Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-05-02
A COMEDY OF ERRORS.

In the thriving village of Hollythorn
there was, as is common in such places
church, a post office, a couple of stores
and district school, the said school be-
ing taught by young lady who had a
to assist in supporting.
For the sake of economy, Miss Eva
Stanley "boarded around" among the
scholars, and was considered a paragon
among the teachers. Her father had
been respectable mechanic but died
after about two years of illness, which
utterly impoverished the family. Eva
had, however, she being the eldest, re-
ceiyed a good, plain education before
the great calamity came upon them, and
noble-hearted and unseltish, began her
work of assisting in their support.
The last week previous to the holiday
vacation, she had been boarding with a
Mrs. Carpenter, who was making gigan-
tic preparations for her guests she ex-
pected from New York.
You never met my brothers. Eva"
she said, and then began to give the
pretty young teacher description of
them. "There's Sam, George and John
ny, the youngest; and such times as they
have when they get out here and rusti-
cate as they call it! But, dear me, ]
don't get much rest or peace. for they
are like lot of boys let out of school.
Such tricks and pranks no one ever saw
The last time they visited me together,
Sam and John actually cut pane of
glass from the window and pelted George
out of my best room with snow! You
see there is always a strike for that par
ticular room, for the bed is spring one,
and 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
/ am SO afraid they will break OF ruin
something, that | am glad that you are
here"
81 had just as soon occupy some other
room, Mrs. Carpenter, and do not wish to
incommode your brothers-have no right
to do So" r' .w gjs#0
"No you shan't, Evaw peremptorily
exclaimed her hostess; "and what is the
use of you going home vacation week?
You can stay here just as well as not and
do your sewing on my machine. Your
mother has enough mouths to feed, [
guess, and won't miss yours" sa1
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 evening
train, which would land them at Holly
thorn about bed time. George and John
did so, and when safely seated in the
cars began to speculate about the abb
sence of Sam.
No reason upon earth why he should
not have been along" said George.
"No, for he told me this morning
he would certainly be on hand" said
John. -:
" [ can't make it out, unless he has
taken the five o'clock train through mis-
take"
Not bit of it," laughed John, who
fancied he understood the entire pro-
gramme.
g 1t is most likely he took the train on
purpose to get into Hannah's spare bed
room, and make us take up with straw
ticks and feathers"
g didn't think of that, but I reckon
you are right. We must contrive to get
him out somehow"
Bet your life on that"
The brothers put their heads together
and laughed merrily over some scheme
for outwitting Sam, and accordingly
when the train reached HoIlythorn
about eleven o'clock, they approached
the house of their sister in a 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 quantity of
doughnuts. Then, with appetites ap-
peased, they removed their boots and
prepared 20 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
clothing, and they could distinctly trace
the outlines of form beneath the bed
clothes, and had not the remotest idea
but that Sam was enjoying sweet repose
upon Hannah's best bed
A few whispered words were ex-
changed, and then a softly and lightly
as it shod with down, they drew near.
Quick as thought they seized upon
the form OF the sleeper, bedclothes and
all, bore it swiftly down the stairs, out
into the snow, and were just about to
deposit it in huge drift, when a shrill
scream broke the stiffness of the night,
and OH horror-it was that of a
woman! And in their CONSERVATION
they dropped their burden plump into
the middle of the drift.
"Good heayensp' exclaimed George,
1t isn't Sam, but some woman, IS sure
as [ am sinner, 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