Proud not only of my two dear sons, but of my two dear sons-in-law,
who, though one is slight and short, and the other impressive-looking
and tall, and though both hold absurd political notions with which I
have not the slightest sympathy, have so completely won my heart by
their devotion to their wives and generally exemplary behavior, that I
cannot choose between them. I was in a jovial mood that evening, I can
tell you, and there was nothing excellent and rare in my limited but
not wholly featureless cellar which my four brave boys did not have an
opportunity to sample in honor of Josephine's and my twenty-fifth
anniversary.
Just after the cigars were finished there was a ring at the front
door-bell, and Sam Bangs came into the dining-room, rather to my
astonishment, for I knew that he had not been invited. "How d'y do,
Cousin Josephine; how d'y do, Cousin Fred. Many happy returns of the
day."
I observed that Sam spoke with a sort of mysterious blitheness, as
though he was under the influence of a joke, and I noticed that he
whispered something to my daughter Josie in answer to an inquiring
glance from her. Just then there was another ring at the door-bell,
and presently through the half-open dining-room doors I caught sight of
a host of people gayly trooping into the front hall.
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