Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-08-14
VOL. XXXV.

D"N AA hpNt ihiGNut lOu aIt IDlsIikl0l
me for somebody else-a man who ius
forced me to exchange hat and coat will
him, and went down into the woods-b
is the mailman.
Oh, no, gness not, said the big keeper
witha fearful attempt at pleasing IRONY.
My good man you are laboring unde
some very singular delusion, remunstra
ted the victim, trying to speak plainly be
tween the julting of the wagon and hi
own excitement. am Mr.. Nathan Trim
Ter, of No.-.John St.
Oh, yes, said the keeper, lighting
cigar: yesterday you were Napoleon Bo
naparte, and to-day you are Nathan Trim
Ter, and to-morrow-likely as not-you'l
be king of the Sandwich Islands. hay,
heard this kind O talk afore.
TripIer heart began to stand still will
underlined horror. Was this bideou,
dream or was he actually to be immureC
within the high stone walls of the asvlun
he had so often walked past with a feeling
of dread and horror beyond all description
The lifelong victim of somely scarce credi
BILE mistake? In vain he reasoned, argued
protested; his words fell on the unheediue
ears OF his two conductors like drops q
ram patterlng on the stony surface of Ia
BILE Rock. until ut length he was carried
more dead than alIve-into n narrow
apartment, at the eud of long row OF
similar ones.
1t was lighted and ventilated by an iron
grating in the door, with corresponding
window high up on the wall, and there
Mr. Nathan Tripler, released from bis
confinlng bonds, was left to enjoy the I'M
interrupted society of his own cheerless
medltatlons.
1t can't be possible ! must be asleep
and dreaming, thought Nathan.
But it was possible, and he was never
wider awake in his life.
Toward evening, pitcher of water and
II piece of bread was dealt out to him.
MIR. Tripler ate it under II sort of mental
protest TO relieve the gnawing sensation of
laintnesS that was ut his vitals.
What would | give for one of Dorothy's
hot biscuits thought the wretched captive.
My poor little Dorothy! have been too
hard upon her. Suppose-iust suppose
SHOULD die without being able to tell how
ashamed am of having been such brute
1t was not the dry bread that choke
Nathan Tripler Just then-it was the hu-
initiating sense of his own sins and sholt-
comings.
Next morning it was bread and water
again. Nathan thought of Dorothy's de-
spi,ed coffee and grumbed-aisteak.
[ have deserved it, thought Nathan
there's no mistake about that. Poor dar.
ling little Dorothy how her heart is ach
ing for me now. | wish | could stroke
down her hair Just once. Oh. it's hard TO
be treated so, even though | know | III
served exactly right Ii ever get ou: of
This hole alive, Dorothy will find me IL
changed man.
The confused current of thought was
just eddying vaguely though his mind
when there was sound of steps and
voices in the long corridor without.
l suppose they're going to put on
straight waistcoat now, thought Mr.. Trip
Ter, with II resigned air. " ell, there's
nothing left me but to endure. | don't
think Pm mad; but how long shall hold
out sane under this interesting concentra-
ton of circumstances is rather II doubtful
question.
But Mr.. Tlipler was mistaken about the
straight waislcoat-it was his keeper in
stead. accompanied by two or three gen.
tlemen all profuse in apologies and SYM
pathetic calculations.
Such a mistake said one old gentleman
with bald head.
SO awkward for you, my dear sir! said
another mlddle-aged gentleman with
Roman nose.
But entirely unintentional, assure you,
sir, Chimed in Il third.
While Mr.. Triper looked vaguely from
one to another, he said:
Then | am not mad, it seemsp he de-
manded.
Not Il particle, sir! cried the committee
men in chorus.
Oh. said Mr.. Tripler, am glad to hear
it.
Then the committee proceeded to inform
their involuntary guest how the mistake
had happened by which his identity had
been conlounded with that of his mysteri-
ous acquaintance of the woods.
We are very sorry, said the first COM
miltee man, shaking Mr.. Iripler's hand
as if it had been the handle of town
pump.
so am |, said Mr.. Tripler laconically.
Here is your hat and coat, said The Sec
ond committee man. We had great diff
Guilty in citing them away from our poor
friend in the Incurable Ward who fanced
they were the last dying bequests of Pres
ldent Lincoln.
And anything we can do to make any
atonement for The awkward mistake would
be great pleasure TO us all, said the third;
while the keeper eyed Mr.. lripler dubi-
ousIy, as if not altogether certain but that
he was little mad after all, which almost
any one ouId be under the circumstances
When Mr.. Nathan Tripler reached
home, all was the widest grief and con-
fusion here. Dorothy had had the woods
searched. the river dragged, and the
wuole vicinity rausacked, and was now in
Mysteries in the nursery. Nathan walked
straight in. and put both arms around her.
Here | am, Dottie, don t cry any more.
But Mrs. Tripler cried more than ever.
It's only dream, she sobbcd forth. Ma
than is dead.
No, am not dead, said Mr.. Tripler,
with Il grim sense of humor, only have
been mad, Aud quieling his wile's sobs,
altera while he told her all his adventures.
And now is dinner ready? lie asked, for
am us hungry as bear.
L haven't thing III the house lit 10 eat,
walled his wife.
don't care if IFS nothing but dry
bread and moaSscs. Dotlie, said the hus-
band. can tell you that it took some Of
the nonsense out Of me. ! shall never
grumble again, don be afraid.
And Dorothy frightened up. 1t was the
first time he had called Eer Dottie, or
spoken so tenderly, since their honey
moon was in its crescent glow.
He has adhcl ed to his good resolution
he never did grumble again. The asylum
mad done genuine good.
FRIrTERED AwAY.-Ilow much time
we friter away without doing anything
for ourselves or the public goou! For such
omissions it is too much the habit with US