Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-11-30

tiOns to the grand festival to come off
to-morrer afternoon, at two precise with
out no CEREMONY he concluded with
grand flourish, for Bob could be very
grand indeed when he chose.
Indeed, he was considered quite nabob
by his friends, as why shouldn't he be?
for he had officiated as kitchen boy in one
of the rich and aristocratic families in
Pendleton for the space of two weeks,
and such great stories as he had to relate
of g the quality" he had 0een among, and
the astonishing glimpses of upper life
that his eyes had beholdenl It was never
exactly understood why Bob had so sud-
denly left his most lucrative and satisfac-
tory position, but his surprising remem-
brances of that wonderful time werG a
never-failing source of delight to himself
and his hearers.
Well, the hour for the party came, and
every boy was there at e" two precise" you
may be sure.
1t was to be only a small, but very
select party; there was Tim Scratcher the
red-headed match 10y, Dick Swivel, who
cleaned the sidewalks; little Misery Jip,
who was always cold and always hungry,
and Bob, the aristOcrat.
The guests were received with a lofty
cOndescension that filled them with adj
miration: such bows as Bob could make
" Genlmen will please walk into ther
dressin' room on the right, and then re-
pair into ther drawin' room until refresh
ments is served: :" he directed, in his
grandest manner.
Now the "dressin' room'' was mere
ly one corner of the old back room, that
Bob had embellished with pin-ball and
two or three inches of cracked looking
glass that he had found in the room, but
the genl'men" marched in with becom
ing solemnIty, and arranged their toilets.
Hey! where did We git yer Shakspeer
collar?'' asked Tim, as Dick produced
stiff, dirty paper collar with very long
points, and proceeded to pin it on. +" Ny
eye, what swell yer be now, amt yer,
out in the latest fashion? Makes yer
look like old Shakes himself, blamed
now if it dOn'tr' he added, admiringly,
as he proceeded to his own toilet; said
proceeding being merely the Strengthening
of a huge glass breast-pin which had
fallen into his happy clutches through the
agency of package of prize candy, and
which was aired only on state occasion.
Poor Misery made no attempt at style; he
only ran his fingers through his unkempt
hair and gave an extra pull to his short
jacket sleeves, and wondered why fortune
should be so much kinder to the others
than to him.
"Better keep on yer Paris hat, Misery
it gives yer more of a genteel look" ad-
vised the boys, who felt very genteel
themselves, and qJite willing to lend
their counsel to one less fortunate.
And then they proceeded to the draw
in room, and Bob entertained them with
his most magnificent stories of high life;
the parties he had OBLIGATED at; the swell
people he had known, and the fashion he
had seen; all of which was most devoutly
believed by his approaching audience.
Z" remembers one party, when l was
Twin there" said Bob, very grandly,
''Where there was three queens all dressed
in gold and silver, with butiful diamond
shoes, and they come with twenty four
white horses, all covered with gold har-
nesses, and they went out to supper with
three Kings with great gold crowns on, and
they eat silver ice cream and gold ap-
ples,' asserted Bob, quite forgetful of
physiology, in his visions of magnificence
Did they, tho'?' exclaimed Dick,
looking with reverence upon the hero who
had seen kings and queens at supper
"What a grand life you have led, Bob! ="
Tim was silently wondering how such
things as silver ice-cream and gold apples
would taste, but it agreed exactly with
his ideas Of royalty, and SO he made no
doubtful observations.
Poor Misery only wished Bob would
stop talking ana get supper; silver and
gold had never figured much in his short
life, but supper was verify that he could
appreciate down to the depths of his soul
At last the welcome summons, "genl''
men please take pardners for SUPPER ;.
was heard, and the boys took their seats
around an old bench covered by the cob
bler'S leather apron, and crowned, and
graced, and made beautiful by Miss Crock
ett's chicken-pie which was carved and
distributed by Bob in the most elegant
manner. He had come upon the blue
saucer in his first attempt. " Blamed if this
| here amt areal cheat" he thought to him
self, but instead of uttering his thought,
he only added to the glory of the occasion
| by explaining that it was the "latest la
mode way of serving chicken pie
And how those boys did eat Every
| bone of Miss Susan's departed shanghai
was picked clean; every trace of delicate
crust was scraped from the dish, until
even Misery was utterly and fully salts
! fed.
/ do not believe Miss Susan could have
been so unfOrgiying in her heart, could
she have seen the delight in their dirty
faces, and heard the compliments that
were showered upon her Don't know
what on airth to do with the dish and the
sarcer," said Bob; g it seems a pity to
break 'em; guess tho I'll leave 'em for
the old cobb1er to wonder over to-morrer.
And now, gen'lmen, please take pardners
| for tho SfpaSC ualtznC Ix-bil 10 tbo Tbr,,
orkestry will play" said Bob, producing
jewsharp, and beginning to play.
But the grand festival, like all sublu-
| nary things came to an end at last, and the
boys departed, after assuring Bob that it
was the stunnin est affair of the season, -
and giving three enthusiastic cheers for
| their hero, and three more for Miss Susan
Crockett" and, "long may she wave!"
they added, heartily, and this Thanksgiv-
ing was over.
The next morning the industrious cob
bier came early to his work. and was
more surprised than he could express, to
find the debris of the feast "Some of
those rascally boys" he thought Cpl
have fastener put on to that winder be-
fore | sleep another night, that's sure"
And then the blue saucer caught his
eye, and the cobbler turned pale; % Jest
like it." he mlttered, taking it up; why
declare to goodness if it amt the very
same one, with just that piece nicked out
| can't be mistaken; now what on earth
does that mean?" And the blue saucer
sent his thoughts back twenty years, for
this cobbler was none other than Eben-
eyer Prindle, Miss Crockett's faithfess
lover. -.
Jane BuzzelI had led him weary life,
but she died at last, and on her death bed
she confessed to Eben that it was all false
NH obo boJ told .b