Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-03-17
VOL. 7O.-357O. NO. %.

ll.Ole 700 'pry Tor the stagedriver and your
Light began to dawn upon the troubled
mind.
It's oil mistake, my good fellows--a
ridiculous mistake r. he exclaimed, I'm not
a mailman 3"
No, Of course not we know you're not"
responded the larger Of the two with a wink
at his companion" Drive on. Tom
But I'm not, indeed, you are mistaking
me for somebody elsa man who Just forced
me TO exchange hat and coat with him. and
went down into the woods-he is the mad.
man
"Oh, no-Tguess not, said the big keeper.
with fearful attempt at pleasant IRONY.
My good man, you are laboring under
some very singular delusion," demonstrated
the victim, trying to speak plainly between
the Ioting Of the wagon and his own excite
ment. am Mr.. Nathan 1npler, Of No.
John street,
Oh yes said the keeper, lighting ci.
gar, yesterday, you were Napoleon Bona
parte, and, to-day, you're Nathan Tripler,
and to-morrow-likely as not-you1l be the
king Of the Sandwich Islands have heard
this kind o. talk afore."
lnpler's heart began TO stand still with
underlined horror. Was this hideous dream
or was he actually immured within the high
stone walls Of the asylum he had so often
walked past with a feeling Of dread and hor.
ror beyond all description, the lifelong vic
tim Of some scarce credible mistake In
vain he reasoned, argued, protested; his
words fell ON the unheeding ears Of his two
conductors like drops Of rain pattering on
the stony surface Of Table Rock, until at
length he was carried-more dead than
alive-into narrow apartment, at the end
of a long row Of similar ones.
II was lighted and ventilated by an iron
grating in the door, with corresponding
window high up on the wall, and furnished
only with a narrow couch and a stand built
into the WALL aud there Mr. Nathan Trip-
Ter, released from his confning bonds, was
left to enjoy the uninterrupted society Of his
own cheerless meditations.
" II can't be possible | must be asleep
and dreaming thought Nathan.
BUTT was possible, and he was never wider
awake in his lifel
Toward evening, pitcher Of water and
piece OF bread was dealt out to him. Mr.
lupler ate 1t under a sort of mental protest
to relieve the gnawing sensation of faintness
that was at his vitals
-
hot biscuits" thought the wretched captive.
" My poor little Dorothy have been too
hard upon her. Suppose-just suppose
should die without being able to tell how
ashamed | am Of having been such a brutep'
II was not the dry bread that choked
Nathan Jripler just then--it was the humil-
iating sense of his own sins and short
comings
Next morning it was bread and water
again. Nathan thought of Dorothy's de
spised coffee and grumbled-at steak.
d" have deserved it," thought Nathan;
there's no mistake about that Poor dar-
ling little Dorothy how her heart is aching
for me now. | wish | could stroke down
her hair just once. Oh it's hard to be
treated so, even though | know I'm served
exactly right. If ever get out Of this hole
alive, Dorothy will find me changed man"
The confused current Of thoughts was Just
eddying vaguely through his mind when
there was a sound of steps and voices in the
long corridor without.
81 suppose they're going to put ON
straight waistcoat now" thought Mr.. Trip
Ter, with resigned air "Wen, there's
nothing leftme butte endure kdon't think
I'm mad but how long shall hold out sane
under this interesting concentration of cir
cumstances is rather doubtful question.
But Mr. Tripler was mistaken about the
straight waiscoat-it was his keeper instead,
accompanied by two or three gentlemen-all
profuse in apologies and sympathetic ejacu-
lations.
" Such mistake !" said one old gentle
man with bald head.
" So awkward for you, my dear sir :" said
another middle aged gentleman with Ro-
man nose.
But entirely unintentional assure you
sir" chimed in a third.
While Mr.. Tripler looked vaguely from
one TO another, he said
"Then am not mad, it seems ?" he de-
manded.
Not a particle, sirl" cried the committee
men in chorus
ooh p said Mr. Tripler, al am glad to
hear it."
Then the committee proceeded TO inform
their involuntary guest how the mistake had
happened by which his identity had been
confounded with that of his mysterious ac-
quaintance of the woods.
"We are very sorry" said the first COM
mittee man, shaking Mr.. Tripler's hand as
If it had been the handle of town pump.
So am said Mr.. Tripler laconicaliy.
Here is your hat and coat, said the Sec
ond committee man. ave had great diff
| Guilty in getting them away from our poor
| friend in the lucurable Ward, who fancied
they were the last dying bequest of Presi-
dent Lincoln"
And anything we can do to make any
atonement for the awkward mistake would
be great pleasure to us ALL" said the third
while the keeper eyed Mr. Tripler obviously,
as if not altogether certain but that he was
little mad after all, which almost any one
would be, under the circumstances.
When Mr.. Nathan Tripler reached his
home, all was the widest grief and confusion
there. Dorothy had had the woods searched,
the river dragged, and the whole vicinity
ransaoked, and was now in Mysteries in the
nursery. Nathan walked straight in, and
| put both arms around her.
Here am, Dottie Don't cry any more
But Mrs. Tripler cried more than ever.
ats only dream" she sobbed forth
Nathan is dead"
" No, am not dead" said Mr.. Tripler
with a grim sense of humor, only hay,
been mad" And quieting his wife's sobs
after a while, he told her all his adventures
And now, is dinner ready?" he asked
"for | am as hungry as bear"
! haven't thing in the house fit 10 eat,
walled his wife.
=" | don't care if it's nothing but dry brca,
and molasses, Dottie" said the husband
" can tell you that asylum took some of thu
nonsense out Of me. / shall never grumbl
again, don't be afraid"
And Dorothy frightened up. 1t was tn
first time he had called her Dottie," o
spoken so tenderly since their honeymoon
was in its crescent glow.
lie has adhered to his good resolutions
he never did grumble again. The asylum
had done genuine good.
No Young Statesmen.