Year: 1872

spAexes than home had ever furnished.

 let somehow never got the better of my sitDation; Mir. Needham was one of tlose non who never took hint, and nev- CT got angry. He was not, indeed, act uaiiy h my path at any time; but he took my wife away from me, and from her du- ties, which she was always too ready to desert. When tried to remonstrate she would ask, in the prettiest coaxing way in the world, what an old fellow like me would want pretty young girl to shut herself up for? Was that why, I married her, to make her nun etc. and her pretty red lips would pucker up for a cry; and would give in for time, though sorely against my better judgment in eve ry case. At last concluded to try house. keeping, hoping that if caged my bird she might sing me some sweeter strains than I had yet heard. therefore hired a furnished house up town, moved my wife and babies, and prepared for different order of things.

 remember we'll one night in Decem- Der that I returned to my home after a few days absence from town on business. It was a ralny, cold and blowy evening, and the thought of hot supper, and gen ial warmth of the fire before bed, was em- inently delightful to my benumbed and wearied frame. As I came toward my house was struck by the briIliancy of the lighted windows; little nearer and the squeak of violin reached my tired ears, with the familiar voices of hackmen screaming to each other as they set down their loads. The house was small and the crush was great; not place remained for me on the steps to poise my travelling bag, while I crept over on the balcony to take look through the open windows. There I saw a sight that caused both rage and scorn-my father-in-law standing at the head of quadrille with young lady of sweet sixteen; my wife flirting in cor nar with 8 youth whose appearance was as strange to me as mgr appearance would have been to him.

 As l was chewing the cud of bitter meditation, and wondering how I should get my tired and muddy self up stairs un. seen, hired waiter came out, and order ed me off the balcony.

 'Be off with you, my good man," he said, ln patronizing tone; ''don't be 8 staring at the people inside; it's not po- lite; here's ten cents for you and go away quietly" Iput down my bag, and was just about collaring the man, when I heard Toms familiar voice as he was coming up the steps; so dropped my hold of the walters arm and, seizing Tom by the coat tails, compelled his attention. Many explanations followed. Tom informed me that this was Florry's house. warming to which every one of her acquaintances fal and near had been invited, and in conse- quence not even half of them could get in the house.

 ''Maria said she couldn't leave the child ren, said Tom; ''but thought I'd step round and see how things looked. Flor " said she hoped you'd be- back in time to open the ball yourself; but if not, hel father would be on hand to assist her"

 ''1 believe that old fool has put it ali in to her head" said I, in wrath; ''she never said word about it before went away. And what has she done with the children, pray?"

 "Oh, they are safe at her sisters. Don't fret, Charley; it isn't your affair at any rate, and it will all turn out nicely, Ihave no doubt; particularly if your father-in-

 '"That he will never do, said I, in the last depth of despair; ''and as for that, Tom, would rather have had a dozen

 

 Needham in my family"

 Here Tom opened his mouth to pour out his own peculiar griefs, never very fal from his lips, but a sudden dash of rain from the conductor deluged us both, and We concluded to beat a retreat from the scene of festivity.

 This reception at my home was certain ly not such as my imagination had DOT trayed; but all my adventures were not over for the evening. declined Toms invitation to return with him, and after some hesitation, concluded to ask per. mission of my next-door neighbor to pass up through his house and over his exten- sion-roof upon mine, on which my bed room window conveniently opened. l found, however, that the room was in use as dressing room for ladies, and the halls were so crowded that to escape de tection I had to hide in the bath room till the guests should have departed.

 l was so tired that, alters few moments, had no power left to sustain myself even in sitting position; so, placing my bag under my head, fell into slumber that would probably have lasted all night but for a.sudden interruption. My father-in. law, 1t seems was waiting to escort 8 young lady to her carriage, and had taken his station at the head of the stairs while she put on her wraps. In the fatigue con. sequent upon the various capers he had cut that evening he naturally leaned against the bathroom door; naturally the door hit my recumbent legs, which were stretched out just within the threshold naturally my injured limbs resented the insult, and with one awful bang sent my father-in-law from the top of the stairs tc the bottom.

 Fortunately the party was just breaking up; nearly all the people had gone, and the disturbance this accident created did not last very long. Florry, who came ul to discover the true cause of the disaster found me on the bathroom floor vainly endeavoring to stifle the laughter could not suppress; and when she saw that was neither afflicted nor apologetic for the mischief I had done she was offended be yond forgiveness; indeed I think she nev CT felt the same to me afterward.

 After all it was nothing very serious MT. Needham was only little bruised and in a few days was quite himself again but not so with his pride, which was hurt irrecoverably. My father-in-law and AAOA@A uA10e UOO0AAC hAttASOI11Sb1C, and, as Florry backed up her father oul domestic hearth was not warmed solely b, the fires of affection. I took, however much pleasure in my two little daughters and with them and the kind sympathy O Tom I managed to live out few nor. uncomfortable years. -.--.

 Just about this time there was grand Inauguration Ball in Washington, tt which my unlucky wife and her absurd father were bent on going together. B, this time Florry and I did not interfer1 much with each other; we had given it ul long before; but exerted my authority to try and prevent this ridiculous journeJ but 1t was of no use whatever. Florry ani her father went on to Washington, ani staid some weeks after the ball, indulging in all sorts of dissipation. In coming home they met with one of those deten tions so common on our railroads. Flor ", always imprudent, had not provided for an emergency of cold or hunger. Tn result on her worn out frame was such & might easily have been foreseen. Sh, took violent cold, had fever on hel when brought home, and, aftera fev weeks of suffering and struggle, left he