The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1850-07-27
THE MIscIIIEr-mAKER.
ny cuAnlrs prckrNs.

ny cuAUlEs picKrNs,
Between the rivers of Kistnah and Bcchma
iu the Dcckhan, surrounded by Wild rocky
tiiiT lies the town 81 Nli"rapo1r, capital nl a
state of that name, inhabited by people who
have generally been considered lawlczs, SUI
prr-ttious and quarrclsomc OF late years
They have been more industrious and pcacra-
de- aud though still an cxcitahlc race, may
hc raid to be- advancing in the arts Of peace,
u was during more remote prriul, when
few strangers ever ycnturcd to penetrate the
country that wcary-looking traveller, Gov
cred with dust, entered one Of the gates, aud
at down for while at the side of a we'll
lie then proceeded 10 take of his waistbnnd
and urbnn, washed his heal ard his feet
drank of the cool refreshing water, ,comhcd hi-
beard aud moustachios, aud spreading q .innll
carpet on which he laid his tru,ty swor,l.drrw
from his wallet a neat little muslin .kull-cap
Then seated him 'lf cruss-cggcd, lighted hi,
pipe, aud bcpaa TO look very comfortable ia.
decd,
la the meantime there wore not wanting
many idle aud curious people, who having
lit-l at adisIaHoo observed ihD mos omrnt, al
the stranger, approached him nearer and
nearer But he seemed to take littc notice
'oi ttr crowd, Hnd appeared 7Nt.OIrCd IN 4
sru,c ot his own enjoyment taking long
made considerable prugc,, towards tho
ihrd heaven. y
At length n respectable looking man. Nyho
had come up, drew nearer than the r,-i nnt
asked him tUoln whence hc had travelled, ant
whittier was lac GOING What hc wa, -.rk
sos ia Shnrsi i----, -''i whCthor NO wee. So.
thdHt, or merely CatuC tO look about him p
liul the questions oulcd in smoke, bciug aus
Wcrcd only 10y rhiBs.
Thon came anothcr'still hodcr man, and
said "Sir, the heat is grrat; he pleased tc
come with me 10 my house, and rcpo,c your.
sell there, aud will give YOU a nice cool
pla,c IN which you may sleep"
l.Iuu i' fI. stranger Il .'v hif '.'.. rnr
fr'~ou p. and rvpi.pI, "lout Z, ...
Kind, good sr, and am really grt,cuI 20 ,or
for your proilor'l ho,p'ality; but the fact D..
p don't briicvc you would wish to have me u
your house, did YOU really know who am -
And thus saying hc rolled his ewes about
twisted up his moustacho,, ,,trokcd his beard
and assumed such a mysterious air that an in.
discribablc terror seized the hystauders; s,
much so, that in falling hastily back some of
them tumhlcd down, aud others tumblcd over
them in a very ridiculous manner.
He, a thief" whispered one. 'Or a
Thug" said another. "Or an evil spirit in
the form of man." observed a fourth. "A
all events, doesn't hc look like one who ha.
kHed another -
In short, the alarm bcrame general. and
several deemed il prudent first Ia sneak of
and then take to their heels. 4 few, howcv.
or, oi the bodcr spirits kept their ground;ant
seeing that the stranger did nothing but tax,
long whils from his pipe, sending the smok,
peacefully curling over his beard and inurSta
clios ont of both his nostrils they rcgainct
their confidence. and began To think that at
ter all he might be some important person
agc;-who could tcly SO after l,tlc push
ing and elbowing among themselves. Il maj
was thrust forward, under an idea that some
thing might come of II; but no. the stranger
appeared as unmoNcd as ever.
Then another, who had screwed up hi
courage to that point boldly advanced ant
thus spoke
'Do pray, sir, tell us who upon earth yo,
may be Z" No answer.
Then the man Who had offered slccpin.
place in his house chimcd in aud said, Ave
sir, do let us know who or what YOU may 4,e
! assure you We are none Of Us at all afrai,
of YOU /" And with these words lac twistc,
up his moustachlOS, and tried Ia look n fiprc
~ possible, while his knees were knocking
togcther,and his heart iluttcringaII the while
On repetition of these questions, ,howcvcrb
both these men, the stranger, with infnit
gravity took the pipe from his mouth, AM
spokC!-=
-NiN N'N llll wv lllNl'il lIlHtllflctl 10 sItlIs
The runaways, however had departed AN,
those left behind seemed determined not Z
follow them; more especially as the strange
had made no sign as If he would draw hi
sword; neither did they think he looked at al
50 horrible now. They therefore, one an,
eltcalled out, mo We are not bit afraid
Jet us heart
"Ncll them" cxclaipcd the stranger. tax
ing long puff at his pipe, strange as TINA
appear to you all, my name is MISCHIEF Ma
'kEE, And what Is very extraordinary
Whatever do, wherever go,whcrcvcr an
always create mischief always have crca
tea mischief and shall continue to do so (
the very end of my life % And upon this h
. .ollGd his eyes, and pufled away at his pip
harder than ever.
,"Oh, is this all, ," cried the party, "is thi
For the mattcr of that" said an activ
h''ie man with twinkling eyes, "you need b
under no uneasincss whatever. | defy ye
- invent moro misChirf hrrr tirnr1-1~t--
., already, for we are all more or less at onnlit
with our neighbors; and rs -urrr-fithers an
sr"hdiathcrS wcru the same we conclude
l3ust be owing to something that cannot b
'haRgrti the air or water Of our town; so Sc
E"',r hvart to rest and come along with u:
ana wcll take care of You"
wen" replied the. stranger. II am. yer
Nao indeed 70 hear what YOU say OF You
''Nt' iai-.tn-h h'- candid with volt ~, cN1ct