The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1879-12-20
JOHN AND I.
An unhsppy Misunderstanding In the Dream
World.
From the N. Y. Sunday World,

in my study some time ago when suddenly an
unannounced even by knock John Chlche
. Ter entered the room and stepping up 10 m
tweaked my nose most bitterly.
| am an editorial writer for the Sentiments
LM,nbsrvard, and consequently was grievou
ly ANNOYED by the affront thus put upon III
by Chichester A man IN such an exalted pc
sition should never, felt, be tweakcd by IN
nose and least of all should he De tweakcd D
common salesman in taior's shop lei
like getting up and breaking PLAGUE owe
the mans head, and so serving MN out Oh III
lmpertinencc, but | was restrained ny TN
thought of Chlchcstcrs superior physica con
dition; SO | merely gave him one OF my looks
applied cambria handkerchief TO my eye
and said, ia a voice choked with tears:
John Chichester, you forget yourself
"Well. don't YOU do it again." was the reply
for as sure as you do I'll knock your heal
off"
ADO what, Johny" SAID | sadly, for was
unconscious of having injured the man even
in thought.
ooh, you're very innocent, you are, AIM
you? All want to say, however, Is dont you
do it again unless you want your mead broke
As sure as you do I'll do something worse
than pull your nose" And the horrid crea
ture bounced out of the room.
III,
nv still burning nose, | sat buried in thought
for long time. How had injured John in
such way as to put him in so fierce frame
Of mind! Had written any editorial calcu-
lated to wound his feelings This could mol
be, for IN writing have ever borne in mind the
beautiful precept: Among the pitfalls in our
road the best of us walk blIndly; so, man, be
wary, watch and pray and judge your brother
without luminosity. Say nothing that Will IN
lure his feelings; do not wound his scnslbill-
ties or lacerate his heart" Besides, John
had often told me that, IN his lonely hours at
ter work in the tailors shop was done and he
was sitting sad and Respondent in his little
room after tea, my editorials in the SentimentaI
LunaJerydrd had Cheered and nerved him TO
act well his part, showing him how, with hon
esty for his beacOn-light and perseverance for
his helm, he might yet come to own shop OF
his own hold up his head like man and
walk the streets like a thing OF life. Would
one like this tweak my nose without proyoca-
tion of a very grave order? Then what had l
dones Suddenly it flashed upon me that
had dreamed of him the night before and in
my dream we had gone together to his en-
ployer's shop, where-and such a deed Is
wholly foreign to my nature i had robbed
the till and then accused John of the crime.
His master, with cleaning eyes, was proceed
ing to wipe the floor with the young mans
body when suddenly awoke in q cold perspi-
ration weeping as If my heart would break.
Perhaps this had given John offense, but how
! had not spoken TO him about my vision, and
yet have often been told that am OF pc
culiarly sensitive and magnetic nature, and 1t
might be that the fact OF my dreaming such
dreadful dream had acted magnc.caly upon
nay friends mind and led him to accompany
me IN my sleep and undergo all that had I'M
dergone, and even more for his employers
violence had been spent upon HIN, not me. l
would immediately write to John and explain
maltcrs-nay, would at once see HIM person
ally. So dropped my Unfinished editorial,
and after arranging my nose before the mirror
with the aid Of II little liy-while, with which
| always touch my brows before gong abroad
even on an unimportant miSson--lf any mis-
sion of a writer fer the Sentimental Lumber
yard may be looked upon as unlmporlant-l
went round to johns place OF business anu,
peerlng through the large piate-glass window,
saw him spreading some SUITS before custom
or, and cOnvcrsing in the most sprightly and
atiab.e way, just rs if nothing had happened.
did not wish to enter the shop until after the
customer had gone, but still stood looking NJ
John, for whose personal appearance had al
ways the greatest personal admiration. sud
denly he looked up and saw me. smiled and
nodded, but in return received such hateful
glare from his eyes and perceived such chill
ing look of hauteur upon his counlenance that
really could not make up my mind to run
the risk of an encounter with John In his pres.
ent mood, and FASTENED back to my study and
my editorial Then dashed off two or three
political paragraphs and WAS free for the even.
ing
How | lived through the concert Of the
Hutchinson family after tea and how | ever
wrote my notice OF it for the paper scarcely
know, for although the music was simply
splendid the thought that John was gravcly
displeascd with me covered my soul with u
hollow, bitter pail. However, | got through
with it IN some way, and before laying my
head on the pillow that night had made the
firm resolve that, come what would, | would
have ali explanation with John and that an.
other sun should not 80 down on his wrath.
My! what night that was! seemed to be
in desperate quarrel with John over game
at cards | had been cheating him most
shamefully, and he had detected me in my
tricks tried to explain that was only IN
fun, but not word could utter Then pres.
emily we came to blows, and though John was
much larger than l. | mastered him with the
greatest of ease, knocking his head against the
wall, banging his helpless legs against the
chairs and tables, and in general ill-treatng
him IN the most shocking manner. The dc
mon which sumbers in us all even IN the best
OF US, seemed fully aroused within me, and,
gaining voice in my dream, upbraldcd John
for breaking my nose, aud proceeded to punch
his nasal organ with absolutely frightful vehe
mence and velocity. 1t was dreadful ordeal,
and again awoke in "a cold pcrspiration
About 8 O'Clock next morning the door of
my room Durst open and John entered in an
awful frame of mind. essaycd to offer hur-
ned and preventive explanation, but ere
could do so John Chichester seized me by the
mustache, and yelling, so, you're up To it
again, are you! What in thunder do you mean
by taking advantage Of me IN that way, when
you know cant help MYSELF Oh, such u
dose as you'll get now, " proceeding to admins
ter 1t, and truly, when he did get through with
me was not III To I've seen, aud had gone
abroad should infallbly have been asked i'll