Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1871-05-02

There was small epistle of his
own he wished to obtain as well,
perhaps, or it was possible that his
noble mind had suggested some
scheme to save dear Clara's missive
from sacrileglous hands. But Mr..
Rowley suspected this old servitor.
stop where you are, Stokes !" he
roared forth "I'll have no more of
your monkey tricks. Give me a
back"
"Give you wot, sir ?"
"Bend your back, you rascal, and
III jump on it and get the letter my
self"
Jump on it 2" repeated Stokes,
with look of dismay at Mr.. Rowley's
portly figure; ''it don't strike me
that | can bear your weight, master"
at will be only for minute"
said Mr.. Rowley, quite brutally
land if break your back, it will
serve you right enough. I'm not an
elephant, man, and | will have no
more of this nonsense"
Mr.. Stokes resisted no farther.
He made his back, as if about to
commence game of leap frog with
a justice of the peace and with more
agility than | had given Mr.. Rowley
credit for, the guardian was aloft,
and within an inch or two of our
letter-box.
80, Tor shall you be long, sir ?"
asked Mr.. Stokes, groaning softly to
himself.
RAISE your shoulder you rascal,
little MORE" cried the employer.
Stokes did so, and from my hiding
place saw the hand OF Mr.. Rowley
strive, with some difficuIty-for it
was fat gouty hand, l have already
said-to force itself into that casket,
which had contained so many of my
dear Clara's epistles. Samuel Row
ley was an excitable man for he
swore little in his efforts and turn
ed very red, and moved ais feet rest
lessly upon poor Stokes back.
81 have got it'll" he cried at last
"The artful judge-the cunning
plotting little mink to serve her own
guardian in this-OW
"Whats the matter, sir?
"Wait moment, Stokes-don't
shake. o, lor, have mercy upon us
O, damn it o, dear, what is to be
done?
as any thing particular the matter,
sir? Not hadder, | hope, or a nest
Of sarpents or anything?p and old
Stokes hid his head a little more
tucked in his tuppenny, as we called
1T at school-to conceal his laughing
and sardonie countenance
No Stokes it's something much
worse, I'm sorry to say
"Wus, sir ?" said Stokes, who left off
laughing Immediately
Eyes II can't get my hand out"
The devil you can't sir p cried
Stokes in dismay.
"IL's twisted somehow, or swollen,
or the wood has gripped me. Wait a
moment Stokes. o, it's all up with
me ! | can'tp
"Take it quiet, sir. Keep cool, or
you'll never do it-don't hagitate
yourself-but for Cords sake look
sharp I'm cracking"
Don't move Stokes-as you arc a
man, don't novel IF you we're to
drop, | cannot Imagine what would
become Of me 1t will be all right in
minute"
Make it less, if you can" groaned
Stokes; call the blood's got into my
head, orful. 0, lor, what is to be
done ? Are you out, sir 2"
mo I'm not; I'm fixed, Stokes.
I'm a dead man, if you move; am.
indeed"
Stokes burst into tears, and howled
with all his might: and Mr. Rowley
shouted a great deal, and swore a
great deal, TOO. Stokes would have
run for it probably, for he was sue
cumbing fast to the dead weight
above him, had not Mr. Rowley held
him by the throat with his boots
and fixed him, too. In another mo-
ment had sprung to my feet, and
was rushing to the rescue.
81 am really very sorry, Mr.. Row
land; can | be of any assistance ?"
Assistance, you - you young
dew Yes, you can, my dear child.
Run for ladder, and saw, or some
thing, as quick as lightning, to the
house."
"Hi-hi-hollow !" shrieked Stokes
as | prepared to obey Mr. Rowley's
commands; "dont run-come here,
and let me run, or bust up | must
| o, lor, Master Huskisson don't leave
me any longer-do come and take
gHrn. He's not so heavy when you
are used to him-he isn't indeed"
saw the necessity of advancing
to the rescue ut once, and so did Mr.
Rowley. | was tall for my age and
tolerabiy strong, and / FASTENED to
take the place of Mr. Stokes, which
| did with great caution on all sides.
Behold me at last bearing the guar
dian of Clara on my shoulders, and
feeling terribly the weight of my re-
sponsibility as he stood with his face
to the tree, still exercising his inge-
nuity to get his hands out of the trap.
II hope I'm not too heavy for you,
Master Huskisson," he condescended
to say politely, for the sight of me
was even pleasant to witness.
"Not at all, was my cheerful an
swer
You'll make yourself as light as
you can to oblige me, perhaps?"
L had not quite done growing and
man is fragile during that process.
Mr. Rowley was very heavy, and
Stokes was wrong in his assertion
wickedly wrong.
"This is all your fault, mind you,
Huskisson. This might have been
my DEATH" he said reproachfully.
"Yes, Mr. Rowley, if hadn't been
in the way" was my happy reioinder.
"Ah but"-he looked around with
difficulty, and found Stokes still there,
making every human effort to
straighten his back before flying on
. | -.