The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1872-03-01
BY HoRsLEY BROS & EFlIGGUERs:' 'idi
COLUMBIA TENNESSEE, MARCH l. 1872
TmmscalER.nAKRR
BY CHARLES DICKENS.

T0k 010C0IEksAAkkk
BY CHARLES DICKENS.
Between the rivers Kistnah an,
Beehma in the Deckhan, surrounds
by Wild, rocky hills, Hes the t6Nn Q
ShOrapoor, capital Of State of tha
name, inhabited by Q people VIII,
have generally been considered law
less, superstitious, and quarrelsome
OF late years they have been more in
dustrtous and peaceable, and though
still an excitable race, may be said {,
be advanced in the arts Of peace.
1t was during more remote period
when few strangers ventured to pene
trate the country, that q weary look
ing traveller, covered with dust enter
ed one OF the gates, and sat doWr
awhile ct the side Of . we'll. He theI
proceeded to take OFF his waistbanC
and turban, washed his head anC
feet, drank Of the cool, refreshing
water, c0mbed his head and NOUS
tachios, and spreading Q small CARPET
on which he laid his trusty sword
drew from his wallet q neat little
muslin skull-cap; then seated him.
self croes-leggedi lighted his pipe and
began to look comfortable indeed.
In the meantime there were moi
wanting many idle and curious peo-
pie, who having first at q distance OBJ
served the movements of the stranger
approached him nearer and nearer.
But he seemed to take little notice of
the crowd, and appeared absorbed In
q sense Of his own enjoyment, taking
long whiffs of his pipe and looking as
II he had made q considerable pro-
gress toward the third heaven.
At length q respectable looking
man who had come up drew nearer
than the rest, and asked him from
whence he had travelled, and whittier
he was going? What he was seek
ing in Shorspoor, and whether he
was q merchant, or merely came to
look about him? But the question
only ended in smoke, being answered
only by whiffs.
Then came another still bolder
man, and said: "Sir, the heat is sgreat;
be pleased to come with me to my
house, and repose yourself there, and
l will give you . nice, cool place iA
which you may Sleep"
Upon this the stranger drew his
pipe from his mouth and replied:
"You are exceedingly kind, good sir,
and am really grateful to you for
your proffered hospitality; but the
fact is I don't believe you would
wish to have me in your house, did
you know what 1 really amp
And thus saying he rolled his eyes
about, twisted up his moustachios,
strOked his head, and assumed such
q mysterious air that an indescribable
terror seized the crowd; 80 much so,
that In falling hastily back, some of
them fell down, and others tumbled
over them in very ridiculous man
mer.
"He's a thief" whispered one. "Or
q Thug" said another. "Or an evil
spirit in thejform of man." observed
the third. "At all events. doesn't he
look like q man who has killed
?n
In short the alarm became general,
and several deemed it prudent to
sneak off and then take to their heels.
A few, however, of the belder spirits
kept their ground; and seeing that
the stranger did nothing but take
long whiffs from his pipe, sending
the smoke peacefully curling over
his beard and moustachios out Of both |
his nostrils, they regained their con-
and began to think that, |
after all, he might be some important
who could tell? So, after |
. little pushing and elbOwing among
q man was thrust for |
ward, under an idea that something |
might come of it !; but no, the stranger |
appeared as Indifferent as ever.
Then another, who had screwed up |
bis courage to that point, boldly ad-
vanced and thus spoke:
'Do, pray, sir, tell us who upon |
earth you may be? No answer.
Then the man who had offered q
sleeping place in his house, chimed |
in and said: "Aye sir, do let us
know who or what you may be? II
assure you we are none afraid Of you ?"
And with these words he twisted up
his moustachios and tried to look as
fierce and bold as possible, while bis
knees were knocking together, and
his heart fluttering all the while. On
\ repetition of these questions, how.
ever, by both these men, the stranger,
with infinite gravity, took the pipe
from his mouth, and thus spoke:
Are you not too much frightened
10 heart"
The runaways, however, had de-
parted, and those left behind seemed
more determined not to follow them,
more especially as the stranger had
made no sign as if he would draw his
sword neither did they think he
looked at all 30 horrible now. They,
therefore, one and all, called out,
NO! we are not bit afraid let US
hearW
"Well, then" exclaimed the stran-
ger, taking q long puff at his pipe,
strange as it may appear to you all,
my name Is Mischief Maker! And
what Is very extraordinary, what
ever 1 do, wherever I 60, wherever 1
nm, I always create mischief, l al
ways have created mischief, and shall |
continue to do so to the very end of
my life!" And upon this he rolled his
eyes, and puffed away at his pipe
harder than ever.
-"Oh, is this all ?" cried the party,
''is this sll?"
"For . matter of that" said an
active little man, with twinkling |
eyes, "you need be under no uneasi-
ness whatever. ]. defy you to make |
more mischief than we have already,
for we are all more or less at enmity |
with our neighbors; and - our fathers |
and grandfathers were the same, we
it must be owing to some-
think that can't be changed; for in
stance, the air or water of our town
20 set your heart at rest, and come |
along with US, and we'll take care of
you."
"Well," rejoined the stranger, II
Am very glad indeed to hear what |
you say of your own town for to be |
candid with you, it's exactly what l |
heard of you all as I came along; and
this makes me think that in q place
where all were mischiet-makers and
busy.bodies already, 1 could have
to do but (for once in my life)
live in peace. However, don't trust |
all have to say-and if
any evil srises from my visit, turn
me out, and I'll seek . home else
where.n
An old Brahmin had come up in
time to hear this avowal. "Tis very
said the wise man. "This