St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1868-02-14


frightened as | was. I'm sure l cam
tell what | smelt can't smell it now
Did you feel for the-you know what {?
Mrs. Ducklow seemed to think there
were evil ones listening, and it was dan
gerous 10 mention by name what was
uppermost in the minds of both.
Il wish you ,couM jest put your hand
and see If they're all right; for I've tho't
several times | heard somebody taking on
'em out
Mr. Ducklow had been troubled by
similar tancies; 50, getting down on his
knees, he felt in the dark for the bonds.
Coed gracious. y he calculated
What now? ? cried Mrs. Ducklew-
They amt gone, be they You don't say
they're gone,'
'Sure's the world No, here they be ,
didn't feel in the right place. Ducklow
replied.
How you did frishten me- My heart
almost hopped out Of my mouth In
deed, the shock was sufficient to keep
the good woman awake the rest of the
night.
Daylight the next morning dissipated
their doubts, and made both feel that
they had been the victims OF unnecessary
and foolish alarms.
Il hope yc won't git 50 worked up an
other night, said Mr.. Ducklow Its no
use. We might live in the house Il hun
dred years, and never hear of a robbcr or
fro
me awake
i should like TO know if you didn't
cit excited, and rob me of my sleep Jest
as much a- ! did you,' retorted the III
dignant wife.
You began it you fust put it into
my head. But never mind it can't be
helped now. Let's have breakfast as
soon rs We can ; then I'll run over and
see Reuben
Why not harness up, and let me ride
over with We ,
Very well mabby that'll be the best
way.-Come, Taddy We must wake up
Fly round You'll have lots of o chores
to do this mornin' =
What's the matter III my breeche, .
snarled Taddy. Some plaguy things
stuck TO EN- =
1t was Mrs Ducklow's apron, trailing
Jehin! him at half mast, - at sight of
which, and Of Taddv turning round and
round to look at it. like kitten in pur-
suit of her own tail, Ducklow burst into
a loud laugh.
Wal, wal, mother, you've done it
Iou've dressed for meetin' now, Tad
dy =
Il do declare : said Mrs Ducklow.
mortified. Il can't tor the lite OF me, sec
what there is 80 very funny about il p
And she FASTENED to cut short Taddv's
tail and her husbands laughter with n
( pair OF scissors.
/ After breakfast the Ducklows set OFT
in the onc-horse wagon, leaving Taddy 10
take care OF the house during their alb
sencc. That each felt secretly uneasy
about the coupon bonds cannot be denied
but, after the experiences OF the night and
the recrmlnatons of the morning, they
wcle unwilling tc acknowledge their fears
even 10 themselves, and much less to each
other; 50 the precious papers were left
hidden under the carpet.
safe enough, i'll all conscience said
Mr.. Ducklow.
'Taddy now mind = Mrs. Ducklow
repeated tor the twentieth time. Don't
/ you leave the house, and don't you touch
the matches nor the tre, and don't 90 TO
ram,acking the rooms neither. You won't
will We =
'No'm,' answered Taddy, also for the
twentieth time, c,-secrctlv resolved. all the
while. to take advantage of their absence
and discover if possible, what Mr.. Duck
low brought home last night in his boot
leg
The Ducklows had intended to show
ben an carly visit. They were some
what chagrined, therefore, to lind sever
al neghbors alread Y arrived to pay their
respects to the returned soldier. The fact
that Miss i}cswick was among the num-
Der did not serve greatly to highten their
spirits.
Eve rs good a notion to turn round
and 90 straight lume again as ever had
to eat = muttered Mrs. Ducklow.
It's too late now,' said her husband,
advancing with show of confidence and
cordiality he did not feel. Wal, Reu-
ben glad to see ye. Why, ye don't look
50 sick as | thought ye would does he,
mother /!
Dear me- said Mrs. Ducklow, her
woman's nature, and perhaps her old
motherly feelings for her adopted son,
moved by the sight of his changed and
wasted aspect. I'D no idee lie could be
SO very, pale and thin. Had you So
phrony p
4 don't know what 1 thought said
the youEg wife, standing by, watching
her returned volunteer with features sur
charged with emotion, - deep, suffering
and sympathy, suliused and lighted up
by love and JOY. Il only know that
have him now , lie has come home
lie shall never leave Inc again. new
er =
But wasn't it terrible to see him
brought home so ? whispered Mrs Duck
low.
Yes, it was But, OH, was so thank
full felt that the worse was over and
l had him again l can nurse him now
lie is no longer hundreds of miles away,
among strangers, where | cannot 20 to
him,-though should lave gone long
ago, as you know, if could have raised
the means, and if it hadn't been for
the children
.EI-NIr. Ducklow would have tried
to help you to the means, and l would
have taken the children, if we had thought
it best for you to 60 said Mrs. Ducklow
but YOU see now it wasn't best, don't