Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-04-02
evening STAR.
A LAUGHABLE PRFDIcAMrrr

In December, 1S-, we were travelling
through one Of the New England towns. in an
old fashioned stage coach, with a friend, whose
power of making fun from the slightest cause
were manifest from any passing object that
he chose to attack. 1t was midnight, and as
We approached the village of I'd, he es.
pied large mansion house on top of a small
| sugar-loaf hill, close by the road When we
arrived opposite: he asked the driver to stop
a few minutes the request was cheerfully
complied with, although we were most freez-
ing; but what trick he had in view none could
guess
The funny gentleman marched directly up
10 the front door of the mansion and knocked
with his cane loud enough to awake all the
inhabitants. Immediately window sash was
raised, and out popped a red night-cap con-
tanning the head Of the proprietor, who in
alarm exclaimed
What-what's the matter? What wanted
at this time Of night?''
"PardOn me, sir, for this intrusion but |
have a communication to make to you person
| ally, and as the stage is waiting impatiently
for me, please hurry to the door for one mo-
rnent's interview
The old gentleman's red night cap with its
| owner in garment curtailed of its fair pro-
portions, were almost Immediately at the
door, politely bowing to the funny stranger,
who again apologised for disturbing his slum-
Der and thus exposing him to the chilly winds
of December night.
don mention it, but pardon me for appear
ing before you in the plight in which you see
me +"
You are certainly very excusable, and
| especially as my great haste prompted this
courteous response to my call upon you"
=" BE pleased TO step into the house, as
notice some ladies in the coach are attracted
by my appearance"
"Never mind them, my dear sir. Your
finely located mansion has arrested the at
tention Of US all-it makes a truly beautiful
appearance in the bright moonlight. Speak
ing OF the moon, brings to my mind the ques-
tiOn which has recently agitated the scientific
world and In which you have undoubtedly
been interested, viz Is this luminary in
hablted or is it not Inhabited. The telescop-
ic'-
Excuse my interruption, sir; but allow
me to get cloak, for l am almost frozen,
and -
- Ten thousand pardons, my dear friend,
but the stage is waiting for me, and L must
lose no time, for Of all thiags in this world,
time that
ALLOW rne to remind you, sir, that you de.
sired to make d communication to me, L am
row ready TO receive it''
"Ah, me How unmindfuI L am In the dis
charge of duty incumbent upon ne, and
viii ch has been too long protracted, l most
readily acknowledge
"Oblige me, sir, by coming directly to the
communication you desire TO make"
Again, beg you to forgive my apparent
tardlneSs III doing so. The fact, my dearest
sir, which as scientific man felt it nv duty
to diVulge to you for your own benefit, for 1
need not inform you that men endowed with
scientific attainments and"--
p,,R 80 I
what is the important fact you desire to com
municate 90
{ Ii is simply this: your house being situa-
ted on the apex of hill, with sides sloping
sufficiently to allow water TO flow therefrom,
L have stopped the coach this cold night, and
aroused You from your slumbers to apprise you
OF the fact that you can with the greatest ease,
tram yo"r cellar from four different direc-
ttonS "
You Internal scoundrel!" shrieked the
astOnished and infuriated proprietor "I'H
teach you trick worth a dozen Of this - as
he seized the funny gentlemans cane, who
had commenced a rapid retreat for the coach
the red night cap and abbreviated white
garment after him as fast as two spiLdle
sbanhs could carry him. But the funny gent
gained upon his pursuer, jumped into the
COACH wtlch was at once put into tull speed
up an adjoining hill, with the enraged country
gentleman, in curtailed garment futterIng in
the breeze, in cold pursuit, but whose hot i'm
precautions against all were enough to stife
the mirth of a live Yankee
On arriving at the top Of the hill, by one of
those singular condolences which sometimes
occur at the crisis TO mar or to heighten ones
happiness, we suddenly came in contact With
two open carriages abreast, loaded to over
flowing with ladies and gentlemen who were
returning from country ball. The atten-
tiOn of the whole party was soon turned to our
red capped, white garmented pursuer, who,
not liking so many lady spectators, hurled
his cane at US, (Which, however, glanced by
and struck among and aroused family OF
pigs by the road side,) and commenced rapid
retreat for home, followed by dozen squea-
ing pigs, barking dogs, and flock of squeal-
ing geese. The scene presented was the most
ludicrous imaginable, and such a wild out.
burst of uncomfortable merriment Is seldom
heard; indeed it was fit subject for the pen
Gil of a Hogarth.
TEE PRINCE OF BARBERs.-Some of our