North Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1867-current, 1867-12-25

| Nor doubt harvest thou wilt gather;
lis time to labor and to wait,
p And trust to God for genial weather.
/ -
Caught I'm My Own Trap.
Dora and had been silent fully fifteen
minutes-an unusual occurrence for us
when she suddenly broke out into one of
her gayest, sweetest peals of laughter
The cars were going ut the rate of forty
miles an hour, but Dora's laugh rang out
abo9e all their noise and confusion.
| "What is it, Dora you witch, you p
said, half piqued that she had not told me
what pleased her, and then laughed after
wards.
Nothing, Nell, only was just think
ing of something funny. Do you see that
gentleman, just in front of US, with the
beautiful black whiskers and dreamy
brown eyes ? Well, he's been watching
you behind that book for the last half
hour, looking as if he would love to take a
bit of the red roses off your cheeks. Don't
blush but he's in love with you I'll bet
my gold thimble on it. l was just think
ing of some of the stories have read Of
handsome young ladies mistaking hand
some fellows for their brothers, &C., and
thonght what fun it would be if you could
only manage to mistake that gentleman
for your brother Fred
was ready for the fun in a moment.
"Tell you what I'll do,' l broke out ca
gerly, "You know l haven't seen Fred
since l went to school, three years ago
and of course he's changed great deal
since then. Well, if that literary gentle
man, with brown eyes (he is handsome,
isn't he, Dora p should get off at our sta
ton, I'll wait till he gets mixed up in the
crowd, see him suddenly for the first time,
rush up to him as brother Fred, and give
him such kissing as he hasn't had since
he saw his sweetheart last"
Yes, l would, if I were you," said Do
ra, sarcastically. "You darent do it, you
know"
Don't l dare, though ? You just wait
and see."
And so dropped back into the cush-
ion in silence till the train stopped at our
station. ..
Dora gave me wicked look, and whis-
pered that she knew my courage would
fail me, for the gentleman was really get
ting off.
was not to be triumphed over though
and SO, as we stepped out on the platform,
l saw the literary gentleman standing
amidst the crowd, and with little bound
threw myself into his arms and kissed him
full in the mouth, hysterically exclaim-
ing:
FRED, my dear brother how do you
do p
caught glimpse of Dora-she was in
danger of going into commissions. l was
Expecting to hear the stranger say, confu-
sedly, that there was some mistake but,
to my surprise, he gave me o hearty en-
brace, kissed me two or three times, said
he was we'll, and that had grown great
deal, enquired for my little friend Dora
who, all this time, was exciting the SYM
pathies of the crowd, as they supposed she
was insane, judging from her frantic laugh
| ter.
!" Father and mother are expecting you,
Nellie, and are so impatient they can
scarcely wait to see you. | was afraid you
would not know me, but am really glad
that my image has been treasured up so
carefully in my sisters heart.
/ was bewildered beyond measure. 1t
was really Fred, then, and l had not
known him l felt slightly ridiculous,
and while introducing Dora to my brother,
whispered her to keep quiet in reference
to my intended trick.
was too much confused to think Of in.
auiring how he came to be in the cars
without seeing me so we all went to the
carriage which was in waiting for US, and
drove rapidly to our home.
had never known Fred to be so affec.
tionate. He held my hands in his own, all
the time, and kissed me at unnecessary in
tervals but to tell the truth, had never
loved him half so we'll before-never tho
him half SO handsome.
We reached the gate. Mother kissed
me and cried over me; father repeated it
and finally frank, hearty voice broke out
with
"Hallo, sis amt you going to notice
your s"apegrace of brother, at all p
\ And to my astonisbment handsome
fellow, had not yet seen, gave me genu.
inc hug and kiss you could have heard
across the yard.
I" There is some mistake" / said "are
you my brother FRED? l thought thai
some gentleman had embraced at the de.
pot.
"Why, Sis, you are crazy Of course
I'm your brother, and that fellow there il
my college chum, Archie Winters, who
went half way up the line to meet you.-
What are you blushing at, Nell? didn't
have time to go, and let him take your
picture with him, so that he would be sure
and know you. He's been playing of
some of his pranks, and passing him
self of for me, rll..warrant.''
looked at Archie Winters beseaching.
ly. As they were oil going into the house
whispered to him:
"For PHYS sake do not speak of that
mistake. How could it have happened p
81 overheard you on the cars, and will
keep your secret only on one condition"
lie whispered something to me that
made my face flush scarlet but / was at
his mercy, and said would think of it,
reader and to the delight Of the whole
family-Dora and Fred in particular-Ar.
chic and / were married in less than two
months. And Dora said to me, as bade
her goodbye, that it would give unspeak.
able pleasure to Fred and herself if |
would attend their wedding in month
and did so.
| SARAH, Duchess of Marlborough, once
pressing the Duke to take medicine, with
her usual warmth said:
I'll be hanged if it do not prove service
able.
DR.. Garth, who was present, exclaimed
"D0 take it then, my lord duke, for il
must be Of service one way or the other. u
An Irish woman in Lowell, hearing that
0os was chaonor IN hnrn than korosona