The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1904-09-08

H. had had the one that was
81 IA hung like an incubus
arOunu my neck ever since was old
enough to have any name at ALL, he
would have sung quite another tune.
ascribe to mine all the misfortunes
that have followed me from that time
to this. and which have been neither
few nor light.
My paternal cognomen is Wright.
Not remarkable for elegance, it is
true, but if it had been pre6xed by
John, James or Henry, it would have
been in no way distinguishable from
those borne by the rest of my neigh
bors. But, unfortunately for me. l
had q maternal uncle by the name of
Doolittle Tickellum.
He was rich and bachelor. with no
nearer relatives than nephews and
nieces, and. when I came into this
world of toll and trouble, my father,
having a fatherly eye to my future
needs, proposed that should be named
for him.
To do my mother justice, at first she
strenuously opposed it. Thoroughly
imbued with the idea under which
most mothers labor that her baby was
considerably brighter and prettier than
other wonlen's babies; in fact, some
thing altogether extraordinary, she
was proportionately indignant at the
suggestions
was lying, kicking and screeching,
upon her knee, if my photograph tax
en- at that interesting age can be re-
lied upon, as ordinary a specimen Of
the countless throng Of infant human
ity as it is possible to imagine. But
catching me rapturously to her bosom,
she nearly smothered me with kisses.
declaring that was an itty, precious
darling; the pittiest, thweetest baby
that ever was! And that papa ought
to be ashamed of himself to think Of
giving it such a horrid name"
But when my father set strongly be-
fore her the substantial benefits that
might accrue to me from this stroke
of policy, alluding to the artful ways
with which Cousin Sophronia, another
of the nieces, tried to interest our rich
relative in her spoiled, disagreeable
Tommy, she yielded reluctant con.
gent.
''But just think, Henry, how horrid"
" it sounds! Doolittle Tickellum
Wright! It's perfectly dreadful!'
"He can change it in few years
before he is old enough to have it do
him any harm, dare say. Your un-
Gle is an old man, my dear, and can't
live forever"
But he seemed likely to do so. From
the day that there was thrust upon me
that luckless name he appeared to take
a new lease of life, ard to grow young
er, instead of olde1, every succeeding
year.
Uncle Doolittle was duly informed
of the honor that was done him, to
which he responded very graciously
by sending me silver mug, together
with the assurance that "if I did honor
to the name it bore he would do some
thing handsome for me-
He lived in an adjoining State. When
I was ten years old my father took me
to see him. He was lively, we'll pre-
served old gentleman. whose full. forid
face was rendered still more full and
florid by the snowy hair and beard that
surrounded it.
He patted me on the head. hoped that
I would live to be an honor to my
name. repeating the above assurance
''if l did he would do something hand
some for me-"
I had already experienced some of
the disadvantages of the name to
which he had alluded. and, in spite of
the tutoring I had received from my
father. 4 feeling of sullen resentment
swelled by heart, which must have
found expression in my countenance,
for the old man shook his head as he
looked at ME. saying, in quite another
tone:
II hope you'll try to be 4 credit to
it."
Father" said I. as we walked down
the steps into the street. Il hate my
name: all the boys laugh and make fun
OF it,
"Never you mind that, my boy: when
you get this fine house into your hands.
as perhaps you will some day, it will
ha your tl1rn to 1a,1rh -
Boy as was. the idea was very
consoling one. True, my Uncle Doo-
little had many relatives as we'll us
great wealth. but who so likely to III
herit the bulk Of it as his namesake:
Still. granting this, there were times
when l felt, in the bitterness Of my
soul. that was likely to earn dearly
all / should receive.
shall never forget my first Gay ct
school. Mr.. Bumbleby. the head mas
ter, had fiery red hair and tie. fiery
temper that usually accompanies it.