fell down
in fit. He was only prevented from
following his wife into the silent land
by hearing the doctors say he hadn't
chance of living. In order to con-
tradict them he recovered. If he
couldn't "'eat the 'ot 'ouse" it WASH
for want of trying his jaws on every
thing else he came across.
Still, with all his faults, old Mr..
Eggleston was much beloved in Willow
town. His speech when he first took
the chair at the "Penny Readings
was a model of metaphorical research.
'When look round ere" he said,
sticking his determined thumbs well
into his white waistcoat, 81 asks my
self what brings Inc ere, and 1 says tC
maself, says Money I've never
been properly dedicated, but I've made
Money / was born in the gutter
30 to speak, but I've made-Money
/ amt the genuine come-oVer-with
William the -Conqueror aud other-fine
old-crusted-thieves lot (any one car
tell Pm not real Dosset, and only oleo
margarine), but I've made Money
Nobody'd call me new-laid Brahma
I'm only a sixteen n-to-the-shillin' '-and
take-me-bac if h-French-egg, bu
I've made-Money. And now I've
made money mean to spend it Oh
people 1 like, so I'll be very glad il
you'll all come mp to supper when the
performance is over. Mr.. Nicholson
agoin' to sing The cart Bowed Down.
/ don't know what it's bowed dowr
shout, but 1 dessay it's very pretty.