The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-06-02

do something, or I'd suffocate. They
think I'm suffering with the hay-fever,
and that it attacks me in spasms and
paroxysms.
Half an hour later he said he'd go out
and see what had become of the sylvan
hunters. He wasn't gone ten minutes
when he came tearing back, painting and
convulsed. '.
Here, in the name of all that's stu
pendous, come quick" 20
We ran out and followed him to bit
| of marsh lying in the rear of the place.
There was common stone fence run
ming through the bog, and crawling upon
its precarious summit, every man on his
hands and knees, were our guests, led by
Scott. He had taken them by rounda-
bout path into the meshes of the morass,
| and then offered them no means of eXtri-
cation but this. He shouted when he
saw US, and, pointing backward at Ty.,
grew red in the face, and dropped fiat
upon his stomach as if seized with a con-
vulsion. 1t was the funniest sight ever
saw. To crawl upon the top of an old
cobble-stone fence is not an easy task at
any time. When there are two feet of
mud on either side of it, the difficulty is
spiced with danger. If you wear pearl
gray trousers and white vest, there is a
dash of romance in it.
Mad? Well, they were all disguised.
But the splendid enthusiasm of Scott and
Martin left them but little opportunity
to demur. When they got back to the
house Ty. looked at his watch, and said
he believed he'd catch the one o'clock
train. 1t had been his intention all along
merely to make a flying visit He would
come up again and stay week when the
fishing was good.
Yes" they all chorused, "we've got
to get back on the early train. 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 they shouldn't go back till the
next day. 1t was an insult to Liberty
Hall, whitening slight to Nymsclove.
| remarked that they must stay to din
ner at least, and then, if they insisted,
why, would drive them down in my own
conveyance.
Why, you haven't seen half the
features of the place." says Scott. q
want you to see the Berkshire pig. It's
the noblest animal you ever clapped your
eyes on" With that he lit a candle, and
pulling up a trap in the middle of the
floor insisted that they should come
down the old step-ladder into the pit
They protested, and one of them swore
that he didn't care for Berkshire pigs;
but Martin insisted, and they actu-
ally got three of EN- down into that hole,
and then we heard the direct sounds of
"Su boy, there, su boyw and series of
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
scrambling up the trap, Scott bringing
up the rear with red, congested face,
and Martin holding bottle to his nose
to allay paroXysm. Glover went out
and sat down on wet green stone, and
wiped his forehead with his handkerchief
He looked wild, as if life might be a
dream. Ty. went down to the dry duck
pond, and held his nose at the prospect
of trout. The others got together under
the sycamore, and tried to make chart
Va wv buNh w ILiC u GILL
l comforted myself with the promise
of delight when got them all down to
the cottage and make up for this
There were two more degrees to this
iniquitY, and then it ended. Perhaps
you think woman cannot carry out Il
practical joke. | wish you could have
seen Angelina make her preparations for
the dinner. Why, that woman ought to
be on the stage. 1t got to be the hungriest
kind of crowd, but | believe they were
chiefly anxious for the dinner to come
on because after that they were to get
away. Angelina pulled out the pine ia
BILE, spread it with white cloth, and
then, at long intervals, brought in green
tumbler or a saltwater bottle, and after
making great show of rubbing them up
with a 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 arranged that l
should go into the kitchen at the last
moment, and have an alteration with
Angelina loud enough to be heard in the
hoAe Iooul, anu OCOlI anu mdTIln were
to make show of covering it up by talk.
ing loud, and calling the listeners atten-
tion to various interesting things.
AT the appointed time was called to
assist in serving up the viands, and, with
a joyous invitation to sit by, left them
gathering the wooden chairs around the
empty table, and went to help bring in
the banquet. Of course there wasn't an
ounce of food in the house or spark of
fire; and when looked back through the
door, and saw the six fellows sitting
round that Barmecide board, pain took
me under each shoulder blade, and An
geline 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 dear" l said, loud
enough for them all to hear, "you'll dis
grace me. Where's the codfsh?"
Goldfish, indeed~ replied Angelina,
81 set it down there to cool and the
ducks stole it,"
l could hear Scott break out at this
point in fine oratorical style. l could
hear Ty. say that on the whole he never
ate when he came into the country; and
Granger remarked that he believed they
were intruding on the family.
FINALLY | had To on ont and uaka an