The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1882-10-28

below, began to fully appreciate the joke
and now that Sam was as deep in the mud
as they were in the mire, gave no quarter
9Th be blamed if l know what it means,
said Sam, looking at his brothers, who were
rolling and kicking in the convulsion Of
laughter
"Wait," replied George, "until Har
comes, and see if you don't find out" anc
he gave another peal of laughter.
Sam had not smiled, and sat looking the
picture of discomfort and perplexity, bu
answered:
"For heavens sake, hold on boys In
willing to admit that I'm sold-gone dos
cheap to the highest bidder-but hold OF
long enough to tell fellow what it means.
"Means! Of course [ will, continued
George ''It means that you have stoler
like thief into Miss Stanley's chamber
who is lady teacher boarding around
that this is her week here; and thinking il
was your humble servant and Johnny SNUG
in the bed, you attempted to drown us out
and made grand mistake. How do yor
like it, Sam p
II confess I see the point, but can't set
the joke. 1t is most outrageous shame.
At this juncture Hannah came in ane
began berating them soundly, thereby letting
the whole story out. 1t was Sans turr
then to laugh, and the whole thing was sc
completely ludicrous that he was compelled
to join his brothers.
Mic, Two Woo not uicihla # tho fob1e
the next morning, and Hannah announced
that she was sick with severe cold; where
upon George groaned out and called for a
handful of peas to put in Sans shoes
while that gentleman looked very contrite
and John declared he wanted to shoot him,
self. But Hannah had the unruly crew
under her thumb for once in her life, and
had the satisfaction of seeing them behave
with something of dignity. They appeared
to never forget that there was an invalid in
the house, and went on tiptoe about; and
Sam, who seemed to take the entire re-
sponsibility upon his shoulders, set off to
New York for choice fruits and flowers,
which he induced his sister to convey to
the young lady with the most abject apol-
ogies and regrets.
In couple of days Eva was able to
come down stairs. She was looking quite
pale, but lovely, and of course divinely,
when presented by Mrs Carpenter to her
three brothers, who behaved quite well con-
sidering the unpleasantness of the situation.
But Sam who broke the ice by means of
his presents, was most at ease, and by vir-
tue of his age and experience constituted
himself the proprietor, and was constantly
on hand to offer Miss Eva thousand name
less attentions, and before the week was
out John declared in confidence to Hannah
that he was done for
"Gone up completely" echoed George,
with one of his dismal groans.
"Just think of it, Han, if it hadn' been
for the pitcher of water, Sam would have
been heart-whole this blessed minute. The
fellow meets lots of girls much prettier
than she every day, and with lots of stamps,
too. They say that pity is twin sister to
love, and believe it.
''Sour grapes p whispered John, pucker-
ing up his mouth.
Hannah sang Eva's praise and secretly
condemned Sans choice. She recon-
mended marriage to all of them as the only
SOLDERING process she was acquainted with.
They do not feel inclined to follow the ad-
vice, notwithstanding Sam happy plot with
the pretty schoolmistress of Hollythorne.
She often reminds her brothers-in-law of
her unceremonious introduction to snow
drift at the dead of night, and they retail
ate by reference to the shower-bath given
her by Sam.