The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1860-01-07

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forward atths best speed Of which old Trots
ter was capabl Neafiy halt way upon 1ay
journey stood large ffah,e house, surrouad-
ed by web tiled field and an ample orchs
ard. The front, of the house was directly
on TIE road which took . sudden curve q
short distance beyond, and became better
and more sheltered. looked forward to
the appearance of this half way house with
mach anxiety past the turning, my way
would be far pieasanter and my progress
more rapid and I begun, toswish most hear
thy fer my journey s end, as the night was
drawing ems aad . wet saew- began to-drift
down upon, The cheerIess landscape You
may imagine my consternation, therefore,
when, Just as 7 arrived opposite the dwell
ing, old Trotter slipped upon the wet ground
STUMBLED, and fell, throwing me upon my
back, and dispensing the. contents of my
baskets m every direction among the snow
srrinkled, brown grass. Fortunately was
unhurt - |s'
3, After ascertaining this important fact, l
gathered upgmy merchandise and turned 10
remouDt Trotter ; = but the old horse had
been less favored than l. and I,soon found
that he was too lame torpreceed farther.
Here was aesituation J.. stood In mute per-
plexity, thinking, l remember, how often i
had heard that HalloW Fen was an i'll
omened time. aud that mishaps of all kinds
were sure to- befall the unlucky wight who
was abroad after dark upon that day.
While / ruminated / cast my eye toward
the window of the old farm house The
light Of lamp just kindled fell through the
panes upon the snow which lined the Sill
20 bod - c~l
a cosy picture it was J. ] thought of home
---of tea and doughnuts, warm biscuit and
crisp bacon, mince pie warmed Ia the capa-
cieus oyens and felt dismal beyond express
sion as the moisture Of my garments chilled
me through and through 4vss ssslsazt II =.
tt::Suddenly clear voice startled me with
the words, is anything the matter with
your horse, stranger % and, turning, I be-
held a young man, or rather boy, mounted
on handsome horse, who had approached
without my knowledge over the soft snow.
forget what / answered, but at all events
the conversation resulted IN an invitation to
enter the house nearby and rest till morn
ingaa "Uneie and aunt will be very happy
to entertain you, am sure, - continued the
boy, and you know it is impossible to pro-
coed to-night.''ii 81 ass &. e..l a3 =. s5s}-e9..
THE fact was self evident, and I gladly
accepted the inv itation, and was usbered in
10 the dwelling forthwith. 9 My companion
was warmly greeted by an old lady and
gentleman, both evidently Scotch people,
who sprang from their seats by the fire as
he entered, and hailed him by the name of
Jamie and my reception was kind in the
extreme. A seat was placed for me; the
old gentleman sent a servant lad to care for
my horse ; and the old lady insisted upon
my exchanging my wet coat for one of the
old gentleman's, in which, as he was very
stout and very slender, doubtless cut a
singular figure. Meanwhile supper was
served by buxom. middle aged servant
woman, and we all took our places at the
board, and after grace was said. fell to with
vigor-at least can answer for
myself. @or@' sa5-saS 3 - -7aa..5.
During the course of the meal, the fact
that it was Hollow Fen was casually an
nounced, and, as natural consequence, the
old lady launched into an account of numer-
Gus charms, projects and adventures which
had taken place within her knowledge, and
wound mp with the remark that we young
men should both try some charm that night
for the purpose of discovering who our
sweethearts were to be-. The old lady was
So earnest in this within that it was impos-
s1ble to deny her: and accordingly we pro-
ceeded under her directions to prepare the
charm. Each of us scooped the
yolk from three hard boiled eggs, filled the
cavity with salt, and devoured them-salt
and all then, without a drink of water,
we proceeded straight to our apartments,
with strict iniunctions to tie our shoestrings
in hard knots, and go to bed backwards:
And as sure as yer do So said the old Ia
1y, ,.'the lass yer to marry will come. to
yer and Kiss ye when the clock, strikes
Twelve, .sg....s-. -
THE room which had been devoted to
me was long and wide, with gloomy cor
ners and tall ghostly seupboards here and
there. A looking glass in a black frame
hung opposite5the bed, and beneath itstood
a table of small dimensions. Laughing at
myself all the while, / tied my shoestrings
IN three knots, and blowing out the'fght,
did get into bed backwards; and,
being weary and tired, I fell asleep almost
mined lately aI5a+ias s'E lad Frou i
All Such a! sleepl and such dreams Il
upon old Frotter against snow
storm, with pannier upon paunier loaded
with eggs piled upon his back. and weigh
ing hiln down. Then l was selling eggs,
and the customers were indignant--for
where should have been yolk they found
aothing but salt; they were all beautiful
young women, and they threw the eggs at
my head in their, anger; and as. they broke,
scattering a showering. of salt over my face,
they shouted '.Hailow zen Hallow E emp
at the top Of their voices. Then was a
big egg myself and people would lay me Oh
at me. until at length I awoke with start,
ing, as one often does in sleep. Once more
the ian presses, the little mirror, the white
glimmering in the cold moon
light which fell through the window-greet- 1
ed my eyes -RasA wide awake knaM