The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1873-09-02
"Surprised.o

its journey out into the solitudes of coun-
try wilds, when tall, handsome man Of
seven or eight and twenty, darted franti-
cally into the depot and swung himself
after rather perilous fashion, upon the
platform Of the moving cars
just saved myself?' was his compla.
cent remark as he settled himself on the
velvet cushions under the lamp.
'Yes-exactly-just" " commented a
gentleman who sat opposite. Il tell you
what, Harry Kneller, l shouldn't repeat
that kind Of experiment very often, if |
we're you
We'll, you see | was in deuce Of a
hurry. I've been getting little surprise
for my wife, and somehow got behind
time
"A surprise, eh ?
You see,' went on Mr.. Kneler, conf
dentially leaning over toward his friend,
she's exceedingly fond of fried oysters
and up in the country we never get any
Of tina. sort of thing
so that's the secret of the tin pail ,eh ?
said George Arden. laughing good hum.
oredly.
Mr.. Kneeler on getting home, deposit
ed his precious burden carefully in the
corner of the porch, and walked in with a
nonchalant air.
We'll, Matte = as the bluc.eyed woman
came to meet him, and put up rosy
mouth to be kissed /; supper ready?'
'Yes-and I'm so glad you came home
early, Harry, for Mrs. Everts is sick ,and
they want me to sit up with her tonight
'AlI right " said Harry good.humored.
ly. Go. by all means, my pet
And he rubbed his hands, thinking
g,eefully of the fine field he should have
for his surprise
Il will be back before seven to morrow
Harry went May Ii--ii~-. ,-oL;"c =
musical cliuking among the china tea
cups and saucers, 'and you shall have
your breakfast in time for the train,
Shall | p thought Harry, nearly chok
ing himself with scalding tea, in hi:
strong sense Of the implied joke.
Couldn't have happened better he
pondered, as he toasted his slipper sole
before the fire, while Mary was washing
the china and lowering about the apart
ment on household thoughts intent'-fo
Mr.. and Mrs Harry Kneller were youn.
people Of limited income, and had not ye
aspired to the dignity Of 'help'-'no; i
couldn't possibly have happened better
A fair field and no favor and when Mat
tie comes back to morrow morning, she'l
find breakfast ready, fried oysters and a
or I'm uncommonly mistaken Won
it be a jolly surprise p
Good gracious, Harry! what are yol
doing?' calculated Mary, as her husbau
gave vent to very audible chuckl(
What pleases you so much ?
'Pleases me? Nothing" said Harry
trying to look austere all of sudden, an
, utterly. IL was thinking how lionel
,, | should be without you, DEAR
So Mrs. Harry Kneller tied littl
' white Cashmere hood over her brow
! riuglets. and enveloped herself in proc
igious Scotch plaid shawl, and trippe
away under her husbands arm, to Mr.
Evarts' abode, ABOUT half a mile beyon
7 Goodnight, darlingr said Harr
l. STOPPING to kiss her rosy cheeks at tt
door.
Goodnight, Harry
And | say, Matte pursued Knelle
l. unable to repress brief fash of exult
ton, don't oe astonished at any lit
surprise l may have in store for you t
morrow morning.
Surprise =
But Harry was off before the d,ssyll
u BILE had fairly passed Mary's lips.
* 1t will be jolly fun = thought Harry
With the first gray dawn of the chill
winter morning Harry Kneller was
: and stirring with vivid remembrance
the laurels he was to reap by that NOR
10 ing's work.
Where are the oysters p pondered
carefully holding the skirts Of his mol
ing wrapper, SO that the fire should l
endanger them. oh, l remember
= left them out on the piazza
And he made rush for the piazza.
Frozen. by Jupiter! Just my IL
T., exactly frozen like rock. Howev
they're easily thawed out again, oil
7 hot fire and III put the coffee stewi
: too. don't know just exactly what
regulation rations Of coffee are, but il
fill the pot half full, it can't help be
strong
Mr.. Kneller made a liberal apporli
ment of coffee, filed up the pot with '
g ter, and placed it on the hot Goals wit
- countenaDce expressive Of great satisl
. tion while close beside it the pail Of
zen oysters was exposed to the genial
auence Of caloric.
They'll boil like ginger pretty so
thought Harry. And now I'll stir U
huckwheat or sol know where nj
keeps the bag of -four
Stir up buckwheat or So sounds
markable easy-but Mr.. Kneller four
more difficult task than he had ap