The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-05-08

cred bags of nuts in the attic; and all
over the house there seemed AM bun-
dance of material to make the nest
for that wonderful coming family. 1t
was decided to place this in the cor
ner OF the sitting room sofa, as being
a warm and sheltered spot; and Chip
and his wife brought together there
the most beautiful heap you could
desire of papers and rags and lace
and flannel. Mr.. Munk gnawed
hole through the sitting-room carpet
and floor into the cellar to provide
speedy exit in ease of surprises; and
no bugs in any rugs we're ever 80 coy
as this little family when at last the
six baby Munks were curled up in the
soft nest. 1t is true that what seemed
likely at first to be serious differ
ence of opinion between Mr. and Mrs.
Munk grew out of gnawing the hole
through the carpet, Mrs. Chip claim
ing that they had no right to destroy
other peoples property.
"But, my dear Black eyes" argued
her husband, "your ides are entirely
overstrained. We are destroying
nothing. Do we not know by expe-
rience that another carpet will soon
Gomez Have we not seen how it is
in the pine woods? New carpets
come there every year, and all holes
are covered when one season has
gone by. Trust your husbands
principles, and all will go WE'LL"
It was the same with the blankets,
portions of which Chip removed to
line the nest. Mrs. Munk was again
strong on the rights of property
holders, but Chip proved to her con-
clusively that the corners OF the
blankets were never put to any use,
and it was the corners only that he
gnawe off. Still, these disagree
ments were merely specks in the blue
of domestic happiness, for the little
Munks were really-well, they really
were, you know, something out of the
ordinary in beauty and intelligence
Their eyes were as black as ripe
apple.seeds, their little bare bodies
were soon covered with glossy fur,
and their tails, though somewhat
skinny and ratlike at first, gave every
promise of future fluff like pam
pas plume.
And the house was so warm and
sheltered, and held such educational
advantages! When the six babies
grew strong and active, and had
learned to climb the sofaback, and
the rocking chair, and the soapstone
stove, their mother decided to extend
to them the cultivating influences Of
art. Every room in the house was
hung with pictures, and the young
Munks were guided to different ap'
artment each day, and hidden to ex
anime with eye and nose and paw
such masterpieces as hung upon the
walls, to slide down the cords, to rur
around the frames, and in every pos
sible way to learn the picture thoro
ughly. This was sometimes disas
trous to the picture, it is true, bu
was source of much pleasure anc
profit to the Munks, and, as ChiE
wisely said, the greatest good of tn,
greatest number is always to bt
sought in these matters.
One day the six little Munks founG
on the parlor table framed picture
which they took to be sketch of ont
of their famous ancestors about whom
their father had often told them
Chip and his wife, on being notified
hurried to the parlor to behold the
discovery, which proved indeed to bt
an undoubted family portrait. Sit
ting on the table, with as many Of
his children on his knee as he could
conveniently hold, while the rest
perched on the lamp shade, Chip
with his voice broken by sobs, told Of