Connecticut western news., 1874-08-14
G SURPRISED.O

.z SURPRISED.O
 The evening train was just starting for it's journey out into the solitudes of country wilds, when tall, handsome man of seven or eight and twenty dart ed frantically into the depot and swung himself, after 8, rather perilous fashion, upon the platform of the moving cars
 :" Just saved myself 1" was his com- placent remark, as he settled himself on the velvet cushions under the lamp.
 :" Yes-exactly-just r commented gentleman who sat opposite. "I tell yoC4 what, Harry Kneller, I shouldn t repeat that kind of experiment very i often. if were you"
 We'll, you see, was in great hur- ry. I've been getting little surprise for my wife, and somehow I got behind
 ''A surprise, eh?"
 "You see," went on Mir. Kneller, con- fidentially leaning over toward his friend, "she's exceedingly fond of fried oysters, and up in the country we never get any of that sort of thing. 5
 "So that's the secret of the pail, eh ?" said George Arden, laughing spontaneously"
 MT. Kneller, on getting home, de- posted his precious burden carefully In the corner f the porch and walked in with nonchalant air.
 "Well, Mattiel" as the blue eyed woman came to meet him, and put up g rosy mouth to be kissed; "supper ready ?'
 Yes-and I'm so glad you come home early, Harry, fer Mrs. Evarts is sick, and they want me to sit up with
 "All right P said Harry. good-hu- moredly. "Go, by all means, my pet P
 And he rubbed his hands, thinking gleefully of the fine field he should have for his surprise
 "I will be back before seven to-mor- row, Harry" went on Mary Kneller. making musical clinking ameng the china tea cups and saucers, "and you shall have your breakfast in time for the train"
 " Shall I7" thought Harry. nearly choking himself with scalding tea, in his strong sense of the implied joke,
 Couldn't have happened better, he pondered, as he toasted his slipper soles before the fire, while Mary was washing the china, and lowering about the apartment on household thought intent "-for Mir. and Mrs. Harry Knel- Ter were young people of limited in come, and had not yet aspirea to the dignity of sthelp "-"no; it couldn't possibly have happened better l A fail field and no favors and when Mattie comes back to morrow morning she'll find breakfast ready. fried oysters and all, or I'm nncommonly mistaken Won't it be g jolly surprise ?"
 ssa" Good gracious, Harry what are you doing 2'' ejaculated Mary, as he1 husband gave vent to a very audible chuckle. " What pleases you SC 1 much ?" sreF.}# 1o sss .s--
 Pleases me? Nothing p said liar ry, trying to look austere all of sud den, and uttering, "I-I was thinking how lonely I should be without you 1 dear !" ssIA .o..'' 5@ ' ia--
 So Mrs. Harry Kneller tied little white Cashmere hood over her brow1 ringlets. and enveloped herself iD { prodigious Scotch plaid shawl, ani tripped away under her husbands srn to Mrs. Evart's abode, half mile be yond. g I Good night, darling P said Harry stepping to kiss her rosy cheeks at thu door. .7..+ a
 4s" Goodnight, Harry"
 "And I say, Mattie," pursued Knel | Ter, unable to repress brief flash o exultation, "don't be astonished at an, little surprise I may have in store fo you tomorrow morningr"
 Surprise p
 l But Harry was off before the dis syllable had fairly passed Mary's lips.
 "It will be jolly fun P though Harry. sJ t,-,.. I With the first gray dawn of the chill winter morning Harry Kneller was u and stirring, with vivid remembrance of the laurels he was to reap by tha mornings work.
 "Where are the oy sters ?'' pondere he, carefully holding the skirts of hi morning wrapper, so that the fire shoul not endanger them. "Oh, I remember left them out on the piazza"
 And he made rush for the piazza.
 "Frozen, by Jupiter! Just my luc exactly frozen like a rock. However they're easily thswed out again on hot fire /; and I'll put the coffee stewln too. I don't know just exactly whs the regulation rations of coffee are, bu if I fill the pot half full it can't hel being strong"
 MT. Kneller made liberal appol tionment of coffee, filled up the pc with water, and placed it on the he : coals with 8 countenance expressive ( l great satisfaction while close besid it the pail of frozen oysters was e1 posed to the genial influence of calori,
 "They'n boil like ginger prett ] soon" thought Harry. "And now T. stir up a buckwheat or so-T kno where Hattie keeps the bag of four. ''
 "Stir up buckwheat or so' sound , remarkably easy-but MT. Knellt 2 found it Q more difficult task than had apprehended.
 . "Idon't- -see--where- the--hitc -is," slowly soliloquized our her
 .' It ought to foam over, with lit
 bubbles on the top-at least Mattie
 always does. Perhaps the cold weath
 makes difference. ?" Hallool T.
 forgotten all about potatoes P
 But not potato could be foun
 and Harry Kneller, with all the orgi1
 ality of great mind, fell back on 8 ps lof withered yellow turnips, four SPt number, which he put boiling in D .-z le