Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1867-04-24

MY lTleuu IOlll stamping HIS lcct Ou tilt
platform, no doubt thoroughly tired Of
waiting for the train. As he drove me
up he began talking of the different ar
rangements he had made for our mutual
amusement. Tomorrow, he said, :" I've
set aside for a skating party; | have had
the pond in the park swept, and invited all
les je1t,aes demoiSelles within reach, and as
they have all accepted, it will give you Il
fair idea of our " native beauty"
Now, of all jolly things on earth,
thinks skating party is the jolliest. Tom
says that [ am fond of showing my skat-
ing off; but [ deny that this has anything
to do with it. In the first place, the frosty
weather (and the mulled claret) induce
high spirits then there are the tumbles
to laugh at, and the ladies' skates to strap
on (Which last, i'll my own mind, is not the
least pleasant part Of the entertainment.)
We had by this time reached the house,
and, after having accomplished our toilets
Tom took me into the drawing-room.
. The guv nor isn't at home; but let me
introduce you to my sister Minnie
Miss Minnie rose, and held out her hand
at once, but, for my own part, was too
dumbfounded to utter single word
am told that am far from being eloquent
when describing female beauty, so | will
not attempt 1t here but | must say that
| had never, and have never since, seen
such pretty and merry face. When
dinner was announced, however, | had re-
covered my equanimity sufficiently to rise
and offer her my arm, and after Il short
time we cot to know one another thor
oughly.
The dinner (perhaps it may have been
the port wine) had opened my heart, and
when we removed to Toms sanctum to
smoke (where, by-the-by, Miss Minnie in-
sisted on joining Us saying that She :. liked
( the smell Of tobacco and found it 80 duh
I by herself'), | began to relate my adyen-
lures with the old gentleman.
Peal after peal Of laughter arose a.
proceeded with my narrative. | warmed
with my subject, quite outdoing myself ii
the description OF the old gentleman'- an
CRY face and irate manner.
" Here" | said, in triumph, " is my
trophy :" and held out the nightcap.
Never shall | forget that moment
brother and sister stared At il for one sec
ond, and then Tom, looking vacantly at
me, Immediately went into hysterical
fit Of laughter His face began to grow
quite black. and the tears rolled down hi~
checks My face presented anything bat
a laughing appearance for | VA, struck
with amazement ut thi, behaviour. Vt
last. with what little breath he had left
he managed to get out the words
:. It's-the-guv- 's-nieh =
A. he said this he pointed to Il small Ia
bel inside the cap, which | had not noticed
before, and there, sure enough, were tn,
words
7. Grumblethorp. Esq.
Grumblethorn Hall.
Reader, have YOU ever wished the eartl
TO open and swallow YOU up? How heart
liz did | wish it at that moment. | saw
the whole affair at a glance u had beei
playing practical joke upon the gentle
man in whose house | was sitting, and ha'
been describing him in the most ridicuou
light to his daughter How hated Ton
for laughing (his was nearly a. bad, by
the-way), whilst | sat turning alternatel.
red and pale, considering what on cart
was to be done. At this moment a ser
want entered the room.
: A telegram for Miss Grumbethorp."
She hastily looked over it, and then rea
: it aloud to us -
/ Shall come by the $50 to-morro'
morning. Some young jackanape- hav
played practical Joke, and caused me t
miss the last train tonight"
At last found words Tom | said
Il must fly. Miss Grumblethorp, can
/ not sufficiently apologize to YOU for
"Oh you need not apologize to me, nc
must you 90 either Tom you must devils
some escape out Of the dilemma
r 1T would certainly never do for tn
governor to recognize YOU; he'd never tol
: give you, and would cut me off without
shilling. Oh! have it u sentence yol
| in punishment, to cut off those whiSkel
/: and moustache-he'H never know 70
then"
"Never!" | said, with determination
4 :. I'm not vain man, but | Will never vo
unfairly make fright of myself"
| "Oh, I'm sure you'd look much bette
without them" said Miss Grumblethorp
besides, remember the skating party t,
t morrow; | want YOU to teach me so mucl
E You really must not go.
was not proof against this. The ;,d,
e rable Miss Minnie actually wishing me t
e stay Again | recollected that | had L
o other invitation for Christmas, and all III
4 family were spending the winter abroa
/ 'nder these circumstances | determined
o risk all, and stay where | was sure to el
r JOY myself
Next morning | rose early, had Gle;
|, shave" and borrowed pair Of light bll
d spectacles. When [ met Miss Grumbl
thorp on my way to breakfast she declare
is the disguise was capital, telling me, at II
t same time that her father had arrived, al
II was in the breaktast-room. | was formal
introduced, and by the way that he r
ceivcd me it was evident he had not reco
Is nsed me III the least.
e Always glad to see Toms friends
said the old boy, III quite cheerful ton
II Thank goodness he doesn't choose fl
d companions such puppies those who i
u suited me yesterday. wonder wheth
n they consider themselves gentlemen"
In this strain he continued to talk q
II breakfast-time, whilst | answered wit
e perfect gravity, not daring to look at Mi
e. ME, for felt sure she was enjoying Il
r joke.
My story is nearly over enjoyed II
N skating party thoroughly. for | spent mo
IL of the day in teaching Minnie. | also a
companed her the next evening to a ba
n, where found she could move much mo
II quickly and gracefully than on the ice.
am now married and though / ha
;" since grown my whiskers, yet my fatht
In in-law has never suspected that | was q
,.lo 10 la+.,