The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1922-12-29
v-continued.

door. returning at noon from MS Oh
fee, when Hamilton Swift, Juniors,
voice came piping from the library,
where he was reclining in his wagon
by the window.
"Cousin David Beasley! Cousin Da-
vid, come a-running!" he cried. Come
a-running The Hunchbergs are here!"
OF course Cousin David Beasley
came a-running, and was, Immediately
introduced to the whole Hunchberg
family, ceremony which old Bob,
who was with the boy, had previously
undergone with courtly grace.
"They like Bob" explained Hamil-
ton. Don't you, Mr.. Hunchberg? Yes,
he says they do extremely" (He used
such words as extremely" often in
deed, as Dowden said, be talked like
a child In book" which was due, |
dare say, to his English mother.) sand
I'm sure" the boy went on, that all
the family will admire Cousin David.
Yes, Mr.. Hunchberg says, he thinks
they will"
End then (.s Bob told mel he went
almost out Of his head with joy wheG
Beasley offered Mr.. 'Hunchberg cigar
and struck a match for him to light it.
'.But wharf, exclaimed the old
darky. ''whar in de name O de good
Gawd do de chile get dem names? Hit
lax to skeer mel"
That was subject often debated
between Dowden and me: there was
nothing in Wainwright that could have
suggested them, and it did not seem
probable he could have remembered
them from over the water. In my, opin-
ion they were the inventions OF that
busy and lonely little brain.
met the Hunchberg family, myself.
the day after their arrival, and Beas-
ley, by that time, had become so well
acquainted with them that he could
remember all their names. and helped
in the introduction. There was Mr..
Hunchberg evidently the child's ia
vorite, for he was described as the
possessor of every engaging virtue
and there was that lively matron, Mrs.
Hunchberg; there were the Hunchberg
young gentlemen, Tom, Noble and
Grandee; and the young ladies, Miss
Queen, Miss Marble and Miss Molanna
all exceedingly gay and pretty.
There was also Colonel Hunchberg, an
uncle; finally there was Aunt Cooley
Hunchberg, somewhat decrepit but
very amiable old lady. Mr.. Corley
Linbridge happened to be calling at
the same time; and, as 1t appeared to
be Beasley's duty to keep the CONVEX
sation going and constantly to include
all of the party in its general flow, it
struck me that he had truly (as Dow
den said) enough to keep him busy"
The Hunchbergs had lately moved
to Wainwright from Constantinople, !
learned; they had decided not to live
in town, however, having purchased a
fine farm out in the country, and, on
account of the distance, We're able to
cali at Beasley's only about eight
times day, and seldom more than
twice in the evening. Whenever a
mystic telephone announced that they
were on the way, the child would have
himself wheeled to window; and
when they came in sight he would cry
out in wild delight, while Beasley has
tened to open the front door and ad-
nit them.
They We're so real to the child, and
Beasley treated them with such con-
sistent seriousness, that between the
two of them sometimes began to feel
chat there actually were such people,
and to have moments of half-surprise
that / couldn't see them; particularly
as each of the Hunchbergs developed
character entirely his own to the
last popularity, such as the aged
Aunt Cooley Hunchberg's deafness, on
(which account Beasley never forgot to
raise his voice when he addressed her.
Indeed, the details of actuality in all
this appeared to bring as great de-
light to the man as to the child. Ger
tainly he built them up with infinite
care. On one occasion when Mr..
Hunchberg and happened to be call
ing, Hamilton remarked with surprise
that Simpledoria had come into the
room without licking his hand as he
usually did, and had crept under the
table. Mr.. Hunchberg volunteered the
information Through Beasley) that
upon his approach to the house he had
seen Simpledoria chasing cat. 1t
was then debated whether chastise-
ment was in order, but finally decided
that Simpledoria's surreptitious man
ner Of entrance and his hiding under
the table were sufficient indication
1 that he well understood his baseness.
Ind vAuld never let it happen again.
- Beasley having coaxed him
|m under the table, the offender
)" begged. and was forgiven. ]
lmost feel the splendid shaggy
er my hand when, in turn.
hpnledoria to show that the
on was unanimous.