Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1880-08-11

He carried battered sllk hat In hi
hand, Ills faee was long and solemn
but quito red, h's eyes bleared, hi
hands very dirty, aud altogether h
was a queer-looking visitor,
'Is your ma at home, missi' sal,
he, In q half whine, rs he glance'
sharply about the room,
mo, sir" replied Carrie, wonder
Ing why no asked "she has gone e
Undclhill. Did You wish TO see herf
"Oh, no." the man replied. ~ onl.
asked out of politeness, you know,
and he smiled solemnly at the littl'
girl, aud ,winked ono eye, "No,
came on business with your pa,-par-
ticular, urgent business. S'poso he'i
round, is he mott"
mo, sir; he went TO town will
mother" said Carrie.
Snow, that's too bad" exclaimed
the visitor, as he seated himself; "and
Two como so far to see him. But per.
haps your brother or sister would do
as well.'
~ haven't any sister," said tho littlo
hostess, laughing, "and my brothers
over in the back lot. He'll be in by
and-by, though, il hell do
"Well, ! don't hardly believe he
will, after ALL" shaking his heed
thoughttully, land | cant wait today
anyway; l hain't the time. But I'm
terrible hungry. II l could I'd stay
to dinner, miss. However. under the
circumstances, perhaps you had better
give me little lu,ch before 60 a
piece of pie anda cup Of tea and n
little meat, or sonsthing Of that sort"
"Oh, certainly only / cant give
you the meat, for we haven't il in the
house, said Carrie, rising; 'but !
will find somahing.' And she
brought from tle pantry a whole ap-
pie pie, which 'he placed before him
with knife andfork.
"If you will ielp yourself I'll have
the tea ready lpthree minutes"
"All right, ny DEAR" said the man,
seizing the knTe and drawing the pie
toward him. 81 will act upon your
advice. The last time l took dinner
with General Grant," he o~-.' =.
he cut great piece and began to eat
..bo said to me, Governor, Governor,
said he. never disregard lady's ad-
vices and I have always remem-
bered what he said,' and he chuckled
merrily, and nodded his head at the
delicious looking pastry before him.
Carrie wondered little at the table
manners of the man who had dlned
with Grant, but she stepped his tea,
favored it with rich cream and sugar,
and passed it TO him.
81 am uot much of a hand for tea,"
said the man, as he drained the cup,
''but my doctor says I must drink it
for my digestion. Ruined my diges-
ton while I was in the army, you
see )" and he winked solemnly. "By
the way" he continued, picking up
the silver teaspoon from his saucer,
shave you any more of these' They
are as neat pattern as l ever saw,
and cdd, too. I should like to see the
rest of the dozen, if you have them"
"Mother has only eleven," said Car
rie. in her innocence, "and she is very
proud Of them; but will show them
to you"
Then she brought the little box
with the precious table'silver-eleven
teaspoons, four tablespoons and an
ancient cream,jug-all pure silver,
and shining brightly-and placed
them before her inquisitive visitor to
admire. y.
He had finished his slight lunch"
That is, the pie was demolished and
the teapot empty. As the little girl
handed him the treasures, he arose,
took the box to the window, examined
its contents with a critical eye for a
moment, and then, as if in joyful SUR
prise, said,-
81 am right! They are the very
spoons! The very same identical
spoons that my friend lost when he
was boy. How lucky it is that !
have found them at last!
With these words, aud very low
bow, the rascal opened the door and
slipped away with the spoons and sll-
yer cream-pitcher down the path to-
ward the gate.
For an instant Carrie stood motion
less; then, rushing after him, she
shrieked,-
"Give me those spoons! They are
.,,o.hor,a anoons. and Won are try