Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1882-11-10
NO FICTION.

Early in January, 1879, clerical duty
called inc into the northwest of England.
In the midst of a heavy fall of snow, my
family and took possession OF the otlic-
ial residence provided for us.
1t was an Old stone house of one story
rooted, III part with ancient stone slabs,
in part with modern states and standing
in garden bare of trees. y wide pas
SAGE ran back from the entrance toward
the kitchen, where there were two doors,
the one leading into the yard, the other
into the larlcr, which was, in fact, a
roomy cellar at the foot Of flight of very
old stone steps. The five bedrooms all
opened on II square landing,
GLOW about the roof | asked Of the
man III charge.
'.All right. sir everything has been
carefully seen to : and when the thaw
comes, I'll warrant you'll moi he troubled,
anything TO matter.
In few days we had shaken down and
the verdict on on our new home was,
''Not grand. but decidedly cosey."
A tall, solid, ileshy, rosy Young woman
had undertaken to be our one servant.
Sparing OF words was she, but not spar
ing OF work.
"The incarnation OF stupidity and stol-
idity," said my son Primus.
"Ihe very thing for us" said his
mother.
The girl name being Stiliwell, soon
became corrupted into Saltwater to, for
short Still.
1t was splendid skating weather. The
low lying meadows were flooded to the
depth of foot OF more, and one glided
over acres of smooth, green, transparent
law cal
boys, their sister and |, to take our fill of
enjoyment in this icy paradise coming
back to bask all the evening before the
bright golden sunshine and the sill
very ashes OF IL North-country coal
fire
My wife has the weak habit of going to
"tuck up her boys after they are in bed.
One night their voices sounded so angry
that she ran mp i'll haste to see what was
wrong On entering their room she found
the two elder boys sitting up i'll bed, hurl-
ing injurious and derisive epithets
at some person or persons I'M
known.
Let me JUS find out who you are.
and you'll get such Jolly good licking as
you'll remember" announced Primus,
gazing wrathfully at the ceiling.
"Oh, You blooming idiot / wish I'd
your boots. I'd throw EN- at your head
Be off I'm taking sight at you, shout
ed Secundus, nose and fingers npturned in
the same direction.
"Are you both mad o. inquired the
stern, maternal voice.
ats 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.
ooh, you coward ~
son, you funk ~ proceeded from the
two beds. Not n sound above.
II heard no row on the roof, remarked
mother with a digniiied emphasis and
having performed the usual ceremony,
he departed, and came and told mo of the
whole affair." concluding with
81 wonder if it can be rats,
Not a doubt Of it.
Next morning the boys were full Of
their nocturnal visitor, and declared that
no sooner had the drawing door slut
than the scramhling and trampng began
again.
History tells Of Il certain cat who
wore top boots, but / never heard of rats
adopting the fashion, / remarked.
"Ruts, father ! why we know the sound
tween the ceiling and the roof. But this
is unnistakablc boots, with plenty OF
hobnails in them, too, on the outside
of the roof We expected every mo-
ment to see the fellows legs come
through plaster and all. think / may
be permitted to speak with authority Oh
the subject OF boots and roof i'll conjunc
ton"
He certainly might for he mad peram'
bulated the roofs of all the outhouses il
S., to the great detriment of tiles anC
states.
"Wcll, then, continued Primus, with
the air of m adept, 81 am so sure 1t was {
boy of my size in hohnailcd boots, that
feel as if I had se9n them. / could sweal
to them.
Come out and have look was m,
reply.
There lay the white mantle, smooth ant
glstening in the sunshine, and untroddeI
by so much as the foot OF tom-cat.
The boys looked Mt each other il
amazemcnt. 81 don't care" said Sc
cundus, detiantly. shall always believe
it was a boy
"It's the rummiest go ever knew,
slowly remarked Primus.
"If Boots comes again, the only thing
you have to do is to wish HIM good night
and to cover up your ears, was my rec
ommendation.
That evening, Just rs we were about t.
begin prayers, we were NIL startled b,
some tremendous blows on the celia
door My wife, thinking there must b.
some one at the back door, told Stillwate
to go and see who ii could be knocking il
that outrageous way.
The girl did not stir. After momen
she said, Its the cellar door"
"Impossible ~ said her mistress. SGT
quickly and see what it is.
We heard the unlocking and the relock
ing of the yard door. When the CIR
came back she sad there was no on
there. Presently, while / was reading
there came more loud blows, as if strucl
by heavy fist and Enthusiastically agains
the cellar door.
When prayers were ended, we went +
make acquaintance with our mysteriou
captive. On opening the door, there wa
nothing to be seen but the flight q
steps,
My wife and exchanged glances whicl
said very plainly, "a sweetheart. So n
the youth appeared shy, ! gave him Al
encouraging invitation to come forth ant
show himself No reply,
81 am determined to know who yol
are, said I,nobly plunging into the abyss
the boys at my heels. Nothing whateye
to be seen, and not corner in which any
thing bigger than mouse could hide