Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1880-12-17
ROM AN GIN & .

Five o'clock booms out from the old
world tower of st. Giles, Edinburgh, as
l turn into a street adjacent to that
church, where my lodgings are situate.
1t is q bitterly cold January afternoon,
the snow lying some inches deep on the
ground, and clinging to the gables of the
many picturesque houses with which
the old town abounds.
Visions Of q roaring fire and II substan-
tial tea rise to my imagination as, arriv-
ing at the house, | race up the stone
steps two at n time until gain the third
fiat, where, pausing before the door on
which the name of my landlady, Mrs.
Macfarlane, glares in uucompromisingly
white letters, insert my latCh-key. and,
having let myself IN and closed the
door, walk off TO my own sitting-room
Yes, there is the fire, with delicious
glowing red heart Of embers, and a
crown of little tiickering flames Mt tho
summit, Just as had pictured it.
"Ah, won't have tea just yet,
think; 1t would be pity to light the
gas until I've thoroughly enjoyed thi'
cosy tirolight."
Thus soliloquizing select the mos
comfortable armchair (thero are only
two to choose from), draw it up to th'
freside, and, sinking into it, rejoice il
the thought that haven't TO turn on
any more tonight and that / can spen'
the long winter evening after any man
ner which seemeth good unto me, AM
D which will iniallibly be reading.
At this idea I involuntarily turn m
i ewes to a small book-cOvered table il
ip the corner Of the room. Yes, there
lies, that facinating, historical move
which shall probably peruse into tn
small hours of the morning, for mu'
confess it, reader, that though engage
in mercantile pursuits, am OF q fea
fully impractical turn of mind, and til;
nothing pleases me better than, leaVin
the prosaic present to take care Of itsel
to stroll back in the company Of entran
ing romancers in fact, I'm not sure tn
| don't look upon it as positive al
personal injustice that l was not boz
two or three hundred years ago.
These thoughts, Or thoughts very Ii.
them, come to me as l sit and baSk
- the rays of the fire.
- "Ah, for the good old times! Nha
wretchedly degenerate century this
Here nm ! chained down to Il palt
= desk in merchants office, when
:. ought to be a cavalier giving life a
md lands for unhappy Charles !, or
oOs liant, daring unheard-of dangers for
smiles of the lovely Mary Stuart. I
4 what wouldn't l give or do to put Fatl
o' W. Times clock back to the ages of chiV
Al ry!" So muse on.
Of "How hot the fire is ON my legs !"
\ move to push my chair further aw
~ and, happening to look down at
/. lower extremities, discovered with
ILL., tonishment that in place Of the--ah'
trousers in which they were preVior
-. habited, they were now attlred
4a woven silk and incased in high boot
buff leather.
raise my arms. More wonders
I am daintily dressed in n double
velvet slashed with satin rub
ewes. Can I be dreaming No, mp
emily not. | wish l could see the c
of my new garments; the fire has
50 low that it now only gives out
red glare.
What can have happened? Has S
one come in during the time | have
consciously been asleepP How was
didn't wake?
Determining to solve the mystery
o the door and call
Mrs, Macfarlanem
Coming, sir" answers a voice; ;
walk back to the fire.
Some one enters. What is it y
please to be wanting2n she asks.
Light the gas, please" say.
What will | do?' asks in aston
voice,
s."Light the gas" repeat, rathe
grily. And, Mrs. Macfarlane, !
in future you wouldn't let people in
to play insane practical jokes on l
my sleep"
is the mon clean daft" she say
ption, q more wonder-stricken voice
h and which, irriLated beyond measure, ! !
"Oh, get out of the room and bring
3 ,nia lG.- light, you old foo,W
only. "Auld fule!n Indignantly. ~
you'll please keep a civil tongue,
rtonco Then, after pause, "Aweel, I'll
praO- ye light"
o, With this she goes out, presum
I still have my back to her, and pr
ly returns with light, on which
W. round to survey myself, and find