The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1878-10-04
live how we can, yet die we must.
THE TABLES TURNED.

Il am not sure that it rebounds much
TO our credit will tell it, however, as
a warning"
SO our guest answered an inquiry
made by young and, it must be con-
fessed, somewhat conceited member of
the little party gathered together one
winter evening around our dining-table.
Hang the credit that person re-
piled. He was rather upifted, for he
thought he had that evening won dis
finction in the sight of lovely pair of
drawing-room. The owner of the love-
Iy eyes had been widow for some
years; she was rich, elegant and clever.
There was humorous wrinkling about
the mouth of our middle-aged guest, as
he answered:
Hang the credit! So L can say now
with light heart Then the credit was
of more importance to me. However,
you shall Judge. You have heard" he
went on, turning to the gentleman who
headed the table, that in the early days
of our settlement we were wild lot.
Large fortunes had been made by the
first settlers; and it got abroad at home
that gold was TO be had simply for the
asking. Adventures poured in. The
native war brought in adventures of
another kind-men whose lives had
been played ont in the old country, and
who were ready for any kind of devil
try. Oh / can assure you there was at
times a singular collection in the settle
ment. could tell you one or two tales
that would surprise you. This, how
ever turning to the person whose re-
mark had provoked his tale-"is not of
so desperate character"
You must understand that, at the
time OF which l speak-things are much
changed now-we had neither library,
nor theater, nor concert-room, and were
driven, now and then, to queer devices
for killing time. Some few of us took
up with practical jests, but after a
time, even these palled. Every one in
our community became so wide-awake
that the most artfully-constructed
scheme broke down. If it did succeed,
on the other hand, the vengeance taken
WAS so dire as to be alarming We
were sorely in need of patient butt.
1t happened that, at this time, a young
solicitor whom fortune had not favored
ut home, taking it into his head that
competition was Staying his talent, de-
terInined to try his fortune among u.s.
He was certain--and he was not far
wrong-that, in such a community,
causes for litigation would abound.
He was slightly acquainted with one
of my friends, and wrote to him of his
intention, asking him at the same time
To be so kind as-in the poor fellows
own words-"just to let people know,
you know, that / am coming"
The letter was shown about, and that
same evening my friend and /, with
two or three others whom we had let
into our secret, went out together,
armed with large pieces of chalk. In
the morning there was much question
ing in the community, for on every bit
of boarding, every blank wall and gate,
was posted up in gigantic letters: "He
rs coming"
Again and again were the notices ex-
plunged by indignant householders.
Again and again were they imposingly
reproduced. The police were set on the
watch; we either browbeat or bribed
them. People began to think that there
was something mysterious in the bust
ness. We, OF course, kept our own
counsel, and, at last, one fine morning, a
second advertisement appeared. 1t was
60 this effect-"He has come"
In the interval our friend had heard
again. Il shall arrive by steamship
Benares," our solicitor wrote. al hope
you have let the people know" We had
let the people know to some purpose. 1t
began to be rumored abroad that joke
vas on foot, and the whole community
Stocked to the landing-place.
To preserve the delusion we had
paved the jetty with scarlet cloth, and
decorated it with flowers. AS soon as
the steamer dropped anchor, my friend
and put off in small boat to receive
and bring TO shore our distinguished
guest.
He was small, delicate-looking man.
with face as refined as that of woman
L had slight prickings of conjunction
when 1 met him. He was so delight.
fully frank and confiding. az say" he
said to his friend, as we neared the dec.
grated landing-place, "do they expect
any swell?"
"They expect you, my dear fellow,
was the reply. Il let people know, you
know"
"You must be jolly hospitable set
But what am to say to them ALL"
mo necessity to say anything. just
Row as you pass through