Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-03-11


aPve trunk here, sir" says I.
Express it, then, or get some one to
carry it; can't wait"
Ibid express it to the right address
and then followed what l thought to be
q remarkably rude servant
We went across square and into a
street that seemed to be full of tenement
houses. The steps were covered with
women and children, and boys and dogs
filed the walks and the cutters.
Finally we stopped before not par.
ticularly neat-looking building and fol.
lowed him up the steps in a sort of maze
On we went into what / supposed was
the parlor, in the midst of which stood a
childs carriage There was a spider.
legged piano in the room, red and
green carpet, split-cane chairs, a red
sofa, two candlesticks on the shelf and
whole row of old-fashioned photo.
graphs.
The man threw his hat on the first
chair, told me to sit dowa and then left
the room. twas getting dark and pres.
emily one of the most uncouth-looking
Irish girls ever saw came in with one
of those small, portable, shade-kerosene
lamps, and if ever was thoroughly in.
terviewed by pair of shrewd eyes was
by hers. Finally, after setting the lamp
down, she gave one tremendous grin.
You's the new boy, s'pose."
New boyl" says i, with such empha-
sis that the smile faded from her mouth,
and she rather hurried out of the room,
casting grim glance behind her.
$ Well, this is pleasant" said to my
self. What does it meanY Why has
the man brought me here? When are we
going to Mr.. Green's?"
The photographs attracted my atten.
ton. / have seen whole families of
them before, but these were so peculiar.
ly ugly and solemn that they all looked
like members of funeral procession
following some uglier ancestor.
had hardly got through with this in
spection before door opened, and al
most instantly the atmosphere was in
vaded with the smell of onions, vege-
table that is particularly odious to me.
A little woman, as broad as she was long,
with face very much as they picture
the sun in the comic almanacs, stood be-
fore me.
"He said likely you'd be hungry
Won't you come out to supper?" she
asked, in CHEEKY voice.
couldn't have done it If my fortune
depended on it, so / answered that was
not hungry, had had late dinner, and
was exceedingly relieved when the door
was shut again.
Presently l heard the man come in and
sit down to supper. She must have told
him of my refusal, for distinctly heard
him say
"We'll take the starch out of him be-
fore long. Lansing told me in the letter
that he's proud young chap. Let him
alone"
Ibegan to grow impatient.
"How long are you going to keep me
here?" ! asked him when he came in
again. .
How long9 Well, as long as you be.
have yourself, reckon. Perhaps you're
tired enough to go to bed"
ell rather think I'll go out for q
walk" said, convinced now, if never be
fore, that / had been decoyed to the
wrong house, and that neither my purse
nor my watch was safe.
mo, sir" was the blunt response
"our boys never go out after Mine
o'clock. If they do they find the door
locked upon them"
But nave come -
know all about you, sir, and SEE
I've got hard one to manage. You were
very foolish to travel in store clothes
and they are almost too fine, anyhow
for your station in life"
"What do you mean, sir?" asked, an
grily, feeling thoroughly lnsulted.
"Oh. come, now, don't put on any OF
your airs before me; it won't do. II
you're to be an apprentice of mine, re-
member that I'm death on shoddy"
Twas too angry to speak for a mo-
ment.
"Pray, who are you, sirs And for
whom do you take me?" | asked him as
soon as could recover my breath.
"Who am II Why, John Trimble,
your master, as you'll find in more ways
than one if you give me any OF your i'm
pudence."
But" said I, II am Judge Blacks
son, and / don't know what you mean by
proclaiming yourselfmy master. came
to this place on visit to Col. John
Green, merchant, and you have de
coyed me here-for what purpose I'm
sure don't know. One thing Pm Ger
| tain of-you can't keep me here to
night, not if | can find hotel in the
place"
You never saw such a transformation
| as that man underwent He could hard
| ly make himself small enough, so he sal
| down.
"Well, that beats the jingol" he said
Shaping his knee, and then followed
apologies and regrets.
After awhile found that two young
fellows had simply been exchanged; bu
by next morning, sir, we each one sat a.
the right breakfast table, to our mutual
satisfaction.-Y YOUTHS Companion.
Minks-How They May BE Domesti'
| Gated.