Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1861-04-13


figure of eight most ferociously in and out
between our legs, he Bowster) in the very
middle of the wears sermon, winked de-
liberately at us three boys. Nobody but a
man who had fought hand to hand with
six Frenchmcn at time, at the battle
of Trafalgar, could have done such a
thing. My admiring CONSERVATION put me
into quite glow of heat ,and my chilblains
were easier for the rest of the sermon
But this was nothing. Picture my aston
ishmeht, and the astonishment of the two
pupils from Demerara, when, as VIC were
leaving the church yard, after exchanging
the compliments of the season with our re-
spected prcceptor, the great Bowstcr sud.
denly exclaimed, in his most stentorian
voice, Should you have any particular OBJ
lection, Doctor, to my taking these three
young ones home with me? We were
three young ones but he could not mean us ;
it was something too deliciously delightful
to be believed at the first gasp We all
three held our breaths. 'These boys 2
said the doctor, interrogativcly. 'These
boys sir replied .Bowster, aflirmatively,
giving me such a slap upon the shoulder,
that can recall the tingle of it as speak
this moment; but, for all that liked it.
These boys, Doctor. Ny traps waiting
for me; I'll drive them over to my cottage
give them their Christmas dinner ,and send
Scrothcr home with them before ten to-
night. Say yes, if the youngsters would
like to 60. If the youngsters would like
to 60 We were all three crimson in the
face with suppressed delight and suspense
1t couldn't be true, even now. Dine with
Bowster Spend Christmas day with
Bowster No, no; it was too wild a
dream! The Doctor said he had no OBJ.
lection. No objection, indeed No oh.
lection to saving three plates of beef, and
three slices of plum pudding, and three
half pints of the most diminutve beer by
the transaction-[ should rather think
not.
"Jump in then, boys" said the nobl,
Rowstcr, "and l II drive you home at sucl
rate that you won't know whether tn,
frosty winds hot or cold. Jump in ~
ave were at the gate of the church
yard, and everybody was coming out o
church, but We set up such a shout of de-
light as our feeble lungs would allow us
as the most glorious of naval commander
hoisted US into his old rumbling four whee
chaise, and with one smack of his whip
and one jerk Of the reins, started his ia
brown waddling pony into fast trot I
was as much as we could do to lift ou
caps to the Doctor, standing at the church
yard gate, before we were far away on th
white country road, flying past the glitter
ing, frosty, icicle-fringed hedges, and nod
ding to the red faced farmer and fat farm
ers' wives, d irving past us in market carts
crowded with rosy children, going to spenc
Christmas day in the town.
Before we were fully alive to the raptur
of the ride, the ride was over, and we wer
there. There, at the pretty cottage, will
the old fashioned low windows, and deel
!, window seats, the bright red curtains, ant
curious cabinets, crowded with South Sc;
!, shells and ocean wonders, stuffed tropica
birds, and curious seawceds Indian chin
} and Chinese ivory boxes, which nobod
ever opened, nor which anybody openin
could ever shut.
The dear pretty cottage, with the stuffc
crocodile in the hall, shot by the gallan
! Bowstcr ever so far beyond the secon
cataract of the Nile; the oil paintings G
: Bowster and Mrs. Bowster, dead and gone
poor thing, for many year, as the nobl
commander told us; the pretty drawn
room, and the tiny dining room, with til
table glistening with bright diamond Gu
glass, and old fashioned silver; and, abov
all, Bowster himself, radiant and red, an
loud and hearty, stumping here and ther
with his glorious wooden leg, and tellin
his pretty niece and housekeepcr how hi
heart had been moved by our red nose
and chilly looks in the parish church, ant
how it had suddenly occurred to him, il
, the middle of the sermon, to take us hom
with him TO dinner; 'and that was when
) winked at you, boys, and that was tn
reason l winked at you, the jolly old sea
man roared out, as he told his pretty nice
and housekocpcr (she was very proud G
being his housekeeper) to take care of II
while he vert to see after the wine.
"The last time was in Rilston Kag