Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1871-05-24
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The Mischief Maker.
uY CHARLES DICKENS.

Between the rivers Kistnah aud Beehma,
in the Deckhan, surrounded By wild, rocky
hills, lies the town of Shorapoor, capital Of
a State Of that name, inhabited by a people
who have generally been considered lawless,
supcistitous. aud quarrelsome. OF late years
they have been more industrious and peacea-
bile, and though still an exctable race may
he said TO be advanced in the arts Of peace.
IL was during a more remote period, when
few strangers ever ycntured to penetrate the
country, that a weary.looking traveller, cover.
ell with dust, entered one Of the gates, and
sat down awhile at the side OF well. lie
then proceeded to take of his waistband and
turban. washed his head and his feet, drank
OF the cool, refreshing water, vombcd his beard
and moustachios. aud spreading small carpet
on which be laid his trusty sword, drew from
bis wallet neat little muslin skull-cap then
seated himself cross-legged, lighted his pipe,
aud began to look comfortable indeed
In the meantime there were not wanting
many idle aud curious people who having
first at a distance observed the movements of
the stranger, approached him nearer aud
nearer. But he seemed to take little notice
Of the crowd, and appeared absorbed in a
sense Of his own enjoyment. taking long whls
of his pipe aud looking as if he had made a
considerable progress toward the third heaven.
At length a respectable looking man who
had come up drew nearer than the rest, and
asked him from whence he had Travelled, aud
whittier he was going What he was seek
ing in Shorapoor and whether he was a
merchant, or merely came to look about him
But the questions ended in smoke, being am
swered only by whias.
Then came another still bolder man, and
said Sir, the heat is great be pleased to
come with me to my house, and reposc your
self there, and | will give you a nice, cool
place in which YOU may sleep"
Upon this the stranger drew his pipe from
his mouth and replied You are extremely
kind good sir, and am really grateful to
you for your proffered hospitality but the
fact Is | don't believe you would wish to have
me in your house, did you know what | real
/ ly am ''
And thus saying, he rolled his eyes about
twisted up his moustachios, stroked his head
aud assumed such a mysterious air, that al
'ndescribable terror seized the crowd $,
much so that in falling hastily back, some o
them tumbIed down. and others tumbled ove
them u % very ridiculous manner.
He's thief whispered one. " Or
Tug said another Or an evil spirit il
the form Of man. observed the fourth
" At all events, doesn't he look like one VIII
has killed another !'
In short the alarm became general an
several deemed it prudent first to sneak Of
and then to take to their heels. A few, how
= ever, Of the bolder spirit, kept their ground
and seeing that the stranger did nothing bu
take long whifs from his pipe, sending tn
smoke peacefully curling over his beard an
moustachios out of both of his nostrils, the
regained their confidence, and began to thin
that, after all, he might be some importar
parsonage who could tell. So, after lii
tie pushing and elbowing among themseve
a man was thrust forward, under an idea tina
something might come of it but no, tn
stranger appeared as Indifferent as ever
Then another, who had screwed up his cou
, age to that point, boldly advanced and thu
! spoke
Do pray, sir, tell Us who upon earth yC
may be2' No answer
: Then the man who had offered sleepr
e place in his house chimed in and said, " Ay
( sir, do let US know who or what you may be
q assure you we are none Of US afraid of you
s And with these words he twisted up his mou
y taohios, and tried to look as fierce and bo
as possible while his knees were knocking t
} gether, anil his heart futtering all the Will
G On a repetition Of these questions, howeve
It by both these men, the stranger, with infni
Is gravity, took the pipe from his mouth, al
thus spoke
Are you not too much frightened to hear
r The runaways, however, had departed, al
} those left behind seemed more determined II
20 to follow them, more especially as the stra
= ger had made no sign as if he would draw
h sword neither did they think he looked
a all so horrible now They, therefore, one a
n all, called out, " No we are not bit afra
}, let US hear :"
d Wen, then, exclaimed the stranger, ia
d ing a long puff at his pipe strange as it m
l. appear to you all, my name is Mischi
Is Maker Aud what is very extraordinai
whatever do, wherever | go, wherever a
u always create mischief always have Gre
ted mischief, and shall continue to do so
the very end Of my life 20 And upon this
rolled his eyes, and pulled away at his pi
harder than ever
as =" Oh is this all ~ cried the party, sis Il
At alY'
e. For matter Of that, said an active
e, tie man with twinkling eyes, you need
At under no uneasiness whatever. defy you
g invent more mischief here than we have
re ready, for we are all more or less at enm
u, with our neghbors and as our fathers q
le grandathers were the same we conclude
Is must be owing to something that can't
I'd changed for instance, the air or water of {
town so set your heart at rest, and co
C, along with US, and we'll take care of you.
ut Well reioined the stranger, a" am V,
~ glad indeed to hear what you say of y,
u, own town, for, to be candid with you, it's
he actly what | heard Of you all as | ca
70 along, and this makes me think that in pa
1u where all were mischieEmakers and bu
bodies already, could have nothing to
hut for once in my liie) live in peace ll'
ever, don't trust me-thats all have to
and if any evil arises from my visit Il
1t me out, and III seek home elsewhere"
An old Brahmn had come up in time
C. hear this ayowal "Tis very strange" S
'' the wise man This fellow is surely
~ magician, aud may set all the rocks Of Sho
u, u poor dancing and tumbling about our e
~ ~ some day. Turn him instantly away, or
lu may be worse for us ALL"
u u No, no, shouted the multitude. " T
u would be inhospitable. Let him remain, 1
ns we shall soon see what he can do"
II The little active man now came iorwi
~ again, and said shyly, " Sir, it you really
IT such a mischiefmaker as you describe 20
self to be, suppose you were to give us Iii
specimen of your power--just some trif
'h matter to Judge by"
sc "What, now 2' said the stranger
ut Aye, now % exclaimed all land
er sooner the better,
'y "Well, let it be 50, said he " let me
oy up my things, and come along" And "
Us this he arose, packed up, grded on his swC
nd aud strobe maiesticalIy forward, followed
y, a crowd continually increasing as they
OF yanced further into the town.