The record-union., 1894-12-15
THE TOUR OF THE LESSINGS.

copyright, S94, by Edgar L. Wakeman. All
rights reserved.l
The Lessings, from an interior hamlet
of the great commonwe wealth of New Y Ork,
in a condition of suppressed excitement,
were at last huddled into compact little
circle upon the promenade deck of a
huge ocean liner ready for its departure
from the port of New York Tor its race
across the sea.
The family of LeSsings comprised John
Wesley Lessing, miller and proprietor of
Midtown; his wife, Mrs. Frances Leland
LesSing, church, circle and society pillar
of MilltOwn; their elder daug hter, Helen
Loring Lessing, who had recently APP
peared in the Ptenthury magazine as the
author of an ineXplicable sonnet to
Cause" their younger daughter, Cathe-
rine Lessing, an irrepressible nature
with common tastes like those of her
hard working father; and the Lessing's
only son, Washington Lincoln Lessing,
tall. spare, sallow youth, who had re-
Gently been matriculated into the athletic
curriculum of Yale.
The LessIngs were in their very best
AZURE, dS IISl tIlpp6IS always are, dHu
they attracted much attention as Mrs.
Lessing had fondIy hoped they would.
I'VE must put our best loot forward,
John Wesley" Mrs. Lessing had many
times said during their several weeks
eXacting preparations. We'll have our
two girls with US, you know, and there
has been them, not half as rich as us,
that's brought from Yerrup more'n they
tookn'
dispose there has, wife," Mr.. Lessing
would retort with a tWlnge OF anxiety.
but this Yerrup business is mighty
costly business. It'll take ten thousand
barrel o. th' best patent roller, T. even it
up"
What's flour,'' Mrs. Lessing would
reply, shudderingly and crushingly, ITO
advancement? What's flour to seeing
our Helen soaring among the Literary?
What's flour in the balance with station
an dignity an being like them that's
always had things? 'Taint to be con-
sidered in the same century, John Wes-
ley"
Looks like 'twasn't," he would groan,
as he ordered the shorts ground a little
closer, reduced wages and bought his
letters OF credit.
The mother, daughters and son were
already in their great deck chairs, whose
backs had been ornamented with the
word ''Lessing" in guilt. The father,
reduced to an aggressive defensive state
by the torments Of preparation, had his
chair securely folded, beneath him, along
with divers articles OF luggage. One
hand grasped the handles of several port
manteaus. The other arm encIrcled
half-dozen umbrellas and an assortment
OF shawls and rugs.
His hat had been smashed down over
his knobby head by the hurried passing
of stewards and passengers, and his un-
happy face was screwed together, with
"A III
whole mental and physical nature was
braced against some anticipated sudden
shock.
George Washington Lessing, his little
nut-like and hairy head supported by
walking stick big as his arm and as long
as his leg, and seemingly absorbed in
some obSUruse university football calcu-
lus, gave no one trouble, beyond an oc-
casional brief and suffering remark to
the effect that there was nothing TO be
excited about, whereupon he always set
tied back into the labyrinths of his edu-
cational problems.
Catherine, Kate or Kit" as she was
variously termed by the different MEM
bers of the Lessing family, was on her
feet half the time, Qulverlng bundle OF
wriggles and giggles. "Oh, my!' era
cious mer' and "Biess us!" were contin-
ually escaping, along with the most rip
pling laughter that ever was heard, from
animated scene around her, while no in
1iuence of reproof from her mother, Sis
ter and brother, and only an occasional
glance at the pitiful contortIons OF her
1ather's face, could repress her.
Helen Loring Lessing, note book in
hand, with rich wrapplngs held carefully
about her by her mothers tat arms,
seemed to be in a condition of tremulous
though gentle emotion, alter the manner
of fine literary natures. She looked with
pitying contempt upon the commoner
ones of her own blood, or from time 10
time cast wise and comprehensive glances
at the throngs upon the pier, along deck,
or again into the blue arc above, as ii to
kick the ladder from under her too rapid
flights of fancy, and then, having tum-
bled her bright inspirations all about her,
would write few jerky sentences with
extraordinary physical vigor.
Mrs. Frances Leland Lessing sat glow
ingly beside her literary daughter. Her
eyes quivered with pride as she saw how
much this tour was to be to the hope of
the Lessing family. She construed ali
the activity and excitement of the inter
esting scene something in the nature of
personal tribute and distinction.
There surely had never been so lovely
day for steamers sailing. That meant
something. The myriad of flowers
brought aboard TO departing friends
could certainly not have come in such
vast quantities were the LeSSlngS of Mill
town not there to enjoy them. The
steamer had actually been freshly paint
ed. That was no mean portent. Busy
and excited as they all might be. everv
one that passed halted and bestowed
upon the family a no ordinary gaze, and
this was not 10 be forgotten.
''Oh, if the editor OF the PlenthatYy
could see US now!' Mrs. Lansing mur-
INJURED raptly to her daughter Helen.
Now, indeedn' she responded haught-
ily, catching another creature of her
fancy upon her pencil point as it fell.
Wouldn't he enjoy it, though!' re-
torted the wicked Catherine with a mis-
chievous laugh. Just you and Helen
and mumpish brother there, and poor old
PopP' Here she gave the exhausted
miller merry little dig.
"Why, he'd have you four in the Brio
Brac' funny page if it cost"
''Cost-cosI? l should think sop
blurted Mr.. Lessing with a start, OPEN
ing his eyes wide and instantly squeezing
them together again. 'More'n ten thou
sand barrel"
Poor, dear papa!" exclaimed Cathe-
r.ne with an sffectionate pinch of his
pudgy red cheek. Back at Alilltown
figuring on flour. aren't you now? Dear
old mills! l wish we could take them
along with usp'
'John Wesley Lessing!" exclaimed