Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-02-02
In Hiding,

goes by the name of morning to those early
risers whose day ends at sunset and begins
before cock-crow that Mrs Ann Dustin, ris-
ing from her slumbers, addressed herself to
the task of fire-making Why Mrs. Dustin
should awake at such an untimely hour 1t
would have been hard to explain. Dustin,
her late husband, was "late only in con-
veptional sense, having died years before.
It was not for the sake of neighbors, for
neighbors there were none within three
quarters of q mile. There was nothing
cheerful in the raw November darkness, lit
only by the twinkle Of the distant light
house. Nobody needed, nobody waited for
her. Had she chosen to lie abed till noon,
not a voice would have been raised in pro-
test, and truly "heaven sends nuts to those
who have no teeth" for all this charm of
privilege which certain lazy people would so
have valued was utterly thrown away upon
her. Punctual as a clock, at four in sum.
mer and five in winter, anticipating the
earliest hint of dawn, up rose Mrs. Dustin,
and from that time forward the wheels Of
her day drove busily on till sunset, when she
went to bed, thus saving fire, candle, and the
infraction of old custom.
She had Just got her fire well under way
when a knock fell upon the door. Knocks
have character. This was not loud, but quick
and imperative, as given by one whose er-
rand might not brook delay.
"Come in" said Mrs. Dustin, surprised,
but calm. Then recollecting that the door
was still fastened, she stepped forward, drew
the bolt, and opened it.
Three figures stood without, dimly defined
against the darkness of the morning.
"Oh, Mrs. DUSTIN" said voice, "may we
come in d? We are hiding
On the mainland such statement might
have sounded odd and startling enough, but
to Mrs. Dustin, Nantucket woman born
and bred, it had quite different signif-
canoe. She was familiar with the island
custom known as hiding parties, when GER
tain number of girls aud young men, having
dance in contemplation, settle who shall
give and who pay for it by preliminary
game of hide-and-seek. Twelve hours of
the day, from six to six, are allowed the lat
ter to discover the lurking places to which,
before dawn, the former have betaken them
selves. 1t is an exciting game, as may well
be imagined, with whole island to range
over, the forfeit an equally pleasant one to
pay or win, spice of adventure involved
so it is no wonder that it should prove pop
ular, and girls be willing to shorten their
beauty sleep for the fun of INDUCING in it.
Mrs. Ann had been on many hiding party
in her time, and she knew all about them
so with ready wit she hurried the girls in
side, shut the door lest some flash of light
should go forth to guide the seekers and
proceeded to discuss ways and means.
"Taint no use your trying to stow away
in none Of my rooms" she said. "The boys
will be all over them like flash. 'Taint the
first time they've come here. Once they
caught Mandy Pike behind the -four barrel
in the buttery; and another time Lucy
Smith she got in under the shelf of my
closet, and set the tea-chest, with my best
bunnit in it, right afore her; but, law
Jack Sperry he's as quick's an eel, and he
had the chest and the bunnit, and Lucy atop
of them, all out on the floor before you
could say Scat Hark what's that ?" a,
another knock, hesitating but vigorous, fell
on the door.
"Whos there 2" softly stealing forward
and slipping the bolt.
"Any girls in there, Mrs. Dustin 2"
"Well, declare if that foolish old custom
amt going the rounds yet, want to know T.
replied Mrs. Ann, at the top of her voice
signing the tittering girls to silence mean
while. al call it hard if quiet folks can't
get their chores done up at this time of
mornin' without your coming round like
this. 1t amt six neither You'd ought to be
ashamed of yourself, Mark Coflin-I declare
you he'd"
"Tain't six-that's fact" said one OF
the young fellows. "Come along, boys
Mrs. Dustin's right. See you later" With
this and laugh they walked away.
snow, girls, set right down by the fire,
LII. i'll ,laNt 30 40 thn,r boat
ess. "That Mark CofIin's a regular high.
flyer for spirits. Did you hear him laugh
Draw up closer, Miney. You'd better; you
look half froze."
Miney, or Jessamine, obeyed with little
SILVER. She was delicate, pretty creature,
with fair hair and sweet blue eyes, and
looked quite unfit for the exposure and chill
of the early walk.
"How'll we manager" pursued Mrs. Ann
"Theres the cellar; that's the thing. I'll
fix you up there. itn Just hold you, and
the boys won't be likely to suspect, cause
there want none till last summer. had il
dug in June"
A trap door and ladder led to the cellar
which was about eight feet square. Lifting
the trap, Mrs. Dustin now proceeded to line
the space with feather beds hastily brought
down from the second story. Various quilts
comforters and couple of buffalo robe:
were tumbled in hasty jorum of tea was
brewed; and fortified thus by warmth and
food, the girls descended the ladder, wei
wrapped in blankets, and crouched, a laugh
ing heap, in the pillows of the friendl,
feather beds. Mrs. Dustin saw them wei
established, then with nod reclosed thu
door, drew a square OF carpet over it, set he
sewing machine thereon, hastily CLEARED
away teacups and plates, frightened the fire
washed her hands, unbolted the door, sa
down, and began to stitch vigorously. A
she did so she glanced at the clock. 1t wa
exactly six.
Half second after came another quicl
knock, and without waiting for an answer
the door was dashed open, and three younI
men hurried in, and with rapid Excus
me, Mrs. Dustin, we're after those girls,
spread themselves over the premises with
rapidity and thoroughness born of long prac
tice. Mark Coffin, handsome fellow, witt
daring CLINT of fun in his eyes, hurried +
the attic. Sam Mayhem ransacked the but
terry, and opened all the cupboard doors
while Issachar, or "Czar" Pike Owed into tn
secret recesses of Mrs. Dustin's own bee
room. Ten minutes suffced to ransack tn
small house; each bedroom was searched
every closet the dresses on the wall wer
shaken and pounded; the logs Of the Woo
pile dislodged and thrown aside Sam eve
lifted the lid off the chuTn and peered within
All was vain, and the discounted searchel
returned to the kitchen, where the mistres
of the house still piled her whirring treadl,
and slipped the long white seam beneath I'll
glancing needle. She looked up as they e
tered, and remarked dryly, 81 hope your
satisfied, and you'll please pile that wood u
again just where you found it,"
"Yes'm, we have. Why didn't you Il
us in when we first came p
"Cause 'twasn't six"
At that moment Mrs. Dustin's quick ey
perceived that Cars big foot had turned u
corner Of the carpet, thus leaving visib
one hinge Of the cellar door. With rap
movement of her own she replaced it, sti
sewing steadily on, and fixing, as it wer
the gaze of her visitors, while she added
"Old ways is old ways. There's diffe
ence of opinion how good they be; but
six is the hour, keep to six so it amt
use coming knocking at my door at TWEEN
minutes past five, and that you fellows CT
remember another time"
well, that's no more than fair" d
clared Sam Mayhem, with a laugh. TT
three stood debating for a moment the
"Come on, we'd better try the house dow
to Trot Hills next" said Car. Tn,
moved toward the door, Mrs. Dustin watc
ing them with secret satisfaction. On {
very threshold the astute Mark paused, al
queried, Has this house got round cell
to it2"