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He acted pretty much as all children do that is, pretty much as Henry did to-night. But Pelby couldn't endure it with any kind of patience." "Ha! ha!" laughed out Mrs. Manly, in spite of herself. "How completely the tables have been turned!" "Yes, they have been, certainly. But what is a little singular is, that neither of the parties concerned seem to have gained wisdom by their experience.
Now it so happened about this time, that Mr. and Mrs. Manly and Mr. and Mrs. Little were spending an evening with Mr. and Mrs. Pelby.
Little was relieved, although her collar was disfigured for the evening past hope. After a while tea was announced, and the company sat down. "Me toffee! me toffee!" cried Henry, stretching out his hands impatiently. "Me toffee, ma! me toffee, ma!" as soon as Mrs. Pelby was seated before the tea-tray, and had commenced supplying the cups with cream and sugar. "Yes yes Henry shall have coffee.
Next he began to dive into his pockets, revealing pen-knife, tooth-pick, etc. etc. This was worse than to let him have the watch; and so, as a lesser evil, the gold lever was again drawn from its hiding-place. The little fellow was once more wild with delight. But Pelby was so evidently annoyed, that Mr. Little could not help observing it; and he at length said to his wife
Pelby! Good evening, Mr. Manly! I am glad to see you! Mrs. Little and I were just saying that we wished some friends would step in." "Well, how do you do this evening, Mrs. Little?" said Mr. Pelby, after they were all seated. "You look remarkably well. And how is your little family?" "We are all bright and hearty," Mrs. Little replied, smiling. "Little Tommy has just gone off to bed.
"More toffee, ma!" This time louder and more impatiently. To keep the peace, a second cup of milk and water had to be prepared, and then Mrs. Pelby finished waiting on her company. But it soon appeared that the second cup had not really been wanted, for now that he had it, the child could not swallow more than two or three draughts.
The Boston veteran speaks proudly of the old Federal and the old Tremont, of Mary Duff, Julia Pelby, Charles Eaton, and Clara Fisher, and is even beginning to gild with reminiscent splendour the first days of the Boston Theatre, when Thomas Barry was manager and Julia Bennett Barrow and Mrs. John Wood contended for the public favour.
Ten years ago, Pelby, then a trim bachelor, as nice and particular as any of the tribe, said, in allusion to Tommy Little 'If that were my child, I would half kill him but what I'd make a better boy of him!" "He did?" "Yes, those were his very words. We were spending an evening at Mr. and Mrs. Little's, and when Tommy was about two years old or so; and Pelby was terribly annoyed by him.
"Oh, let him sit, mother!" interfered Mr. Pelby. "The little dear don't understand waiting as we do." "Yes, but, father, it is time that he had learned. Tea isn't near ready yet; and if he is allowed to sit here, he will pull and haul every thing about," responded Mrs. Pelby. "Oh, never mind, mother! Give him some meat, and he'll be quiet enough.
"Hadn't you better take Tommy up-stairs, my dear? He is too troublesome." Mr. Pelby had it on his tongue's end to say, "Oh, no, he don't trouble me at all!" But he was afraid not to tell a falsehood but that the child would be suffered to remain; so he said nothing. "Come, Tommy," said Mrs. Little, holding out her hands. "No!" replied the child emphatically. "Come."
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