American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1872-06-15
VOL. NH.

now ~
Long before she was done with hel
TRADE, her discounted brothers had be
taken themselves down stairs, wher,
they almost went into Mysteries over tn,
joke.
| "a pretty kettle of fish," said George
rolling over the floor and letting off pea
after peal of laughter.
81 should think it was" replied Johr
| holding his sides. ooh, my. But wha,
the dickens is to be done about it; and who
do you suppose she is, George ~
Some guest of Hannah's, of course
young and pretty at that l don't know
how ii is with you, but feel particularly
small and extremely cheap-would sell
myself at very low price,
Cheap" roared John, "cheaps !
would actually give myself away this
blessed minute, and throw in something
| to boot. What we are to do, 1 can't say;
but believe / shall dig out of this place
and get back to the city before morning.
haven't got the courage to face the music.
SO III get up and get"
He began hastily putting on his boots,
and would have put his threat into execu-
ton, but for the appearance of Hannah,
who at once asserted her authority.
You are not going single STEP" she
said; "but l don't wonder you feel
ashamed of yourselves. What on earth
possesses you is more than can tell"
"That's right, Han; pitch in. scold
away. I'll take any amount just now, for
L am meek as a lamb. But who is it we
have played so shabby a trick on ?" said
George.
"Trick? should think it was Why,
it is Eva Stanley, just as nice young
thing as ever lived. She is our school
teacher, and this is her week to board
here and l knew well enough you boys
would be squabbing over that room as
usual, SO put her in there, little think
ing you would come home in this stealthy
manner"
eva Stanley Whew! A pretty
school-teacher ~ and repeating his sis
ter's words, he gave lugubrious groan.
Has she recovered ?"questioned John,
vainly endeavoring to restrain his laugh
ter at the wry faces his brother was max
ing
"Yes, I soon brought her to but l
don't believe the poor girl will ever get
over her fright. She said that the first
thing she knew she was being lifted up
and carried out, and she was so much
alarmed that she couldn't utter sound :;
but the moment the cold air struck her,
she realized that she was being abducted,
or something of the kind, and had Just
time to utter scream when she tainted.
1t is too bad, l declare, boys. l should
not wonder if she had taken her death,
being dragged out of a warm bed this
time of night and dropped into snow
drift in that fashion. No wonder that
she cried, poor thing.
"Cried, did shes" repeated George,
with groan.
II should think she did. l Just took
her in my arms and let her have her cry
out, while l explained to her how she
happened to be mistaken for Sam, and so
became the victim of your pranks. ~
That was neat of you, Han. 1 am
awful glad you Rugged the poor little
thing. Wish you had just given her a
l do. Oh, dear! l am in sack-cloth and
ashes from this time henceforward and
forever" replied George, with another
dismal groan.
"And how on earth do you expect us
to stay and take the consequences" ask
ed John, beginning to look serious 81
am for taking myself off instanter. l had
rather face a masked battery than this
pretty teacher, after making such fools of
ourselves
81 don't care if you had," answered
his sister, Indignantly 'sThe only way
to do is to brave it out, both of you, and
apologize for your rudeness. She is not
bit stupid, but pleasant and merry, and
no doubt you will have jolly laugh over
the affair"
t'But Sam. How the deuce are we to
get along with him? You know well
enough, Han, we shall never hear the end
of it from him. That it will be brought
up at all times and in all places"
IF you two can keep the secret, I'll
find a way to silence Bridget, and it is
subject Eva will not care to have dis
cussed, and, fortunately, my husband is
away from home. So go to bed and rest
contented."
She showed them to the room she had
intended them to occupy, and soon the
house was once more hushed in slumber
Meanwhile their brother Sam had ar
rived at the depot n few moments too
late. He found the tram he was to have
taken gone, but upon consulting time
table, he ascertained that another started
two hours later, and SO decided to take it.
He figured to himself, as he impatiently
crowded into an empty seat, and was
being whirled along at rapid rate, how
snugly his brothers had ensconced them
selves in the best room, which by right
belonged to him, he being the eldest, and
consummated plan to get even with
them.
some time after midnight he was de-
posted at Hollythorn, and reaching his
sisters house he secuted around until he
found a way of entrance into the kitchen,
where he deposited his baggage and re-
moved his boots. Then he quietly stole
up the stairs and opened the door of the
best room. "Sure enough" he thought,
my fine chaps, you are in clover" For
there were not to-be- mistaken signs of the
rooms being occupied. Garments were
lying upon chairs, and the bed was press
ed by slumbering FORMS
To think of coping with their united
by dragging them forth was not
but there stood the water
pitcher, and he knew that good dousing
with the icy huid would bring them out
quick enough.
"If can't have my oil quarters" he
''you shan't, that I am deter
mined on So here goes"
He lifted the pitcher, approached the
bed, raised it high, and suddenly dashed
the entire contents upon the sleeper
Such torrent of screams as he had
never heard before rang through the |
house, and before Sam could collect his !
scattered senses, door after door was
opened, and Hannah, George and John
rushed in, clothed in scanty apparel
with IA frightened look in her
face and a lamp in her trembling hand,
that revealed the entire scene.
There, sitting up in bed, with her hair
like mermaid, her night dress
dclugcd, her face colorless and ewes look
ing terror, was the young school mistress,
and there WIS Sam, with the empty
pitcher in his hand, the very picture of
staring about like an idiot at |
Miss Eva and the havoc he had made
Hannah, George and John instantly |
the situation, and the lat |
ter, at the command of the sister, drag
ged Sam away, while she assisted the