Year: 1871

Were they husband and wife. or
brother and sister.


IL was certain that h. looked ouite
young for married man, and that she
looked altogether too young for a mar
ried woman. Moreover, there wa. a
irolicsomeness in their manner, to each
other. childlike gayeiy in the way
they chased along the beach and
>plashcd each other with pebbles.
which all failed 10 accord with our
grave Anglo-American notions Of
matrimonial modes of felicity.


On the other hand, he was blonde
aud she WAS brunette, he was tall and
she was little. The people at the
Pequot House New London. Connect
cut could not tell what to make OF
tins couple until they had examined
the hotel register, and found them set
down n Mr.. and Mrs. Fred Van
Curler, New York City"


Meantime Mr.. and Mr.. Fred Van
ourler went on frolicking without re-
4"-a ~ rha scrutiny tn which th.v
were subjected, OF to ANYTHING but the
getting as much fun as possible out Of
their summer play spell. At last, tired
with romplng. they seated themselves
on rock by the scashorc and com
menced - Jovial pratilc


"Oh dear | wish ! was rich" cried
this little dot OF a Mrs. Van Curler.
throwing back her ringlets from her
round. hot face. II wish | had ifty
thousand dollars"


Fred laughed at the smallness OF the
sum SO disproportioned TO New York
ideas of what constitutes wealth. and
so indicative OF his wifes country
simplicity.


And what would you do, Mrs. Van,
If YOU had fifty thousand dollars he
asked. Buy the United States and
adjacent oceans:'


Il was going TO say would keep
this up all the year round. But
wouldn't. l would just keep house. |
would have my own house and keep it.
What better can woman do, But
come, Master Freddy, what would YOU
doy


oh. would write big book.
would commence my history of Ven-
ice


Here he tipped her jockey hat over
her eyes. and she retNted by pulling
his hair


BY Jove" almost groaned an cd
bachelor who surveyed these antics.
that girl isn't precisely handsome. but
she's awfully taking. wish had
such one in my hair


Here he thought Of the bald spot on
his crown, drew q decent sigh over the
memories Of perished days, took n
cigar case from his pocket and soothed
himself with a smoke.


1t is a jolly thing to be only twenty
four and not to look more than twenty
one. 1t must also be jolly thing to
have q pretty. good-tempered, gay
little wife of twenty-one, who does not
look more than eighteen. Perhaps it
is not quite so gleesoDe TO be humble
member of the New York press. writ
ing odd scraps here and there tor a
precarious living, and vainly wishing
one had time TO work on q history or a
novel.


Fred Van Curler, as improvident as
the majority Of the scribbling race (but
not, perhaps, more SO than the worship
full human race at large), had married
girl AS poor as himself, and so had
made life one 'dennition grind Fort
unate vas it for him that he had
chosen this girl from among the simple
unambitious, housekeeping, home
loving Dutch girls Of his native country
on the North river. His wife's sole
grievance was that she could not keep
house and do housework. His sole
grievance was that he could not give
her a house and write the history of
Venice in il while she washed the
dishes. To couple who demand so
little of this world let us wish all
possible good fortune.


After delicious day, the first day
that Fannie had ever passed by the
seaside, and therefore full Of wonders
to her-after this memorable day hal
gone brightly and sweetly to its sun
setting-came q whimsical and tor
menting adventure, which proved to
be pregnant with results. Fred Van
Curier had only been asleep an hour or
so when he WAS awakened by q malady
to which be was subject. We will not
name it; medical nomenclature is as
disasIresable - medical potions. The
Sairy Camp mind must be satisfied
with . hint or two. He was In good
deal Of pain and in little danger.


Now this chserfal, seryiceable dot of
. Dutch wife Was jest the wife for
such an emergency. Her little heart,