The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1904-09-24


something altogether extraordinary,
she was proportionately indignant at
the suggestion.
I was lying, kicking and screeching
Upon her knee, if my photograph TAX
en- and at that interesting age can be
relied upon, as ordinary 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 setstrongly be-
fore her the substantial benefits that
might accure to me from this stroke
of policy, alluding to the artful ways
with which Cousin Sophonia, another
feiafNeif6anetriss6dy yaIRqsivHt gfeeaiae
Tommy, she yielded reculuctant
consent.
''But just think Henry, how horrid-
ly it sounds Doolittle Tickellum
Wright It's perfectly dreadful r.
"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, and to grow young
er, instead of older, 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 / did honor
to the name it bore he would do some
thing handsome for me-"
He lived in an adjoining State.
When / was ten years old my father
took me to see him. He was lively,
well preserved old gentleman, whose
full, forid face was rendered still more
full and forid by the snowy hair and
beard that surrounded it.
He patted me on the head, hoped
that / would live to be an honor to
my name, repeating the above assur-
ance-"if I did he would do some
thing handsome for me"
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, feeling of sullen resentment
swelled my 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:
IT hope you'll try to be credit to
it."
"Father," said I, as we walked
down the steps into the street, 81
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 be your turn to laugh. :
Boy as was, the idea was a very
consoling one. True, my uncle Doc
little had many relatives as well az
great wealth, but who so likely to in
herit the bulk of 1t as his namesake
Still granting this there were times
when / felt in the bitterness of my
soul that was likely to earn dearly
all 1 should receive.
/ shall never forget my first day al
school. Mr.. Bumbleby, the head mas
ter, had fiery red hair and the fiery
temper that usually accompanies it
He was in an unusually irritable mood
that morning.
"Hold up your head and speak SO
can hear yOu?" he roared as I faltered
out my name.
A litter ran through the long line
of boys as I obeyed.
Turning very red, Mr.. Bumbeby
brought the rattan down over my
shoulders with force and energy tha'
made me dance about very lively.
"I'll teach your" he cried, as soor
as he could speak, mot to come her
with any Of your low jokes" /"
TWAS some time before / could con
vince him that my name was no jok'
which indeed it was very far from
being to me-and then instead o
! manifesting any regret he bid me tax