The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1908-09-01
PAUL AND PAULINA OR
: WHICH WAS WHICH.
By Ethel Thomas.
* X & X i K i y

he stood by his wife's bed and gazed
in awe at the two little bundles Of
pink and white, nesting in the cradle.
No father was ever more agreeably
surprised and his assumed look of
gravity and dismay was comical to
say the least. Mary saw the twinkle
in her husbands eyes and smiled.
The good doctor laughed.
"Ha, ha! Well, two babies are not
so many for couple who have been
married five years. Now, there's
Sam Brown and wife been married
six wears and have ski" "Sam
Brown to the dickens! Doctor don t
mention that drunken brute's ba-
bies in the same breath with mine!'
'Poor SAM" mused the doctor, "He
was only a moderate drinker at first,
John, just like other and better men
have been. I remember so we'll when
the first baby came to his house. A
few nights before, he had gone home
beastly drunk for the first time. He
was noble young man and thorough
ly ashamed of himself, and when he
looked on his blue-eyed baby boy, a
perfect miniature of himself, the tears
flowed freely down his cheeks and
kneeling to kiss the little one, he
whispered to his wife that he would
never get drunk again. For long
time, Sam kept his word, but his do
mestic life was such that he was drlv-
en- to the wine cup again and seemed
to be in a desperate hurry to drink
himself to death. Now, he is a mis-
erable wreck beyond all hope of re-
demption. And, John, I am more
sorry for Sam Brown than I could be
for man who had always had peace
and happiness around his fireside and
had deliberately chosen an intemper-
ate life and INDUCED in habits that
brought desolation, misery and des-
pair
A guilty flush suffused John Dali
tons face as he glanced at the doc
tor, wondering if ''that sermon" was
meant for him. He had never been
drunk-never expected to be-and II
he chose to take an occasional drink
it was no ones business. There was
nothing in the doctors face to war;
rant the suspicion and with sigh OF
relief John exclaimed: "GeeWilihns!
doctor, of course Sam has my pro-
found sympathy-but III be perfect
" honest and confess that at present
I'm more interested in these-these-
here" pointing to the babies. Chow
are we ever TO tell i'm apart7 Zounds
man! there aint particle Of differ
ence-they re precisely aike!' stam-
mered John in confusion.
The doctor was enjoying poor
Johns embarrassment and always on
the lookout for an opportunity to
tease, would have had some fun at
Johns expense, had not Mary caught
her husbands hand, drew him toward
her and whispered:
'sThere's a difference in the sex,
dear!'
ssThank the Lord! never thought
of that" fervently calculated the IA
ther, wiping imaginary drops Of pers-
piration from his brow.
"And I'll bet quarter there's not
an ounce Of difference in their weight.
which is almost seven pounds each, "
said. the doctor.
(Which is the boy doctors' asked
John, quizical expression in his blue
eyes. The old fellow came and look
ed down on the little darlings and
frowned, "Blessed if know, man!
Aunt Dilsie-'' "Yas sir-dis un am
de boy-I dressed him fust yo' know
to keep 'em frum> gittin mixed up,
'se gwine ter keep day boy chile at
one end ov de cradle, an de gal at
de 'udder end. I amt nebber had no
'sperunse wild twins, an de- Lawd
onlv knows how Use gwine ter man
age 'em. Jake-he out in de kitchen
dis mint cuttin de pigeon wing kase
dar's two twins, sayin' he gwine to
take dat boy chile clean outten Miss
Mary's hans an 'ieve her ov all de
trubble soon as hit kin sot up. Reck-
in it's good think dar am one apiece
fur me an Jake to spile-kase> if dar
wus only one we'd shortly have 1t
ruint teetotle," said the black nurse,
who with her husband, Unkle Jake
=. ..,~, 1orr no hin O short dis