Litchfield enquirer., 1863-04-16
Sc we had the gas put in, and was allowed

6 : that gas is economical, they charge you jast thesame if there's a leak in the gas meter, or if you accidentally 2, off fur a week orse, and leave it burning in the empty house, just asif you used it, and both these coat,eteaaps had h,ppened to us in less than six weeks. Besides, Bridget always keeps the ons in hergonn burning all night, because she's afraid of ghosts, and will not believe but that the rats il the wall--there always will be rats in tue walls of old houses, you know-are spiritual ksock- ings. And then it is so handy tolcaYe the gas half turned on. so that if you wake in the night, you can take the Woman in Whiten or the Strange Story" from beneath your pill low, and read yourself to sleep again and of course you can't get up to turn it down just as you are falling into doze. So, as said be fore, between ourselves, don't think gas eco nomical. Still it's so nice, and am not ob- liged to be perpetually bothering Bridget about cleaning those tall silver candesticks-a thing which she, poor soul never liked to do I'm sure can't blame her-I shouldn't myself. To tell you the truth, wouldn't have uncle hear of it for all the world so don't mention it. Gas got me into an awful scrape, one evening. I blush, now, from the parting of my hair to the dimple in my chin, whenever think of it.
 What stupid thing I made of myself, and how oddly Monsieur De r Quest must have thought of me! Oddly I'm sure that's a mild term for what his present opinion of me must be. ss fa
 ;. Uncle Clover has his hobbies, and one of them is distinguished foreigners. He is bold, straightforward, uncringlng man as one would wish to see among his fellow countrymen; but he sometimes absolutely seems to toady authors and artists, and musicians, and exiled patriots with unpronounceable names and tremendous moustaches He has them to dinner, and sometimes on visits of weeks duration and makes complimentary speeches to them, and praises their productions or their patriotism to their faces, until he makes me blush they nev- CT do. The more absurd the hattery the better they like it. The worst of it is, they always make lovo to me aud most of them Iva no doubt, have foreign wives at home, the hateful creature
 should have thought that when the inliyid- ual who called himself Iasbounizskiewia, and prstende,l to be Polish patriot. walked off with Uncle Clover's gold snuff box and dia mond ring, it would havs been lesson to him !; but it wasn't. Therefore I was no! much as. tonished one day, few weeks after the gas was put in, to hear uncle Say at the breakfast table '" Kitty, Count Emile De el'Ouest will be here to dine with us today ....
 And who is he, uncle ?--some celebrated person !" asked. ...r.z- ..-.s.
 Celebrated should think so. Kitty" said uncle, breaking an egg. :" Let Napoleon tremble, ifthe count returns to France. There may be another revolution. The count has confded--- but no matter; such secrets are not safe with girls. Get good dinner. Kitty, and look your prsttiest and mind, if Bridget applies herself to the bottle to-day, I'll dismiss her''s sas.a,s y st g-.s.siee
 ofcourse I promised obedience, but I was very much provoked. Professional celebrities are bad enough--still they have generally to say, something to play upon but e1iled patriots can talk only of the woes Of their blee,ling country, and that is such bore.
 As soon as uncle had swallowed his break fast and started in a stage for that mysterious locality denominated down town," called Biddy and told her to osher best, in honor of the distinguished stranger. " And above all, Biddy," said ], '.don't touch drop of any thing. Ton remember about the tureen of oys' ters when Professor Jamedown dined here. and uncle says he'll dismiss you if you drink any thing to-day; and it isn't pleasant, Bddy, as you must own, to be obliged to have your help carried up stairs to bod as sick as you were then, when one has company. Idout mean to hurt your feelings, Bridget,'I went on. "but 1 shouldn't like to part with you, and you know what uncle can do when he is angry"
 Faith, thin, I'm obleeged to ye for incinis- ing me into the ould gentleman's intiHtions, said Biddy t and I'll take me oath, by any thing ye like, that I'll put my bottle where I'll not see it till the dinner is cooked, and not a drop I'll touch if I have the collie ever 80 bad.'
 That's right, Bridget said I ;''and there's anew cap with pink ribbons at Madame Bon. tons. which you shall have before next Sun day, if you keep your promise.' as
 <. Troth, an I will, thin," said Bridget.
 So that was of my mind, and Iputon my things and ran around to Bertha Judd's to have a little chat. Bertha was going ont shopping, and urged me so to go with her, that I really could not say no. t ~ sse
 l" You'll be home in time to dress, she said, sand what more do you want '"
 And that was true enough. Sc we started down to Stew arts, and, after we had spent hours at the different counters, of course we wanted lunch. So we had lunch and by the time we were over, I found to my surprise that it was quarter to four o'clock, and We dined