Litchfield enquirer., 1872-02-29

der yer; but it's most powerful from ye ] to yer. Rub yer, dad.'' : A silence seemed to indicate brisk rub ping Then Johnny:
 Hevin' good time out yer, dad ?''
 Yes. sonny Jz5e.
 fo-morrerss Ghrismiss, -ain't it ?'' Yes, sonny. How does she feel now?'
 Better. Rnb little fnrder down Wot's Chrismiss, anyway? Wot's it al about?' 70, it's day"
 This exhaustive definition was appar. ently satisfactory, for there was silent interval of rubbing. Presently Johnny again: -.-
 stMar sez that everywhere else but ye, everybody gives things to everybody Chrismiss, and then she iist waded intel you. She sez thar's man they call Sandy Claws not white man, you know, but . kind O Chinemin, comes down the chim. bley night afore Chrismiss and gives things to chillern,-boys like me. Puts 'em in their butes ] Thet's what she tried to play upon me. Easy now, pop, wha1 are you rubbin' to,-thet's a mile from the place. She jest made that up, did 'nt she, jest to aggrewate me and you9 Don't rub thar--Why, dad ?''
 In the great quiet that seemed to have fallen upon the house the sigh of the neal pines and the drip of leaves without was very distinct. Johnny's voice, too, was lowered as he went on, Don't you take on now, fur I'm gettin' all right fast. Wot's the boys doin' out thar ?''
 The Old Man partly opened the doc, and peered through. His guests were sit. ting there socially enough, and there were few silver coins and a lean buck. skin purse on the table. 'eBettin' on suthin, some little game or mother. They're all right" he replied to Johnny, and recommended his rubbing.
 'I'd like to take hand and and win some money" said Johnny, effectively, after pause.
 The Old Man gibly repeated what was evidently familiar formula, that if John ny would wait until he struck it rich in the tunnel he'd have lots of money, etc., etc.
 "Yes," said Johnny, "but you don't. And whether you strike it or win it, it's about the same. It's all luck. But it's mighty cur'o's about Chrismiss,- ain t 1t Why do they call it Chrismiss 9
 Perhaps from some instinctive deference to the overhearing of his guests, or from some vague sense of incongruity, the Old Mans reply was so low as to be imaudible beyond the room.
 "Yes," said Johnny, with some slight abatement of interest, "Pve heerd O kin, before. Thar, that'n do, dad. I don't ache near so bad as did. Now wrap me tight in this yer blanket. So. Now" he added in a muffled whisper, "sit down CT by me till I go asleep" To assure him. self of obedience. he disengaged one hand from the blanket and grasping his fathers sleeve, again composed himself to rest.
 For some moments the Old Man waited patiently. Then the unwonted stiffness of the house excited his curiousity, and with out moving from the bed, he cautiously opened the door with his disengaged hand, and looked into the main room. To his infinite surprise it was dark and de- serted. But even then smouldering log on the hearth broke, and by the upspring- ing blaze he saw the figure of Dick Bullen sitting by the dying embers.
 Dick star4oa, rnsa and nnn,a somewhat unsteadily toward him. --'''
 "Whar's the boys?" said the Old Man.
 "Gone up the canon on little 2oasedr.
 They're coming back for me in mint. I'm waitin' round for 'em. What are you starin' at, Old Man," he added with a forced laugh; edo you think I'm drunk?"
 The Old Man might have been pardoned the supposition, for Dicks eyes were hu- mid and his face flushed. He loitered and lounged back to the chimney, yawned, shook himself, buttoned up his coat and laughed. "Liquor ain't so plenty as that, Old Man. Now don't you git up, he con tinued as the Old Man made movement to release his sleeve from Johnny's hand Don't you mind manners. Sit jest whar you be; I'm goin' in jiffy. Thar that's them now"
 There was a low tap at the door. Dick Bullen apened it quickly, nodded "Good night" to his host and disappeared. The Old Man would have followed him but for the hand that still unconsciously grasped his sleeve. He could have..easily disen- gagged it; it was small, weak, and emaciat- ed. But perhaps because it aCas small, weak, and emaciated he changed his mind, and, drawing his chair closer to the bed, rested his head upon it. In this defence less attitude the potency of his earlier po- tions surprised him. The room Aickered and faded before hia eyes, reappeared, faded again, went out, and left him asleep.
 Meantime Dick Bullen, closing the door, confronted his companions. "Are you ready?" said Staples. Ready" said Dick; ''what's the time ?" tPast twelve, " was the reply; 'tean you make it? it's nigh on fifty miles, the round trip hither and yon. " q reckon" returned Dick, shortly. ''Whar's the mare?" ''Bill and Jacks holdin' her at the crossin." "Let 'em hold on a mint longes," said Dick.
 He turned and re-entered the house soft ly. By the light of the guttering candle and dying fire he saw that the door of the little room was open. He stepped toward it on tiptoe and looked in. The Old Man had fallen back in his chair, snoring, his helpless feet thrust out in line with his collapsed shoulders, and his hat pulled over his eyes. Beside him, on a narrow wooden bedstead, lay Johnny, mufaed tightly in blanket that hid all save strip of forehead and few curls damp with precipitation. Dick Bullen made step forward, hesitated, and glanced over his shoulder into the deserted room. Every thing was quiet With sudden resolu. ton he parted his huge mustaehes with both hands and stopped over the sleeping O0ys 0ut VVCA dS AC NA4O SO 0 AA40CAAAON- ous blast, lying in wait, swooped down the the chimney, rekindled the hearth, and lit up the room with 6 shameless glow from which Dick fled in bashful terror.
 His companions were already waiting for him at the crossing. Two of them were struggling in the darkness with some strange misshapen bulk, which as Dicl neared took the semblance of great vel low horse, r. It was the mare. She was not pretty picture. From her Roman nose to hel rising launches, from her arched spine hidden by the stiff DaGchillGs of 8 Mexi can saddle, to her thick. straight, bony legs, there was not line of equine grace In her half blind but wholly vicious whits eyes, in he protruding under lip, in he1 monstrous color, there was nothing bu ugliness and vice,
 s'Now then, said Staples, "stand .cl'al of her heels, boys, and up with you Don't miss your first holt of her mane and mind .ye get your of stirup quick Readyr'
 There was leap, scrambling strug O1o A hoIInd a wild 1.otrnat of the crowd