, 1875-04-11
THE DEMON BOOTS.

THE DEMON BUUIS' =
The pleasant town OF Crie ehton stands BY The
t sea. Years have peEaed sincs I paid my frs
visit to Crghtou on misty day in Il drea ~
dark November" and sought the hospitality OF
the Terminus HOTEL just outside tho railway
Bta.ion. But have never forgotten that visit.
| I have lively recollection Of the Terminus
Hotel, though have never since then patron
| lied it. / cherish pleasant remembrances OF lff
| buxon widow landlady, tender memories OF III
fearfully handsome chambarna'd sno
1 never, never have I forgotten the demon
| 'Boots !" OF that establishment, towards
| whom I continue to entertain senta'
ments ota undying and implacable snimos'
| ity. May the grava Of bis great-grandmothe.
| be defllod! May The bones Of his maiden aunt
on the mothers side-bus no natterl mus'
be calm.
The COMMITTEES of the Creighton Literary In
stitute had engaged me to deliver lecture on
Handel. and the lecture was to commence at !
D. N. Iar1iyed at the Terminus Hotel at G.; or"
j dered dinner and sent for the "Boots." Fiyc
minutes later the coffee-room door Was softy
opened; four rod kuucklea and shock head
| became visible, and their owner asked, in q
| husky voice:
ssD'ye want the Boots, eur ?"
| "Aro you the Boots Z" I answered.
| " Ees, zur."
tCome in, then, and shut the door. I don't
| want to be blown into the chimney"
Slowly and cautiously Boot" complied. Ho
was short and stua1py, wore corduroy breeches
and leather galtess around his handy tega, dog
skin waistcoat with black canvas sleeves, red
| WOODEN comforter, and hberal allowance OF
dirt. HIS tangled hair, innocent of braah Of
| comb, nas embellished with stray bits OF straw,
and lis genera! appearance euggested recent
rapid promotion from the rank OF ostler to the
| piouder position Of 81 Boots"
20 Do you know the Literary Institute, Boots -
The Jnstitoot. zur Fees, Zur-"
II waut to be there before o'clock. After
dinner ! shall change my dress, and you must
have fly At tho door by i quarter to 8"
:Quarter to 8. Ees zur."
"TQ-molrow morning must leave b. the 8
o'clock tram. Tell the porter to be hero for my
portmauteau at quates to 9 u
"Qua1ter to 8. Ees, zur."
most part OF the bundle OF tow which hung over
his forehead and departed Dinner was IN ac-
countably delayed and when it arrived. half m
hour behlnd time the Cockney waiter ''oped I
| would excuse the delay, which had "bcen
caused by Huggles-leaatways. Boots avn
made mistake IN somethin he was sent out for. :"
So his name was "Huggles," confoupd him!
After dinner arrayed myself in tue evening
costume Of the period; took my lecture and
music from out OF my portmanteau, and was at
the hotel threshold by ten minutes to 8. No
vehicle WAS there! At this moment Boots !"
stumped through the hall and made for the stair-
case. -.
"Boots !" shouted, " what are you about7"
I'm gwine for your portmantel eur I'm the
porter, zur."
No Doubt. Re mas the Un-admirable Ctighton
Of the establishment.
"Leage my portmanteau alona. Whare's the
ay?"
"All riebt, eur. re a1aersd it z1r-at Mus
ter ShilLto's, CUR. Quarter to 8 tomorrow mar
"confound your stupidity! Why should
order fly for tomorrow morning wheu I shall
DO close to the station7 told 5ou quarter to
8 this evening II
"Di3 ee. eur 7"
"UidI7 OF course did Ars thers any
cabs st the station Z" .,.
" Noa, zur-not afoor ha1f srter 5"
] looked at my watch Eve m.nutes to 81
nv patent-lealher boots. Only one course Mas
left
tutel''
9TH Insti:oot7 Ees, zur."
And away VIC started through one Of those
reeking "sea-foga" for which Crighton is
proudly pre-eminent. It Vas five minutes past
when we reached the Insrltuto. II was already
closed, aud not light to be seenl l rang the
bell while my frieod Huggles knocked At the
away at one minute past 8. disgusted n my
unpunctuanty
"po they close thar rooms at epe'y nieht2"
asked.
"Noa: zur: nus p'raps it's one OF their lsotur
nigbts7">
9.Is is their lecture pight!"
~ think as how you're right, zur. I te1nem-
ber now. as I 2eed hill this narnin about
somebody O. the name o Hahndul q vur gvine
to lectur at the Institoot"
..Haudel going 10 lecture7 But never mind.
Res the man want to hear. Where u he TO
lecture? Z"
TIE Demon Boots took OF his cap, plunged
his fingers down among the tow, and deltb-
dt to say:
''WelL you Zee, eur, they alus shuts up The
lnst1toot On iectur nights, cause the lectu1s ia
given at the Town HALL"
Why on earth couldn't you say SO before7"
"Well zar*iniy. zur-for tho matter O. that"
Ten miuutea part 8!
''Ruu With ICE as fast Is you can to the Town
HALL"
Ala quarter pasta, with muddy boots and
damp visage, presented myself ut tho Town
Hall to make my debut in Crghton-was hiased
By the audience for being late-told them mY ad-
ventures, wbich put them In good humor had
greater success than deserved and was epgag-
ed for swo more musical features.
4Ae !ectuls oFdE+ u6steueq QaCR 70 lQ6 QO-
tel, changed my hose, and, being determined to go
down to the beach and suiH the sea-breeze, put
on Eair Of cork-solod boots with red morocco
tops, OF which was Justly proud; ordered sup
per At u; pr'menaded on tie wet shingle for
an hour and half; got back to the hotel shiv-
ering and uncomfoi table-and found tbe coffee
room fire had gone out! The Demon Boots had
been left IN charge Of the cof1ee-room FIRE by rbe
waiter, nho. being afflicted with 3 cold in the
head from over-Rupplvepf aea-fog. had retired to
his bedroom at an early hour with = can OF hot
water, half pound Of mustard, taliow-candls
for his nose, and some not rum and water for an
inward application. OF course, the Demon Boots
had allowed the IRE to 60 out.
went to the bar 10 ark il IRE could be
lighted for dae4 and then first saw Tho widow.
.'fat, fair, and forty" who ruled over the au.e-
diluvian arrangements Of the Terminus Hotel.
Bhe said that ''it would take long time before
good FIRE could be made" and su9gested that
should take my supper in her bar parlor, whore
a CHEEKY fire was blazing. l ioyfully accepted
the proposal; took nv seat By the freside, rang
for the Demon, who brought me- bootjack and
slippers by permission-aud indeed At the ear