Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1877-08-15

his watch, and said he believed he'd
catch the one o'clock train 1t had
been his intention all along merely to
make flying visit lie would come
up again and stay week, when the
fishing was good.
Eyes. they all chorussed, "we've
got 10 get back on the early tram. It's
hard to tear ourselves away from this
retreat, but duty compels us to be in
the city,"
The conspirators wouldn't hear OF
it. Scott held up the rod and gun.
Martin vowed that they shouldn't 60
back till the next day. 1t was an in
suit to Liberty Hall, witheung slight
to Nymsclove
l remarked that they must stay to
dinner, at least, and then, if they in
sisted, why | would drive them down
IN my own conveyance.
"Why, you haven't seen half the
features Of the place. says Scott 81
want you to see the Berkshire pig.
It's the noblest animal you ever clap
ped your eyes on" With that he lit
a candle, and pulling up trap in the
middle of the floor, insisted that they
should come down the old step-laCder
into the pit. They protested, and one
Of them even swore that he did not
care for Berkshire pigs; but Martin
insisted, and they actually got three
of EN- down into that hole, and then
we heard the direct sounds of "Su,
boy there, SUI, boy !" and selits ol
yells from Martin, accompanied by an
indescribable smirshing and rushing
around in the dark, for the light had
been knocked out, and then they all
came scrambliny up the trap, Scot
bringing up the rear with red, con
gested face, and Martin holding bot
tie to his nose to allay paroxysm
Glover went out and sat down on ;
wet green stone, and wiped his lore
head with his handkerchief. He look.
ed wild, as if life might be q dream
Ty. went down to the dry duck pond
and held his nose at the prospect ol
trout. The others got together under
the sycamore, and tired to make up 6
chart Of the way back to the tram.
| comtorted myself with the pro-
mise of delight when got them al
down to the cottage and made up tol
this.
There were two more degrees tc
this inquiry, and then it ended. Per-
haps you think woman cannot carry
out practical joke. | wish you coulC
have seen Angeline max her prepar
ations for the dinner. Why, that wo
man ought to be on the stage 1t got
to be the hungriest kind Of crowd
but l believe they were chiefly anxiou:
tor the dinner to come on, because al
ter that they we've TO get away. An
geline pulled out the pine table, spread
it with a white cloth, and then, at
long intervals, brought in greer
tumbler or a soda water bottle, and
after making 4 great show Of rubbing
them up with napkin, set them out
daintily.
Whenever she went through one OF
these performances, Martin would
sneeze and cough, and Scott would
sing "Rally round the flag, boys" and
look out of the window. 1t was ar
ranged that should go out into the
kitchen at the last MON ent, and have
an alteration with Angeline loud
enough to be heard in the next room,
and Scott and Martin were to make 4
show Of covering it up by talking
loud, and calling the listeners atten-
ton to various interesting things.
AT the appointed time was called
to assist in serving up the viands, and,
with joyous invitation to sit by, |
left them gathering the wooden chlirs
around the empty table, and went to
help bring in the banquet. Or course
there wasn't an ounce OF food IN the
house or spark of fire ; and when l
looked back through the door, and
saw the fellows sitting round that
Barmecide board, pain took me un-
der each shoulder-b blade, and Apgelne
had to pound me on the back.
"You're nice man, she cried, ''to
fill the house full of people, when I've
nothing to give them to eat !"
"Hush-sh, my Gear" l said, loud
enough for them all TO hear, 'you'll
disgrace me. Where's the Goldfish :"
"Codfish, indeed" replied Angeline,
81 set it down there to cool, and the
ducks got into it. D."