The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1877-01-04
THE MISHAPS OF A NIGHT.

The district school in the village of
Hollythorn was taught by Miss Eva Stan
ley, who "boarded around" among the
scholars, and was considered the paragon
of teachers.
The last week previous to the holiday
vacation she had been boarding with
Mrs. Carpenter, who was making gigantic
preparations for guests she expected from
New York.
You never met my brothers, Eva,' she
said. There's Sam, and George, and
Johnny, the youngest, and such times as
they have when they get out here and
rusticate, as they call it! But, dear me, l
don't get much rest or peace, for they are
like lot of boys let out of schools.
The last time they visited me together,
John and Sam actually cut a pane of
glass from the window, and pelted
George out of the best room with snow!
You see there is always a regular strife
for that particular room, for the bed is a
spring one, and they say that they don't
sleep on any other in the city. But they
don't get it this time, that's certain, for [
intend to give you that room, and so end
the controversy
i had just as soon occupy some other
room, Mrs, Carpenter, and do not wish to
iucommode your brothers,
NO, you shan't, Eva,' peremptorily ex
claimed her hostess; and what is the
use of your going home vacation week?
You can stay here just as well as not,
and do your sewing on my machine
The subject was dropped, and the en-
tire household retired early, for on the
morrow the brothers, young, ardent, and
full of life, were to be there But with
out sending any word of their intention,
they had concluded to take the train,
which would land them at Hollythorn
about bedtime. George and John did so,
and, when seated in the cars, began to
speculate upon the absence of Sam. NO
reason upon earth why he should not
have been here, said George, Il can't
make it out, unless he has taken the 5
o'clock train by mistake.
Not bit of it, laughed John, who
fancied he understood the entire pro-
gramme 1T is most likely he took that
train on purpose to go into Hannahs par
lor bedroom, and make us take up with
straw ticks and feathers
Il didn't think of that, but | reckon
you are right. We must contrive to get
him out somehow
The brothers put their heads together
and laughed merrily over some scheme
for outwitting Sam, and accordingly when
the train reached Hollythorn about IL
o'clock, they approached the house of
their sister in very stealthy manner.
Climbing the fence in the rear, they
softly opened the window and obtained
access 10 the pantry, where they demol-
ished mince pie and a quantity of
doughnuts. Then, with appetites ap-
peased, they removed their boots and pre-
pared to investigate the "best room" !" stole
along the hall, which was dimly lighted
by the moon, assembled the stairs, and
reached the door. The faint rays of the
moon disclosed chair piled with cloth
ing, and they could distinctly trace the
outlines of a form beneath the bed
clothes. A few whispered words were
exchanged, and then, as lightly as if shod
with down, they drew near.
AN readyP whispered George.
Quick as thought they seized upon the
form of the sleeper, bed-clothes and all,
bore it swiftly down the stairs, and out
into the snow, and were about to deposit
it into huge drift, when a shrill scream
broke the stiffness of the night, and oh !!
horror-it was woman! And in their
CONSERVATION, they dropped their burden
plump into the middle of the drift.
Good heavensp exclaimed George, it
is isn't Sam, but woman, as | am sin.
ner, and she has tainted. Run and call
Hannah
With admirable presence of mind he
lifted the limp form of Eva Stanley and
carried her into the house. But her cry
had already been heard, and the inmates
came rushing into the hall just as he ap-
peared
'Georgel John! for goodness sake
what does this mean, and who have you
therer asked Mrs. Carpenter in a
breath.
Blessed if l know began George;
thought it was Sam, SO we concluded to
give him dose in the snow for getting
into the best bed and trying to euchre us.
Quick Ibelieve she mas tainted
Just like you,' scolded Hannah, as she
assisted in depositing Eva once more on
the bed from which she had been so un-
tremendously taken, beginning your
tricks on each other before you are fairly
into the house. Clear out nowp
Long before she had finished her tt
rade, her brothers had taken themselves
down stairs, where they went into hys-
terics over the joke.
"A pretty kettle of fish, said George,
rolling over on the floor and letting off
peal after peal of laughter
4 should think it was replied John
holding his sides. 'Oh, my! But what is
to be done about it; and who do you sup
pose she Is, George!
Some guest of Hannah's of course,
and young and pretty at that. l don't
know how it is with you, but I feel par
ticularly small, and cheap-would sell
myself at very low price
Cheap, roared John; Cheap! I would
actually give myself away this blessed
minute, and throw something in to boot.
What are we to do? I can't say. Il be-
lieve l shall dig out of this place and get
back to the city before morning. l haven't t
got the courage to face the music
He began hastily putting on his boots,
and would have put his threat into exc
cution but for the appearance of Hannah,
who at once asserted her authority.
You are not going single step, John !;
| don't wonder you feel ashamed of your
selves. What on earth possessed you is