Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1880-03-31
Fla observed a secretary'a chair, on

As he turued Ills iofiii 10 hlt down, u
iavorite cat, belonging 10 the hostess,
jumped into the chair, aud Jasper nat
down plump upon It. There was q
cat yowl, aud the poor man felt sharp
claws beneath his coat tail. He quick
ly jumped to his feet, catching
the right side of his pants upon
the desk, when one whole leg OF his
garment dropped to the floor, Jasper
smarted from pain from tho cats
claws as well as from the deep scratch
which extended from his thigh 10 his
knee, started for the door aS the rnsll-
ing skirts of the charming widow were
heard in tho hall.
lie jumped into another chair and
quickly pulled his cape over his lacer-
ated limb.
Just as the widow was about to step
into the room, she observed the cat in
the hall, rolling and acting as II she
was in q fit.
She turned and went toward 1t,
then quickly called ascrvant aud gave
the creature into her care. 1t she had
been near enough she might have
heard n voice say;
"D-d-d-deuce take that"
She then entered the reception room
and walk up to Jaspor, who was flood
ed in overaowing CULTS, lakes, rivers,
brooks. &C., &C., of his own prespir-
alton, while his sufused countenancs
and faultering tongue, betokened that
he had been making many calls pre-
vious to honoring the widow.
swish you merry New Years
no, happy Ch:istmas-er-er-happy
New Years, Mrs. Hayner IT,
The widow drew chair beside
him. She observed the cape over his
lap and said {:
.'Ah, Mr.. Dean you are c'ld. Let
me turn on more heat" And she
turned a register which wa', to Jasper
like the hot seething blast Of a furnace
upon his already overheated system.
But the widow soon discovered
that Jasper was embarrassed and not
intoxicated, yet she could not account
for the singular manner with which he
clutched that cape across his limbs.
Just then John the servant opened
the front door and ushered in two
more gentlemen, acqaaintances and
and friends of Jasper.
They came forward and saluted Mrs.
Hayner, and then walked up to JAS
per. Poor man.. what would he have
given TO have been in Australia, the
jungles of Africa, or at the North
Pole.
"Ah, Mr.. Dean wish you a happy
New Year," they each said, but the
poor fellow only turned red, stam-
mered and kepthis seat as ifuuable to
move. He was also delighted to hear
them remark:
"Well we'll never SAW Jasper
Dean boosted before. He i: drunk
er'n skate
"Wonder what the widow will do
with him when he gets to sleep"
At this peculiar juncture Mrs.
Hayner invited the gentlemen
into the dining room. Jasper
did not stir. He was not in dining
mood. He wasn't hungry. His ap-
petite was poorly. Mrs. Hayner urged,
and the two gentlemen got hold of an
arm each and would have raised him
to his feet, but Mrs. Hayner came to
his assistance just in time, and politely
excused herself to him, and withdrew
to the refreshment room. ,-.'ut':
Just then little Clara, the four year
old prattler Of Mrs Hayner came into
the room. She espied Mr.. Dean who
she we'll knew. She run up to him
and said ...".
"Wis' 90 'appy New Years Mr..
Dean
She drew little stool by him, and
asked him all sorts Of questions.
"Wat' 90 dot that cloth over 'oor
lop tor, Mister Deani Is 90 cold 7
she asked.
Just then the guests retired from the
dining room and took their departure,
when Mrs. Hayner returned. ,
"Mama," said little Clara. "Why
don't Mr.. Dean do ont and dit some
'fieshmeuts Tum alopg Mr.. Dean
90 and III do alone she said taking
him by the hand.
But Mr.. Dean did not 60 he was
altogether too much engaged to do
anything.
Mrs. Hayner seated herself and be.
pan a conversation as little Clara left