Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-10-22

reason to be satisfied Of the entire bona nd,
of the writer. clergyman of the Church G
England-.AaemiiGn's Magazine for Octobe
Early in January, 1879, clerical dut
called me into the northwest OF England. L
the midst of heavy fall of snow, my famil
and took possession of the official residenc
provided for Us.
1t was an old, stone house of one story
rooted, in part With ancient stone slabs, il
part with modern states; and standing in
garden bare of trees. A wide passage raj
back from the entrance toward the kitchen
where there were Two doors; the one leadin,
into the yard, the other into the Harder
| which was, in fact q roomy cellar at the foo
of flight of very old stone steps. The fv
bedrooms all opened on 4 square landing.
| "How about the roof" asked of the mai
| in charge.
| "All right, sir; everything has been care
| fully seen to; and, when them comes, III
warrant you'll not be troubled anything Il
| matter"
In few days we had shaken down; ant
| the verdict on our new home wss, "No
| grand, but de ,idedly cozy"
A tall, solid, feshy, rosy young woman
had undertaken 10 be our one servant
SpsrIng of words was she, but not sparing o
work.
sThe Incarceration of stupidity and stolid
Hys ss1d my sen Frimus-
"The very thing for us," said his mother
The girls name being Stillweil, soon be-
came corrupted into Saltwater, or, for short
Still.
1t was splendid skating weather. The
low-lyiDg meadows were flooded to the depth
of foot or more, and one glided over acres
OF smooth, green, transparent ice. Every
day we sailed forth, my three boys, theil
sister and /, to take our fill of enjoyment in
this icy paradise; coming back to bask ali
the evening before the bright, golden sun
try coal FIRE.
My wife has the weak habit of going to
stuck up" her boys after they are in bed
One night their voices sounded 30 angry
that she ran up in haste TO see what was
wrong. On entering their room she found
the two elder boys sitting up in bed, hurl.
ing injurious and derisive epithets at some
person unknown.
"Let me just find out who you are and
you'll get such jolly good licking as
you'll remember" announced Primus, gaz-
ing wrathfully at the ceiling.
"Ob, you blooming idiot l wish I'd your
boots. I'd throw them at your head. Be
off Pm taking q sight at you," shouted
Secundus, nose and fingers upturned in the
same direction"
"Are you both mad?" inquired the stern,
maternal voice.
cts that fellow, mother, that told you
about. He's on the roof again. Just listen
to the row he makes"
Nonsense" said his mother; but she stood
listening for some time.
"0h, you cowardp'
"Ah, you funkw proceeded from the two
beds. Not sound above.
81 have heard no row on the roof re.
marked mother, with digni6ed emphasis;
and, having performed the usual CEREMONY,
she departed; and came and told me of the
whole affair, concluding with, II wonder il
it can be rats"
"Not doubt of it,"
Next morning the boys were full of their
nocturnal visitor, and declared that, no
sooner had the drawing-room door shut tn an
the scrambling and trampling commenced
again.
History tells OF certain cat who wore
top boots; but never heard of rats adopting
the fashion," remarked.
"RSts. fathtri why we know the sound oil
them we'll enough. And they run between
The ceiling and the roof But this is unmis-
taxable boots, with plenty of hobnails in
them, too, on the outside OF the roof. We
expected every moment to see the fellows
legs come-through, plaster and all. l think
L may be permitted to speak with authority
on the subject of boots and roofs in conjsnc-
tiop.n
He certainly might, for he had perambu-
lated the roofs of all the outhouses at s.,
to the great detrment of tiles and states.
swell, them" continued Primus, with The
air of an adept. ST am SO sure il was a boy
of my size in hobnailed boots, that I feel as
if had seen them. 1 could swear to
them"
"Come out and have a look" was my
reply.
There lay the white mantle, smooth and
glIstening in the scnshine, and untrodden by
so much as the foot of a tomcat.
The boys looked at each other in amaze
ment. Il don't care" said Secundus, defiant
ly, 81 shall always believe il was a boy"
"Its the FUNNIEST thing l ever knew"
slowly remarked Primus.
"If Boots comes again, the only thing you
have TO do Is 10 wish him goodnight and
TO cover up your ears" was my recommsn-
dation.
That evening, just as we we're about 10 be-
gin prayers, we were all startled by some
tremendous blows on the cellar door. My
wife, thinking there must be some one at
the back door, told Saltwater to go and see
who could be knocking in that outrageous
way.
The girl did not stir. After moment she
said, ''Il's the cellar door,"
"Impossiblep said her mistress, ego quick
ly and see what ii is."
We heard The unlocking and relockipg of
the yard 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 hesvy fist, and I'M
mist akably against the cellar door.
When prayers were ended we went to
make acquaintance with our mysterious cap
tive. On opening the door there was moth
ing TO be seen bu, the flight of stepr.
My wife and l exchanged Chances which
said very plainly, "a sweetheart" So, as
the youth appeared shy, 1 gave him an en-
sourssing invitasion 10 come forth and show
himself. No reply.
81 am determined to know who you are )"
said /, nobly plugging into the abyss; the
boys at my heels. Nothing whatever to be
seen and not corner in which anything
bigger than a mouse could hide. The win
dow? Il was tightly closed up for the win
ter, and was, besides, blocked with snow. 1
was certainly mysti6ed; but 1 sent the young
ones of 20 bed with an assurance that wind
in an old house was capable of making the
most extraordinary noises; and, in illustra-
ton, We all in turn shook the door; not,
however, producing anything like the pre-
vious effect.
1T must have been at the back door,"
said my wife, with searching look at Still
water.
"No; it's the cellar-door that does it,"
quietly replied the girl.
How can it make that noise of itself?"
Il don't know"
'Did you ever hear il before?"
"Yes, this evening, when Miss was at the
pisnon
We decided thai we must watch Saltwater.
In the course OF the night We were awoke
by the agreeable sound of drip, drip, drip
IN one corner of the room. Nv wife put a
basin beneath with towel in it to deaden
the sound. Presently, "drip, drip" again,
just outside the door, which we always kept
open;
"Thers's sudden thaw, and we're in for
it." said 1. aLet's go TO sleep. Il won't hurt
the hoor-clotb."
But there was no going to sleep, for the
drip came faster than ever, until il increased
to a little stream. There were no matches in
the room, but managed TO find my bath and
10 set it, with a blanket inside it, under the
spot whence the sound came
When, at breakfast, announced the sad
news of the sudden tbaw, there was chorus
of exclamatious: "Why, everything is as
hard "a iron," ETC.
The mother meanwhile was directing the
to dry up the water which had
come in during the night. The girl stared.
When she came into the room again her
mistress asked her what she had done with
the wet blanket. She stared more express
lively and was mute.
"Don'l you undersi snd?"
eyes. ma'am. But there is no wet
blanket and no wafer to wipe up"
Up stairs went mistress and servant, and
in tive minutes back came nv vile, looking
quite bewildered.
There's not a irsce of water anywhere"
r.