The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1904-08-24

nau ndu lne one tHdt was
M M hung like an incubus
ArUuDu my neck ever since l 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. ii is
true, but If it had been prefixed by
John. James or Henry, 1t would have
been in no way distingushable from
IL those borne by the rest OF my neigh
bors- But. unfortunately for me.
had a maternal uncle by the name of
Doolittle Tlckellum.
He was rich and bachelor, with no
nearer relatives than nephews and
-nieces. and. when | came into this
world of toll and trouble. my father.
having 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
IHlOutu Win lue li'd uiutl NUN
most mothers labor that her baby was
considerably brighter and prettier than
other women's babies; in fact. some
thing altogether extraordinary, she
was proportionately indignant at the
suggestion.
was lying. kicking and screeching,
upon her knee, If my photograph tax
hot int Inc ,.ap 40
lied upon. as ordinary a specimen Of
the countless throng Of infant human
!tty 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 pttiest, 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. alludlng 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 a reluctant con
Bent.
But just think, Henry, how horrld
iy II sounds, Doolittle Tlckelluu
Wright! It's perfectly dreadfulr'
"He can change 1t in a few years
before ne is old enough to have it Do
aim any harm, dare say. Your un
Gle is an old man, my dear, and can
live forever"
But he seemed likely to do 50. From
the day that there was thrust upon mi
that luckless name he appeared to tax
new lease of life, ard to grow young
er. instead of Older. every succesilnl
year
Uncle Doolttle was duly informe
of the honor that was done him, I
which he responded very graciouSl
by sending me a silver mug. tOgethe
with the assurance that "if did homo
TO the name il bore he would do som'
thing handsome for me-"
He lived in an adjoining State. Whe
was ten years old my father took m
TO see him. He was a lively, well pr'
served old gentleman, whose full, hori
face was rendered stIll mors full an
fiorid by the snowy hair and beard tina
surrounded Il.
He patted me on the head. hoped tha
would live 10 be an honor to IN
name. repeating the above assurance
''if did he would do something hant
some for me-"
/ had already experienced some q
the disadvantages OF the name I
which he had alluded. and, in spite q
the tutoring I had received from m
father. feeling Of sullen resentmen
swelled by heart, which must hav
found expression in my countenanc,
for the old man shook his head as h
looked at me, saying. In quite anothe
tone:
II hope youII try to be a credit I
It,"
Father" said I. az we walked dow
the steps Into the street. II hate N
name: all the boys laugh and make III
OF H."
"Neyer you mind that, my boy; wht
you get this fine house into your hand
as perhaps you will some day, 1t W
be your turn 10 laugh"
Boy as | was. the idea was a We
con-ollDg one True. my Uncle Do
little had many relatives as we'll
great wealth. but who so likely TO
herit the bulk OF 1t as his namesak
Still. granting this, there were tim
when | felt. in the bitterness OF u
soul. that | was likely to earn dear
all should receive.
shall never forget my first day
school. Mr. Bumbeby, the head ma
ter, had fiery red hair and the fie
temper that usually accompanies
He was IN an unusually irritable mo-
that morning.
Hold up your head and speak so
can hear your he roared, as | falter
out my name.
A litter ran through the long line
boys as I obeyed
Turning very red. Mr.. Bundle
brought the rattan down over |
shoulders with force and energy n
made me dance about very lively.
'I'll teach your he cried, as soon
be could speak. mot to come here WI
any OF your low jokes"
II was some time before could c,
vince him 6at my name was no jok