New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-10-15
NO FICTION.

II was an old stone house of one story roofe9 IN
pia t and standing i'm a garden bare of trees
wide passage ran back from the entrance toward
fbe Kitchen where there were two doors; the one
leading into the yard the other into the larder
which was in fact roOmy cellar at me Ioo s ol n
flight of very old stone steps Inc nVe peurooinS
ali opened on a square landing ~ - l.,
How about the roof / asked Of the man IN
charge. 49,, -, ,o,, oorof,,Iv
saen TO: and when the thaw comes, III Warrant
yon'u not be troubled anything to matter ,
In o few DAYS we had shaken down; and the yer
dict on our new home was. Not grand, but de-
A tatl. SOLID, ieshy, rosy young womapp had under,
taken to he our one servant. sparing OF words was
She but not sparlng OF WORK. .r,., ,o;a
The incarnation OF stupidity ana stOuul'S' 9"iu
The very thing for us said his mother.
This girls name being Stillwel soon became cor
rupted into Saltwater; or, for short SIN; 49,.
Ii was splendid skating weather / ne IoW-Iyin ls
meadows were flooded TO the depth OF 1901 or
more and one glded along over acres 81 slnoOtn
green Transparent ice Every day we sailed i0rth,
my three boys, their sister and TO take our M OF
IN tins icy Tfd R@ fbe bCht golden sun
shine and the silveTy ashes OF NOrth-cOuhIry oo"i
fire.
Nv wife has the weak habit of going to. tuck up.
her boys after they are ID bed. One night their
voices sounded angry that she ran up III haste 70
see what was wrong. On entering lheir room sLe
found the two elder boys sitting up III oeu' huI.g
injurious and d, risive epthets at some person OF
Let me lust lind ont who You are, and you'll get
such a Jolly good hcking as you'll remember, an
nounced PI1lnus, gazing wrathiully ~ the cellihe
oh YOU blooming idiot! wlsh IA your poots.
"a throw em at your head. BE OH I'm tsH H a
sight at you, shouted SecunuuS, nose anu iine0AS
up-turned in the same direction; 49, ....o,
Are you both mad p inquired the stern. maternal
voice.
.Its that fellow. mother, that l told you about,
Hes on the roof again. Just listen to the row he
Nonsense. said his mother but she stood listen
ing for some time.
Oh. YOU cOwardV
Ali, you funk proceeded from the two beds.
MOI q sound above .,
mother with di2nified emphasis and, having per-
formed the usRa ceremony, she departed; ana came
ana told me OF the whole affair." concluding with
i wonder If 1t can be rats
Not doubt of it,
Next morning the boys were full of their noe;
turnal visitor and declared that, no sooner had
the dra wing room door shut, than the scramDllng
and trampling began again.
History tells of certain cat who wore top Doots
but never heard of rats adopting the fashion,,
remarked
Rats father why we know the sound of them
well enough. And they run between the celling
and the roof But this is unmlstak BILE boots, with
plenty of hObnals III them too, on the outside or
the roof. We expected every moment TO see the
fellows legs come through plaster and all: thlnk
may be permitted to speak with authority on the
subject of boots and roofs in cOnluncuOn.'
He certainly might, for he had perambulated the
roofs of al the OuthOuseS at $, 10 the great
detIuent of tiles and states g.,
We'll them continued Primus. with the ar OF an
adept Il am sure it was boy OF my Size IN hODr
nailed boots that feel as if L had seen them. L
could swear TO them
Come out and have look was my reply.
There lay the white mantle, smooth and glIsten-
ing in the sunshine, and untrodden by so much as
the foot of a tOm-cat. =,
The boys looked at each other in amazement 1
don't care said Secundus defantly, shall always
IFS the FUNNIEST thing ever knew slowly re-
marked Primus.
If Boots comes again. the only thing you have TO
do is 10 wish HIM a good night, ana to cover up
your rs was my recommendation.
That evening. just we were about to begin
PRAYERS we were all startled by some tremendous
blows on the cellar door. Ny wife, thinking there
must be some one at the back door, told saltwater
to 90 and see who could be knocking IN that out
rageOuS way.
The girl did not stir After moment she said
Tvs tine cellar door,
Impossible said her mistress. Go quickly and
see what II Is.
We heard the unlocking and reloclling of the
ward door When the girl came back she said there
was no one there. Presently, while was reading,
there came more loud blows, as II struck by heavy
fist (: and Enthusiastically against the cellar door.
When prayers ended we went to make ac-
uuaintance with our mysterious captive. On open
Ing the door there was nothing to be seen but the
Nv vile and exchanged glances which said very
plainly. A sweetheart. So, as the youth appeared
shy, gave him Ouraging invitation to come
forth and show himself. No reply.
Il am determined to know who YOU are said |,
nOblT
heels Nothing whatever to be seen, and not cor
ner in which anything bigger than mouse could
hide. The window 7 1t was tightly closed up for
the winter, and was, besides blocked with snow.
/ was certainly mystified but / sent the young
ones of to bed with an assurance that wind, i'll an
old house. was capable OF making the most extra
ordinary noises; and. in illustIatiOn all III turn
shook the door not however, producing anything
like the previous effect.
Ii must have been at the back door, said my
wife with o searching look at saltwater
No; it's the cellar door that does it, quietly
piled the girl.
How can it make that noise of itselfp
Il don't know.
'Did YOU ever hear it before p
'Ycs this evening when Miss was at the piano.
We decided that We must watch Saltwater
In the course of the night we awaked by the
agreeable sound of Dnp, drip, drip i'll one corner
of the room. My wife put BASIN beneath, with
towel III il. 10 deaden the sound. Presently, drip,
drip again, just outside the door, which always
kept open.
There's a sudden thaw, and we're in for it, said
Cloth q |''' go 10 'i0S'' wont no'' the n'''-
But there was no going to sleep. for the drip
came faster than ever until it increased TO little
stream. There were no matches III the room; but
/ managed 10 find my bath and 10 set II, with "a
blanket inside il. under the spot whence the sound
came.
When at breakfast | announced the sad news of
the sudden tlaw. there was chorus Of exclama-
lions: Why everything is as hard as IRON etc.
etc.
The mother, mean while. was directing her hand
during the night The girl stared when she came
into the room again her mistress asked her what
che had done with the wet blanket. She stared
more expresSively, and was mute.
Don't you understandP
Yes. ma'am But there Is no wet blanket, and
90 water TO wipe up
Up stairs went mistress and servant and in two
minutes back came nay wife, looking quite be-
wildeTed.
There's not trace of water anywhere said she;
and yet, after you asleep heard il drip fast
upon the counterpart, just at my feet
Our delighted offspring settled il that mother
had been dreaming and Prmus irreverently limited
that | had generously lent my bath in order TO
escape my mornings shuddor.