Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1877-01-24

you something home from town"
"Good-bye, an thank We, Mas
ter Dick. An the Lord SEN you
home agin safe and SCUM"
"Not much fear of that" re-
piled my father, as he touched the
pony, and we began to canter quiet
ly over the lawn towards the gate.
81 hope not, sir-I hope not, sir !"
replied Mick, while he ran along
side. But these is ticklish times.
sir, an many a dacent 'sponsible
gentleman's bin bate about these
roads of late. There was Mister
Purcell last week, an Mister Do
ran the week afore. Aye, an last
night there was"
"Nonsense, Mick" laughed my
father, as he quickeued the pony's
pace; "they'd enemies, hut I've
none. There isn't man in all
Sligo county would hurt hair of
my head"
And the next minute we were
out on the road, and Mick was
turning slowly up again towards
the house. ...EN
Whether or not l enjoyed the
town after reaching there, i cannot
say. My chief feeling was. | be-
lieve, one Of bewilderment. TIE
houses were so high, the streets SO
narrow and crowded, that / felt
choked, as it were. Twas delight
ed, and full Of wonder, of course !;
but when, just at dusk, the pony
was brought to the Office door, I
was almost as ready to return home
as / had been to leave it a few
hours before.
The day had been long one at
the office, and looking in MY faith
er's face | could see that he was
not in a humor to talk, so I scram-
bled up behind in silence, and we
were about to start, when voice
of entreaty little behind stayed
us.
"Hold hard, sir-hold hard, sir"
came the cry. "Here's the instru-
ment, sir"
Looking back, | saw a little man
hurrying along the center OF the
road towards us, and holding in
his band and waving mp and down
something that shone bright in
the fast departing light.
"Oh, ah, the blunderbuss," said
my father. 81 had forgotten it.
Thank you, Connolly; you needn't
have followed me with it. l could
have had it on Monday" Ll-t
81 promised fur to-day, sir" re-
Piled the old man, pantingly, as he
reached the pony's side, and held
up the weapon, ga always like to
keep me word. Here it is, sir"
"Thank you, Connolly. Good
bye" returned my fatherj "good-
bye, boys all. Get along, Dolly"
The next moment we were clat-
tering away down the street that
looked towards home at great
rate.
When we were well clear Of the
town we slackened somewhat, for
the road had grown dark. Then
my father turned to me little.
"Well, Dick" be said, chow
have you enjoyed yourself, aud
how do you like the town."
"Oh, papa, ii was lovely" l re-
piled, as l squeezed his arm; "ant
\ you are so good for letting me com,
with you"
"Lovely, was ~ he murmured
with laugh, which was half {
sigh. T'm afraid one day you'll
see as little beauty in IL as do
and be as tired of il as l am"
Then he relapsed into silence
hut the tone of his voice had beer
so kind to me that presently mad
bold to speak to him again.
"Paps," said ], laying my han'
: upon the butt Of the blunderbuss
which hung mouth downward
from his shouler, "is this the oil
, blunderbuss that used to hang i
, the hall at home, or is IL ne,
; Que I"
sTfs the old one, Dick. my boy
T: replied my father. "Clean or dirty
! 4 | wouldn't part with it for the bes