The Grit-advocate., 1900-04-13
THE COMEDY OF 1T.

The Hennesseys and the Whimpetts
we're at 1t again. 1t was the revival of
an ancient unpleasantness, and 1t had
its beginnings in the fact that when
Mick Hennessey. for reasons not nec-
essary to mention, was laid OF at the
stockyards, Bill Whimpett vert In and
took his job. Immediately upon this,
Nora Hennessey, as bad luck would
have it, fell i'll with rheumatism, and,
while she was in bed. little Pat, who
was -, got into bad company, and TAX
ing the bit in his teeth as young colts
will now and then. he ran away. It
was three months before he turned up
again at home, and when he did hs had
acquired good deal of knowledge
which boy of 10 can do nicely with
out. All of which the Hennesseys laid
at the door Of the Whimpetts. Indeed
and indeed, when Mary Whimpett
ventursd over to the Hennesseys with
q baking of warm bread-that was
while Nora Hennessey was in bed-she
got her trouble for her pains. and the
bread flung back at her.
In the course OF time both families
would have been we'll enough pleased
to have duttsred flag OF truce. but a
perverse fate attended all efforts at
reconciliation. II the grown folks were
in a mood for amity, the youngsters
gave each other bloody noses. and the
respective mothers, fierce as tigrssses,
espoused the part Of their young.
Moreover, Mick got place on the Hal
sted street line as grip driver. and the
nrst thing he did was to run over the
Whimpett's terrier. The terrier had
been more petted by the Whimpetts
than any child they ever owned. and
the death was celebrated with solem-
nifty.
The Whimpetts had, moreover, some
cause for envyings. They were better
OF than they had ever been before in
their lives. They enjoyed the distinc-
tion of a front nat, piano. a new set
of parlor furniture and some fow-
cred dishes-126 pieces, including
scimitar-shaped dishes for the rinds OF
baked potatoes. With such conven-
fences it is possible to live in an ele-
giant manner. Jack Whimpett had.
moreover, gone to Cuba at the call of
his country. and though he was now
engaged in rolling barrels OF sugar and
-four from the trucks OF q wholesale
grocery house he made bold to wear his
blue Jacket and buff leggins and the
slouch hat that suggested San Juan
and other heroic episodes. But with
the Hennesseys 1t was different. They
had seen much better days, and 1t was
not easy for them to forget it. When
methods were simpler, Mick Hennes-
sey had been a contractor and had
made money. But figuring got too
close, finally, and Mick made blunders.
lost his property and his reputation.
and had the pain of seeing his family
move out of their imposing three-story
brick into an apartment beside the
Whimpetts. However, they still lived
in the shadow of prosperity, for Mrs.
Hennessey's sister, Kate Cragin OF
Boston, had the goodness to keep Rose
marie Hennessey at the convent, a
fact which the Hennesseys f1outed now
and then before the Whimpetts. who
sent their brood to the public school
and had expectations of nothing bet
ter.
Keep you clear Of that Rosemarie
Hennessey!" warned Mrs. Whimpett.
speaking to her son the day before the
girls expected return.
"Heh!" shifted Jack. I've no need
to go to the Hennesseys. hope. to find
a girl to my liking"
Say, there's others, amt there,
Jack" piped Dick, who knew things