Daily Kennebec journal., 1876-06-16
rro,r1nded from first page.J

rard calmness. What would not have
given for q good sound earthquake, or
ever, revolution! ...
..Jeffery, pass the bread and butter to
Mr.. Cheltman. Shrimps or celery ?"
The legerdemain-like manner in which
my bread and butter disappeared certain
ly surprised, and probably annoyed, my
fair entertainer. The plate being left
close beside me, / made no scruple to
help tnyself, and in a short time it was
empty. Turning suddenly, she said:
.You ought to have some toast. Cook y
The aged woman having been repeated
sly summoned by this evidently new and
startling title, reappeared. apparently
fresh from the coal-hole. for her hands
were as grmy as it was possible for hands
to be. She would have been invaluable
to any scientific observer anxious to dis
cover how much dirt can be carried upon
the skin without any dropping off Con-
tact, though, reduced the amount at once.
as / soon discovered.
Butter some bread. and make toast for
that gentleman" And Mrs. j. looked as
though she thought me monster.
Famishing as ! was, the old woman
proved much too much, and protested
against fresh trouble being taken on my
account. But the fiat had gone forth
Cook" had cut piece of bread. and was
now squatted on the hearth-rug, vainly en-
deavoring to toast it at the burlesque fire
and when she had succeeded in covering
that portion not already grimed by her
hands with black and SCOT from the bars.
she dropped it on my plate and departed
no man knew whittier. q feel quite sure
Pluto didn't know.)
What was to dop The sirens gaze was
upon me, and significantly she handed me
the butter. CHOOSE ye the poison or the
dagger r she seemed to say, as she placed
the Knife before me. CLEAN of demonia-
cal pleasure lighted up her face, as she
watched my first plunge at the naseous
morsel, and the Borgia herself never
mixed poison SO willingly as did Mrs.
johnson prepare the fatal cup which was
10 wash down my bread and ashes. AT
last she turned her back, and though twas
but for an instant. that instant was enough,
and, with promptitude and presence of
mind of which had never before deemed
myself possessed, slipped the slice into
my handkerchief. / knew she suspected
me, but didn't care for that. l felt, in
fact, almost proud of the achievement,
and looked round to johnson. A slight
smile played upon his lips; but catching
her eve, he remembered himself, and was
again stern and dumb. had spoken to
him once or twice, but his answers were
vague and monosyllabic. SO l thought it
best not 70 try any further. He cheered
up bit after the tray had been removed,
and proposed game OF cards and some
whiskey and water, both of which we had.
These shall never forget. How Mrs. j.
abused me when Twas her partner against
her husband and his dummy, how she
cheated me when we afterwards played at
'crib" for six penny points, and how Woe
fully weak she made the whiskey, and
how strong the water, are remembrances
never to be efaced. Neither can dis
miss the recollection of how artfully she
manipulated Tommy's money.box, and re-
counted the sums which had been put in
it for Tommy's use and benefit. l am
glad TO say that was too artful fish to
be landed at that game, and. having dis
covered thus much, to her fresh dissatis-
faction, Mrs. johnson gave me the glo-
rious intimation that early hours were
customary with them-a hint upon which
acted with celerity. and long before mid
night had cleared out.
Undeterred by the knowledge that in my
mothers kitchen the beetles held revel af-
ter the household had retired, made my
way into the subterrehean regions immedi-
ately on my arrival home, and though cold
provisions are not my choice, havoc hardly
expressly the performance enacted by the
deputy SUBJ Of the Bradawl upon that
memorable occasion. Satiated at last.
my spirits rose, and happiness and tran
guilty stole over me which could not at
first comprehend. Why should feel so
happy. thought !. after spending the most
miserable six hours OF my life-six hours
in which are compressed the horrors of
more than some peoples whole lives? The
list two words explained the whole mys
stery. ~ssPoor Plutow exclaimed l, as
tumbled into bed, chow grateful am that
it is not my lot to be Mrs. Johnson's hus
band"
Since that time have travelled much
and had maDy adventures. The name of
Cheltman is not unknown to fame on
pampas or prairies; while Atlantic steam
ers and American river boats have seen
me both well filled and hungry. But all
the mutifarious occupation and wild pur-
suits OF my later life--the camp, the biv-
ouac, the commercial travel, and the des-
criptive report-have never succeeded in
effacing from my inmost soul the recollec-
ton of Bedford Row and Johnson's invita-