The Baltimore County union., 1882-12-23
ing the eldest, and consummated plan
4 IL


Sometime after night he was deposited
at Hollythorne, and reaching his sister S
house he secuted around until he found
way OF entrance into the kitchen,
where he deposited his luggage and re-
moved his boots. Then he quietly
stole up stairs and opened the door Of
the best room. "Surc enough" thought
he, "my fine chaps, you are in clover /"
for there were not-to-be-mistakcn signs
Of the room being occupied. Garments
were lying upon the chairs, and the bed
was pressed by sluInbering forms.
TO think Of coping with their united
strength by dragging them forth was not
practicable; but there stood the pitcher
Of water, and he knew that 4 good dous-
ing with the icy fluid would bring them
out quick enough.
"lf | can't have my old quarters, he
chuckled, "you shan't-that I am de-
termincd. So here goes"
He filled the pitcher, approached the
bed, raised the pitcher high, and sud-
denly dashed the entire contents on the
sleeper.
Such torrent of screams he had never
before heard ring through the house,
and before Sam could collect his scat.
tered thoughts, door after door opened,
and Hannah, John and George rushed
in-in scanty apparel Hannah with
frightened look on her face and lamp
in her hand, that revealed the entire
scene.
There, sitting in bed, with hair drip.
ping like mermaid, her nighi-dreSs
deluged, her face colorlcsS and looking
terrified and there was Sam with the
empty pitcher in his hand, the very pic
,urc of imbecility, staring like an IDIOT
at Miss Eva and the havoc he had made.
Han, George and John instantly per-
ceived the situation, and the latter, at
the command of their sister, dragged
sam away, while she assisted the drench-
ed and terrified girl to dry her clothing,
and then took her to her own room and
bed, explaining for the second time the
mishap of the night.
"Fll keep you with me, now, my
child" she said, though with difficulty
keeping back her laughter. "Those
boys are nicely come up with, at any
rate and if it wasn't for your having
been SO terribly frightened, and the way
my best bed is used up ! would not care.
They DO nothing when they come home
but study up tricks TO play on each 9TH
er and" continued she, ''they are so
confined in their offices and stores dur
ing the most OF the year, that they let
loose when they are out here
but you are safe now"
Hannah kissed her charge, and then
went down to see about the boys, who,
as soon as they were shut up in the re-
gion below, began to fully appreciate
the joke and now that Sam was asd deep
in the the mud as they were in the mire,
gave no quarter.
"I'll be blamed If know what il all
means," said Sam, looking 4, his broth
ers, who were rolling and kicking in the
commissions Of laughter.
"Wait," replied George, "until Han
comes, and see if you don, find out"
and he gave another peal Of laughter.
sam had rot smiled, and sa, looking
the picture Of discomfort and perplexi;y
but answered:
"For heavens sake, hold on boys
I'm willing to admit tha, I'm sold
gone dog cheap to the highest bidder
but hold on long enough to tell fellow
what il means"
"Mcans! Of course l will" continu.
ed George. alt means that YOU have
stolen like thief into Miss S,anley's
chamber-who is lady teacher board
ing around that this is her week here /;
and thinking it was your humble servant
and Johnny snug in the bed, you attempt
cd to drown us out, and made grand
mistake. How do YOU like it, Sam? -
al confess see the point, but can,
see the joke. 1t is a most outrageous
shame"
At this juncture Hannah came in, and
began rating them soundly, thereby let
ting the whole story out. 1t was sam S
turn then to laugh, and the whole thing
was so completely ludicrous that he was
compelled to join his brothers.
Miss Eva was not visible 1t the table
the next morning, and Hannah announc-
cd that she was sick with 4 severe cold;
whereupon George groaned out and
called for handful of peas TO put in
Sans shoes, while that gentleman look
cd very contritc, and John declared he
wanted to shoot himself. But Han
nah had the unruly crew under her thumb
for once in her life, and had the satis-
faction of seeing them behave with some
thing Of dignity. They appeared TO
never forget that there was an invalid
in the house, and went on tip-toe about,
and Sam, who seemed to take the entire
responsibility on his shoulders, sent of
to New York for choice fruits and
flowers, which he induced his sister &c
convey to the young lady with the mos,
abjcct apologies and regrets.
In couple Of days Eva was able to
conc down stairs. She was looking
quite pale, but lovely, and of course,
divinely, when presented by Mrs. Car
penter TO her three brothers, who be-
haved quite well, considering the un
pleasantness Of their situation.
But Sam, who broke the ice by mean,
Of his presents, was most at ease, and
by virtue OF his age and experience, con
stituted himself the proprietor, and Wa
constantly on hand to offer Eva a thous'
and namelesS attentions, and before th,
week was out, John declared in conf
dencc TO Hannah that he was done for
"Gone up completely" cried George
with one Of his dismal groans.
"Just think Of it, Han, il it hadn't
been for the pitcher Of water, Sam would
have been heart-whole this blessed min
ute. The fellow meets lots Of girls muci
prettier than she every day, and with lot
Of stamps, too. They say that pity is
tu;r. .sieter IN love and I helieyf IL -