St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1872-08-23
My Night in a Box.

And must luu really go away. and
remain all night in that NASTY old box
of Yours. and leave Your little Rosebud.
aS You call her. all alone here. t" imagine
all sorts of h"riid things happening Il"
her pnnI old boy Couldn't You stay
at home just for this one night -
''Couldn't possibly Il" it. my love.
said |. struggling int" my greatr"at.
and pu>>,>>ing myself at the saline time
of my hig driving gloves. which my
little wife wa> ah~rmtl\ TWIN" I" tit ON
her own little hands
Not if very much wished it. VII
lie c! Do Nou know felt 81 strange and
lonely last night. when You were away.
that could hardly make up my mind
To =" To bed lt all and Tonight | can
scarcely bear the thought that You
should hr :" long ah>rut. l"m know
what Il foolish little thing | am.
Her arm quietly stole round me. and
She looked up I" my face with Il Wl>ttul.
anxious look. while II tear stood gll>tcII-
ing in the corners nt the sweet blue
eyes.
Why. You wee you~". said kissing
away the bright token "t hen earnest
ness. ~ hat has pat such absurd Thoughts :
into that wise noddl, of Yours Are
Nnu afraid that the fairies will WAY lay
me. and spirit me AWAY L" their cliim.
land If they du. shall tell them HAT
| have left Il taiIN at home. and not
/ even the hlandi>lnmrut> "f the queen
/ herself shall tempt me INTO then M
c;InmN country. But seriously. Maggie.
there j. nothing /" hc alarmed about.
/ | shall hc at home 10y seven OClock at
/ the latest: but since You are 81 ccrlc. J
/ will call at father a. pass. and send
up my brother Bob L" keep N"u COM
panN and STAY in the house all night.
Will that content YOU. little woman
No: don't du that it would look
foolish. and Bob would only laugh III
me when he came. He does not under
stand me think II" one does under
stand me except y"u. dear Will.
"Thamk NoIr. Mag: think ii" un-
drI>tamd lou. But here comes the gig
80 gund-hNr. and don't fret for the short
time | am away. shall hc back long
before Nou are done dreaming. :"
SAY ing. | mounted the gig. and drove
!Ipidll along the frozen road. But m!
wife fingered 10y the porch. following
me with her eyes; and 81 long a. the
back. see her white dress >himmclimg
ghost like in the light which >trramcd
through the open door.
At the time of which write. | WAS
telegraph superintendent ON the Wilton
and I.onghauk line of railway. One "i
the clerks. who Was ON night duty. had
been taken suddenly i'll. and being i'm
able to find Il suitable substitute. had
taken his work myself until such time
aS he should recover. had only been
married Il few months. and WAS 10y ne
means rccomcilcd to the necessity "i
leaving my wife and home to pass tn,
night in that "maNtN old box, a> Mag
called it and She WAS perfectly correct
in her description. But knew thai it
waS il necessity. and knew likewise
that no grumhling of mine could memo
the matter.
\ drive of about eight miles brought
me to my post. There Wa> nothing
very extraordinary i'll the duty tn whirl
had been called away. nor WAS it amy
new experience to me: but ON thai
night my mind WAS filled with indctina-
hlc fears. for which tried i'll vain IL
account The night was clear and wind
less. and AWAY in the northwestern sky
the aurora h"rcall> WAS hitting |" an'
fr" III Thousand strange iln'aS'I'
shapes. As watched the shifting an'
qulNrr1ng CLEANS. now >h""tln@ III rapl'
succession from one luminous centre
ana anon spl'a"illS ana '"l,'i'S wave
after wave across 'ile >''lrH he'\'''S'
began I" tilik "l 'iie n'S'iS''"'S on'ti''
"i war. plague an" laiil'i'e' why" II
"ldcn times men drew from >'l'n ~ ;
SomcW hat "i the same elil"'loil lei' IL
my own mind; ana reason aS l ""'''"'
irl' II linp"sHl"ie /" Sti'he "i, 'he gro"