Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1882-11-16
No FICTION.

called me in to the north west OF Eng
land In the midst Of a heavy fall OF
snow. my family and | took possession
of the official family residence pro-
vided for US.
1t was an old stone house OF one
story; rooted in part with ancient stone
slabs. in part with modern slate; ana
standing in a garden bare Of trees. A
wide passage ran back from tne en-
frances toward the kitchen, where
there were two doors; the one Leading
into the yard, the other into the larder
which was in fact roomy cellar at the
foo. ota very old flight Of stone steps.
The five bedrooms all opened on a
square landing.
Glow about the roof?' ] asked of the
man in charge.
"All right, sir everything has been
carefully seen TO; and when the thaw
comes, III warrant you'll not be
troubled anything to matter"
In few days we had shaken down;
and the verdict on our new home was,
''Not grand, but decidedly cosy"
A tall, solid, heshy, rosy young wo'
man had undertaken to be our one
servant, Sparing of words was she,
but not sparing of work.
THE incarnation Of stupidity and
stolidity, said my son Primus.
'The very thing for u.s." said his
mother.
This girls name being Stillwell, soon
became corrupted into Saltwater, or,
for short, Still.
1t was splendid skating weather.
The low-lying meadows were Hooded
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, 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 silvery ashes OF q
north-country coal fire.
Ny wife has the weak habit O. going
to "tuck up" her boys after they are in
bed. One nigh. their voices sounded
so angry that she ran up in haste to
see what was wrong. On entering their
room she found the two elder boys sit
ting up in bed, hurting injurious and
derisive epithets at some person or
persons unknown.
Get me Just find out who you are,
and you'll get such a Jolly good licking
as you'll remember" announced
Primus, gazing wrathfully at the cell
ing. :,
ooh, you blooming idiot | wish I'd
your boots. I'd throw 'em at your
head Be of I'm taking a sight ~
you" shouted Secundus, nose anc
fingers upturned in the same direction
Are you both mad9" inquired the
sierra maternal voice.
"It's that fellow, mother, that tolC
you about. He's on the roof again
Just listen to the row he makes"
Nonsense, said his mother; but;sh,
stood listening for some time.
ooh, you coward"
"Ah, you funk" proceeded from I'd,
two beds. Not a sound above.
az nave heard no row on the ROOF,
remarked mother with digniied EN-
phasis; and having performed tn
usual ceremony, she departed; anC
came and told me of the whole affair
concluding with: "wonder if 1t Ca
be rats"
"Not II doubt of it,"
Next morning the boys were full c
their nocturnal visitors, and decare
that no sooner had the drawing-roor
door shut than the scrambling an
trampling began again.
History tells of certain cat VIII
wore top boots, but | never heard {
rats adopting the fashion, remarked
"Rats, father why we know tn
sound of them well enough. An
they run between the ceiling and tn
roof But this is unmistakably booi
with plenty of bobnails in them, to-
on the outside Of the roof We e.
pected every moment to see the fe
lows legs come through plaster and al
think | may be permitted to spea
with authority on the subject of boo
and roofs in conjunction.
He certainly might, for he had lpe
amhulated the roofs of all the OF
ment of tiles and states.
"Well then" continued Primus, Wi
the air of an adept, Il am so sure it w
a boy Of my size in hObnailed boot
chat feel as if | had seen them.
could swear TO them"
"Come out and have a look" W
my reply.
There lay the white mantle, smoot
and ghstening in the sunshine, and IL
trodden 10y SO much as the foot of
tom cat.
The boys looked at each other
amazement. Il don't sro said Secu
dus defandy, shall always belle
it was boy"
"It is the FUNNIEST thing | ev
knew" slowly remarked primus.
HIf Boots comes again, the on
thing you have to DO is TO wish him
good night, and TO cover up your ears
was my recommendation
That evening, Just rs we were abo
to begin prayers, we were all startl
by some tremendous blows on the G
lar door. My wife, thinking there mi