The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-06-14

piled that 1t was "only little furry of
p-auI ba 1afs u r.,.

snow n-aud he let it pass.
When I came down later, dressed to 60
out, he was spread out in front of the fire
with his paper, fairly basking in the news.
Mother was fitting aqxiously about the
other end of the room She came to the
door with me. and Iheld my coat sleeve to
say that she would be perfectly wre,ehed as
long as that paper was IN the house.
Mr.. Bigelow hadn't even unfolded it,
she whispered dolefnlly. He was just sit
ting down to his dinner. Fancy how rude
Mrs. Bigelow will think Us! am lowering
round till your father drops of, to pounce
on it and send it back post-haste."
When came home at midnight the house
was dark and quiet. Everybody had gone
to bed, and only one dim light was left
burning for me. tried to rouse spark of
fire in the charred log in the fireplace, for
/ was bitterly cold after my long drive
| but turn it as I would it refused to burn.
| Glancing about, snatched up the first news
paper that came to hand, and stuffing 1T
under the wood, made jolly blaze, warmed
myself, and went to bed.
| The next morning slept late. All that
passed during that period l must relate
from hearsay.
| Mother woke with start in the middle
of the night (this is the verbal testimony of
said witness) and remembered with cold
chill that the evening paper had not been
returned. She had gone 10 bed before her
better half had finished the last advertise
ment, and had forgotten all about it. She
lay there thinking about it, about the Bige-
lows, about the storm, which would delay
the trains, and prevent any more papers
being brought until Monday, perhaps Tues
day or Wednesday, or dear knows when !!
nd cho nd he
borrowing of the Post grew to the proper
tions of crime, the displeasure of the
Bigelows hung over her like death SEN
tence, and the future loomed up black
wall unpierced by the smallest pinhole of
light.
So Gas she testifies) she lay suffering until
dawn, and with the first giimmer rose and
crept down to the sitting room-but the
paper was not there. It was nowhere. She
called a rally to the hunt; servants and
family all were routed out of bed and
pressed into the chase, which took its course
through the cellar and mounted up to the
third story, where | slept peacefully through
it all-that is, kept my eyes closed and
breathed heavily. Every possible and
Ger tainly every impossible covert was
beaten up, but they didn't even get scent
Of it !; and when they finally gathered about
the breakfast table (the hunt breakfast as
it were) at an unseasonably early hour,
sleepy and disgruntled their nerves were in
that highly sensitive state that is respon
sive to a pinprick.
Surely you have taken part in one of
those family talks that begin mildly with
some abstract, impersonal topic of discus
sion, and end with a wrangle about the
way you do your back hair. They are quite
necessary now and then from sanitary
point of view. All the family grievances
get an airing, which would otherwise rot
and corrupt a persons temper. Your
domestic skeleton, if you have one, is hauled
out of his closet and gets a chance to venti-
late his old bones. #
j know them so well! The first amiable
words always chime ominous1y in my ears,
which detect them as only the pleasant pro-
logue of tragedy. This time l did not
put in an appearance until the last act was
on, but even if all that preceded it had not
been conscientiously related to me, could
have given you faithful summing up, just
by a course of reasonin backward.
Who was it Wrote Of the Natural
Depravity Of Inabimate things'?" asked
father pleasantly, sharpening the carver.
ASK Mr.. Bigelow," suggested Fred
He might tell YOU the author of some of the
ul1ndIUTal utpTHNiU1eS We KNOW dDouL.
3"He might add some reflections on ami
mate things,p said jack. .-As,
tt'Its very easy to Joke about it now,"
sighed mother, but it won't be so easy to
explain it."
Nonsense !" exclaimed father You'd
suppose I'd borrowed note for thousand
dollars instead of three-cent paper"
''It isn't the value of it," mother said,
pouring coffee with sad reproach. ITS the
Inconvenience it causes. The want of a three
cent thing can give one thousand dollar in
convenience at times"
"Or thousand dollar rage" laughed
Charlie.
g. Nonsense - repeated father. It's not
worth so much discussion. You're making
great ado about nothing.n
But putting the paper out of the ques-
ton, +" said mother, with the gentle insistance
of a goat with its head against your back
she took an opportunity when Wilson was out
of the room it ought to be lesson. 1t is
always so. foresee certain effects froE1 GER
tain causes; warn you-I have had little
experience, / do know a little something
about human nature-but you take your own
way, and "-she gave an expressive gesture
with her spoon-''it it was just so with the
mortgage on the house u
Her victim swore-a tribute he was never
known to refuse to this particular gadfly.
q For goodness sake, mother! !" cried Wal
ter, after routing US all up ss such brutal
hour, at least let US eat in peace"
Routing you up!" father echoed with
mild irony It's 10 o'clock and after.
Really, Walt, your ideas are growing more
extravagant every day. 1 have meant to
speak of it; both you and Fred have grown SO
luxurious in your ideas since you went to col
lege that you are really becoming effeminate.
You don't know what hard work and respect
able hours mean. When was your age -
''Ah but standards have changed" F." inter
rupts mother with maternal zeal
''And papa, DEAR" from peace-making
Amy, remember that you only see the boys
when they are at home-in their holi-
''Do be quiet !" cried Fred. "We can
fight our own battles. Let him rip--Iet him
rip"-and the youngest born, the Benjamin,
tilted back in his chair and met the full gaze
father turned on him with one of lazy inso-
lence
''While you sit at my table, said father
Jelly, I" / require that you have the manners
of a gentleman"
''Then ought TO be treated like one," re-
torted Fred, and not like a small boy in
Knickerbockers."
This elected sharp reproof from Charlie,
capped by another from Jack, who was i'm
personatng the eldest brother in my absence.
This in turn struck spark of partisanship
f,o,,, .;,to, n,,r @ofE,H ar fba f;rJor ~, Tho