The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-07-27


went the pump-handle, which did
more work that afternoon than in half
dozen days washing.
Creak-creak-c But the tar
only became harder and harder, until l
was encasedin sheet armor, like the fam
Gus Black Knight. Presently my cousin
Jenny, an especial friend of mine, hear
ing such continued pumping, and be-
coming anxious for the family supply
of water, came out to see what was the
matter. Seeing a small figure curled
up under the spout of the pump,
drenched to the skin and black as Othel-
10, she stopped down to investigate the
phenomenon. Oh, what was my despair
when she discovered who it was, and
in what plightp
feeble idea of the peels of laughter
that succeeded each other as she stood
and looked at me. She would try to
control her merriment for a moment,
only to break forth afresh, until she
was obliged to sit down from sheer ex-
haustion. Every time she glanced at
my woe-begone countenance and
drenched condition she would go into
fresh commissions of fun. At last she
recovered her breath enough to inquire
into my case, and to assure me she would
do what she could for me; but she soon
found, to my despair, that what she
could was not much to my relief. The
clothes could not be got off, and GER
tainly they could never be got clean.
She did manage with strong pair of
shears, to cut off the pockets in my
breeches, and then, fearing my mother
would be alarmed, she babe me 90
home, and she would promise to secure
me against whipping.
fancy she thought this last promise
would be easily kept.
Somewhat comforted, | took up my
line of march toward the paternal roof,
but, as | went along, my heart began
to sink again; visions of a rod, with
which my not too sanity character had
made me somewhat familiar, doomed
up before me; but worse than all, the
thought of my brothers ridicule made
my sensitive spirit quail. l thought
would evade all for that night, however,
by going quietly up the back stairs, go
ing to bed, and ''playing sick" Fort
ldNOlCU ult. L lCdCuGu luC Dtt-
room without being seen; and, just as
| was with my hat on, for it could only
have come off with my scalp, got into
bed, and covered myself entirely up
with the bed clothes. 1t was now dusk,
and | felt for the moment quite safe.
Presently my aunt came into the room
to get something fer which she was
looking, and | could hear her give sew
eral inquiring shifts, and as she went
out | heard her say: g certainly do
smell tar; where can it come from?"
An interval of peace followed, and then
in came my mother. ''Tar? Smell
tar? Of course you do; it's strong
enough in this room. Bring light"
1t was sound of the doom!
My mother soon came close up to the
bed, and held the light so that it fell
full upon me as she tried to turn down
the bed-clothing. Probably, if it had
not been for several previous scrapes in
which | had been involved she would
have been much frightened; but as il
was, the sight of her young blackamoor
had much the same effect upon her as
upon my cousin. Her EXPLANATIONS and
shrieks of laughter brought every men,
Der of the household SUCCESSFULLY to the
room, and, as one after another came
in, fresh zest seemed to be given to the
merriment, of which / was the unfortu-
nate victim.
But every renewal of the fun was an
added agony to me, for | clearly fore
saw that it would be rehearsed bv Jack
and Tom to all the boys in the neigh
borhood. Besides this, was not in q
condition to be hilarious. Plastered
with tar from head to foot; streaming
with perspiration at every pore; my
clothes drenched; my hair matted to-
gether, and my straw hat, soaked with
water, fastened upon it, and falling
limp and wet about my eyes; | was not
rendered more comfortable by the fact
that | could not move without taking
pillow and bed-clothes with me, as, in
my desperate desire to conceal myself
from view, had become enwrapped in
the bed-clothing like caterpillar in its
chrysalis; and | was conscious of a dim
fear that if | sat up, with the pillow
stuck fast on top of my hat, the sight of
me might produce fatal results upon
the already exhausted family.
AT last the point was reached where
| thought patience ceased to be virtue,
and rebelled against being any longer
made spectacle.
| declared if they would all 90 away
but mother, would tell her all about
it. The crowd retired, commissioned
to send up crock of butter, tub of
hot water and pair of shears. Ma
ternal love is strong, but l doubt if it
was often put to Il severer test of its
long suffering than was that of my
mother that night.
Suffice it to say that, after my clothes
had been cut to ribbons, the sheets torn
up, my head well nigh shaved, and my
whole person subjected first to an Afri-
can bath of melted butter, and after
ward to one of hot soap-suds, had had
my fill of bathing for one day, and was,
shortly before midnight, pronounced to
be tolerably clean.
P. 81 never made any marbles of
coal-tar.-lSt. Nicholas for July.