Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-05-04
teacher and repeating his sisters words,

be gave a lugul,rious groan.
sHas she re,,osered?n questioned John,
vainly endeavoring to restrain bis laughter
at the wry faces bis brother was making. s
sYes, I soon brought her to; but don't
believe the poor girl will ever get over her
fright. She said the first thing she knew
she was being Lifted up and carried out, aud
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 ascream when she faint
ed. Its too bad, Ideelsre, boys. I'should
not wonder if she had taken her death, be
ing draggsd out of warm bed this time of
night and dropped into snowdrift in that
fashion. No wonder that she cried, poor
thing"
"Cried, did she?" repeated George, with
groan. s, ..s.arf 49,,
81 should think she did," said his sister.
81 took her in my arms and let her have
her cry out, while explained to her how
she happened to be taken for Sam, and so
become the victim of your mad pranks."
sThat was neat of you, Han; Pm awful
glad you Rugged the poor little thing. Wish
| You had given her brotherly squeeze for
me-'pon my honor 1 do. Oh dearl am
in sackcIoth and ashes from this time hence
forth and forever replied George with an
other groan.
sand how on earth do you expect US to
stay and take the consequences?" asked
John, beginning to look serious. had
rather face q masked battery than this
prstty teacher, after making such fools of
ourselves"
81 don't care If you had,n answered bis
sister, Indignantly. "The only way to do
is to brave it out, both Of you, and apollo
| gize for your rudeness. She is not a bit
| stupid, but pleasant and merry, and no
doubt you will have a jolly laugh over the
"But Sam? How the deuce are we to
| get along with him2 You know well
! enough, Ham, we shall never hear the last
of it from him; that it will be brought up
at all times and in all places"
elf you two can keep the secret, III
find way to silence Bridget, and it is q
subject Eva will not care to have discussed,
and fortunately my husband is away from
home. So 60 to bed and rest contented."
She showed them to the room she had
intended them 10 occupy, and soon the
house was once more hushed in slumber.
Meanwhile their brothsr Sam had reached
the depot few minutes t. late. He found
the train he was to have taken gone, bat
upon consulting a time table he ascar-
tanned 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 being wbirled along At a
rapid rate, how snugly bis brothers had en-
sconsed themselves in the best room, which,
by right, belonged to the eldest, and con-
summated plan to get even with them.
Sometimes after midnight he was depos-
tied at Hollythorn, and reaching his sisters
house, he secuted around until he found q
way of entrance into the kitchen, where he
deposited bis luggage and removed bis
boots. Then he quietly stole up stairs and
opened the door of the best room. Sure
enough, thought he, "My fine chaps, you
are in clover" for there were not mistaken
signs of the room being occupied. Gar
ments were lying upon chairs, and the bed
was being pressed By slambering forms.
To think of coping with their united
strength by dragging them forth, was not
practicable, but there stood the pitcher of
water, and he knew that a good dousing
with the icy fluid would bring them out
quick enough.
ssIf I can't have my old,quarters," he
chuckled, "you shan't, that | am deter
mined on. So here goes.".
He lifted the pitcher, approached the bed,
raised it high, and suddenly dashed the en-
tire contents upon the sleeper!
Such terror Of screams as he had lever
before heard, rang through the house, and
before Sam could collect his scattered senses
door after door opened and Hannah, George
and John rushed in, clothed in scanty ap-
parel-HannSh with frightened look in her
face and lamp in her trembling hand, that
revealed the entire scene.
There, sitting up in bed, with her hair
dripping like mermaid, her night dress
deluged, her face coloress and eyes looking
terror, was the young school mistress, and
there was Sam with the empty pitcher in
hand, the very picture of imbecility, staring
about like an idiot at Miss Eva and the
havoc he had made.
Hannah, George and John instantly COM
pretended the situation and the latter, at
the command of their sister, dragged Sam
away while she assisted the drenched and
terrified girl to dry her clothing, and then
took her to her own room anu bed, explain
ing for the second time, the mishap of the
night.
"IIl keep you with me now, my poor
child" said she, though with great difficult
ty she kept back her laughter. "These
boys are nicely come up with at any rate;
and if it wasn't for you having been so ter
ribly frightened, and the way my best bed
has been us.d, wouldn't care. They do
nothing when they come home but study
up some trick to play upon each other
and" continued she, by way of apology,
"they are so confined in their offices and
stores during most of the year, that they
let entirely loose when they get out here.
But you are safe now
Hannah kissed Eher charge and went
down to see the boys, who, as soon IS they
were fairly shut up in the regions below,
began to thoroughly appreciate the joke; and
now that Sam was as deep in the mud as
they were in the mlre, gave no quarter
''I'll be blamed il l know what it all
MEANS" said Sam, looking In confusion at
his brothers, who were rolling and kicking
in commissions of laughter.
SWAT" replied George, s'until Han
comes, and see if you don't find out" And
be gave vent to another peal.
Sam had not smiled, &nd.sat looking the
very picture of discom iture and perpexity,
but answered:
H'EFor heavens sake, hold on, boys! Pm
willing to admit that Pm badly scld-gone
dog cheap to the highest bidder; but hold
up long enough to tell fellow what it
means"
"Means? OF course will" continued
George, still holding bis sides. at means
that you have stolen like thief into Miss
Eva SANKEY'S bed chamber, who is young
lady teacher and boarding around,' and
this is her week here, and thinking it was
your humble servant and Johnny, snug in
bed, you attempted to drown US out, and !
made grand mistake. How do you like
it, Sam?'
81 confess see the point, but 1 can't
see the joke. 1t is a most outrageous
shame"
At this juncture Hannah came in and be-
gan rating them soundly, thereby letting out
the whole story. 1t was Sans turn to
laugh. He struggled manfully to retain his
gravity, but the whole thing was so su-
premely ridiculous, that he was compelled
to Join his brothers.
Miss Eva was not visible at the breakfast
table next morning, and Hannah announc-
ed that she was sick with severe cold,
whereupon George groaned out and called
for handful ofpeas TO put in Sans shoes;
while that gentleman looked very contrite,
and John declared he wanted to shoot HIM