Litchfield enquirer., 1865-01-26

| WI uO 1b He The mastar.'
 Who IS the master r
 ihat's no"t to you was the unceremo,
 ous reply. ;. q 5rgs --.' | 2f Well, well; you lead the way. and I'll C
 gage that the master shall give the shelter q,
 supper tonight
 Eh. you can try him f mnttered my relu
 tant guide: and. still shaking his head
 hobbled, gnome-like; away through the f,Iii,
 snow. A large mass lOod,ed up presently o
 of the darkness. and huge dog rushed ou
 barking furiously. .
 Ia this the house! asked. 1 Ay. it's the house. Down: Bey!' And
 fumbled in his pocket for the key. drew up close behind him. prepared l lose no chance of entrance and saw in the Ii tie Circle of light shed by ti8e labtar that tl roor vas heavily studded with iron na,ls ii, the door of . prison. In another minute I, had turned the key, and had pushed past hi, l into the house. h. S' ss '.-'s'- 7'4 H''''' Once inside, locked round with curic sitx ard found myselfin great raitere.i haa. whc served apparently, variety of tises. One eli, was piled to the roof with corn, ike a barn he ether was stored with flour sacks. agr;cnl turai implements. casks. and nil kinds of n,s cellaneous lumber while from. th.. beau overhead hung rows of hams. Atchss; an, punches of drief herbs fur winter us4. in th, centre of the floor stood some buoe ol;-c eauntlly dressed in dizzy wrapping-e;otL and reaching half way tu the raftrrs I,;ftino corner of this cloth 1 saw. to ny sur,,risa :. telescope of very considerable size. mounted ur rude nov cable platform with four smal wheels. The tube wa>. made of painted wood hound round %ith bands of metal rudely fash toned the speculum, so far ;is I could esfi mate its size in the dim light, measured al least fifteen inches in diameter. Willie wa. yet examining the instrument. aud asking my self whether it was tiot tie work of some self taught opiician. the bell rang sharply.
 That for you,' Said my guide, with a ma licious grin. Tenders his ronm'
 He pointed to low black door at the uppo- site sid~ of the hall. l crossed nser, rnppe,I sorfiewhat loudly, and went in Wihoui waiting for an invitation. A huge. white haired old man rose from table covered with books and papers, and confronted me sternly.
 'Hho are you how came you here? what do you want ? said he.
 James Murray barristet at law on foot across the moor {; meat. drink and slepp.'
 He bent his busby brows into a portentous frUwn
 Mihe Is not a house of entertainment,' he raid. haughtly. 'Jacob, how dared you ad- init ibis stranger ? ,...,,~, o....-:r s. ....
 didn't admit him. grumbled the old iita,. lie followed me over the mu'r, and shoulder I'd his way ih before ne lin no match for SIX foot two .t. .t-: .s
 And pray. sir, ny what right have you orc-d an entrance into thy house?'
 The same by which should haze cling to 'our boat it l were drowning. The right of -i prescryaiiJn.'
 'SelEpreservatisn ,.r
 There's an inch of snuw on the ground al- eady, ]. replied. irirhy ;'and it sepld he. lrep enough to cover my body befotc day yreak'
 He sro,'e to the window quilted aside a heavy black curtain. and looked out. It is true. he said. Y,m can stay. if you per- r-.
 With this he waved me to a scat. resumed his own. and began" at once ui,sorhe,l III the studies from which 1 had disturbed him.
 placed my gun in corner. drew Il chair to the hearth. and examined my quarters at leisure. Smaller and less ineongruous in it's than t5e hall, this room cun- tained, nevertheless. much to awaken my cnri, usity. The floor was carp.tlrss The white washed walls were in parts scraw!ed over with strange diagrams, and in others covered with shelves crowded with philosophical instruments the uses of many of which were unknown to me. On one side of the fire place stood q bookcase filed with d;ney fol'os on the other a small organ. Enthusiastically decorated with painted carvings ot m"dieval saints and d.v. ils. Through the haltoprne do.r of a cup hoard at the further end of the room, Saw q long array of geological specimens. surgical preparations. crncblts rctorts, and .rs o chemicals ; while on the u.antleslelf hesi1. me. amid d number of small ohjec:s, stood |: model of the solar systein. snlall gavanie battery. and Il microscope. Every chair had its burden. Every corner was h"aped hgt with bnUks.v The very floor was Uttered ovel with maps. casts, papers, tracings, and learned lumber of all conceivable kinds.
 stared abnnt me with an amazAment in creased liy every fresh olject upon whicl, m, eyes cIlanced tS,rrst. So strange room had n yer seen yet seemed it stranger still tf 6nd aucb room in lone farn,-house ami. tho e wi and solitary m"orsl Over and ov4 again. lo,ked from my host to his surround ihgs. and frUtif his surroundings back 70 m, host. asking myself who aud what h,. .oul,l he Ills head was sin.ularly ine bu, it was nor. the head Gf poet than of philosopher Broad in the temples. prominent over the eyes aud clothed with rough profusiou of peri ct y white hair. it had al the i,leality and ,nuci of the ruggedness that charac,.r'z.s the he,tt ot Louis von Beethoven. There We're ,f same deep lines ahont the mouth and tn. same stern furrows in the brow. There Wa the same concentration of expression Whil ] was yet observing hi,., the doer opened an' Jacob bronsbt ia the. supper. His Inaste then closed his book, rose. ahl. with mnr courtesy of manner than he had yet shown invited inc to the table.
 A dish of ham and eggs. q loaf of brow b.ead iht i bottle of admirable sherry wer placed b.ior.. me.
 Il have but the homplipst farm house fare t offer you. sir, said my entertainer. You apprtta, 1 trust, will make up for the defic.ei GIGS of eur lanler ' ~ | had already fllcii upon the tfanIs. an now protested. with the enthusiasm of siarv ing spottsihah. that had never eaten arythin GU delicious.
 He bowed stifly, and sat down to his ow
 supper, ich consisted, prinitivety; .uf a jr
 oi milk aild a basin of porridge. We ate
 s'iehce. and, when we had dohe, Jacob re,no
 ed ths ,rsy. then drew ,py chair back to Il
 nreside My host. somewhat to my surpris
 me, said
 .sirs i have lived here in strset retfreaie
 tor three 'a and twenty years. Daring that ii, ] nave not seen us many strange faces. and have not read single newspaper. You |.