The Plymouth Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1869-1941, 1869-11-25

table, on which stooda fOaming jug, was
a Jolly old gentleman, of the conventional
type, which we often find repeated in en-
cravings of the last century as the embodi-
ment of rural felicity in advanced years.
To sit alone smoking and drinking all
through a whole summer evening, with
fat face that smiled benignantly upon
nothing, was long the summit of human
bliss in the eyes of many well-mcaning
artists who wished to contrast the innocent
pleasures of the country with the riot and
dissipation of the town.
This is an uncommOnly pretty country,
sir" | observed to the ideal farmer.
"Yes, sir, it is" he replied, Though it
is so far from the station; and perhaps for
that very reason. All, there was no rail
roads when was boy!
You came here young?" l asked.
"Came here? was born here, in this
very house, and this very day is my
eightieth birthday"
/ instinctively glanced upwards towards
the sky, as if to catch the face of MIR.
Bubblesworth, to whom would willingly
have referred the doubts that arose in my
mind. But nothing was above me save
the pure azure. l could address no one
but the old gentleman himself.
My question may appear very ignorant,
sir" said, "but what county is this ?"
"This," he answered, "is Soapshirc,
on the borders of Bubblescx.
| discovered at once the chronological
origin of these strange names; but still
scarcely burst trust My ears. II have
heard" said, "of Shropshire and Middle
SEX"
"Have you?" interrupted the old gentle
man; that's more than have. May be
you have travelled in foreign parts. How
ever, this is Soapshire, aad if you cross
the river you see yonder, you'll find your
self in Thughamptonshire."
oapShire-Bubblesex -ThughamptOn-
shire-odd names! Not only was l still
somehow in the old world, but there was
slight connecting link between me and
my immediate neighbors.
"Did you ever go to any church in
Thughamptonshire? l asked.
"Not very often; but have done such
thing" was the reply.
"IIal and in the course of his sermon,
did the minister make any mention of-of
Bowancc 2"
"No; l can't say as he did-lcastways
while | was awake. But tell you what
In the churchyard of Thugton, which is
the chief market-town, there is little
hill or mound like, which they call Bony
Barrow and the story goes that great
many butcher-boys are buried there who
were sacrificed by the Druids, as they call
them, In the days of the ancient BritOns."
"Ha" l exclaimed, with intense in
tcrest
"a very curions thing that barrow
Some men who were digging there some
CT. Of
woman with lot of hands, and you may
getting dusk. think / may as well send
up my fire-ballOon."
Fire-balloon
"Yes; my great grandson, who goes to
the grammar school of ThugtOn cum -Sue
sent me one as present for my eightieth
birthday. You must know that | was
born at eight o'clock in the evening, so it
was the boys fancy that should send it
up exactly at that time, that he might be
reminded of the old man at h distance.
1t is a singular thing that man who was
born at eight o'clock should live to be
eighty"
might have told him that, inasmuch as
had encountered many things much
more singular this last marvel was some
what ineffective; but as the effect of the
lucifer match when applied to the surface
of the bubble was present to my mind,
did not care to dispute about trihcs.
Il think that fire-balloOn might be
dangerous" l remarked.
Not at all-not at all" replied the old
gentleman; land if it does not set alight
haystack or so, don't mind on an occa-
sion like this. may not live to see any
other birthday"
"That think exceedingly probable" I
remarked, "if you persist in sending up
this balloon"
"Why, what has that to do with it ?
You don't suppose ] shall set the sky on
fire" THAT was the very thing did sup
pose.) 81 have heard of folks setting the
river Semaht on fire, but as for the sky
no no ho"
| l shall not describe the preparations
made for the ascent of the fire balloon.
The old gentleman unfolded it, lighted
the tow in the little basket that hung
from it as car, and, as it slowly arose,
watched it with delight and admiration
Up-up-it went; and down-down-
went my heart. In the distance it ap-
peared little more than spark. Bang
COttage-Old man-trees-all were gone
/ was sitting in my armchair by the
fire, and coal which had just popped
out of the crate lay smoking on the
hearth.