The Arkansaw traveler., 1882-11-12

bala;ed the roofs of all the outhouses a =. to the great detriment of tiles and states.
 Well. then" continued Primus witf the air of an adept Il am so sure it was . boy of my size in hobnailed boots tha; feel as fl had seen them. I eoule swear ;o them.
 Come out and have look" was m, reply.
 There lay the white mantle, smooth and glistcnins in the sunshine, and un ;rodden D, 50 much as the foot of A tom Ca..
 The boys looked at each other ir amazemen,. .'l don't care, said oecnn- dus, dehantly. Il shall always believe il was boy.
 Its the rummes, thing ever knew. slowly remarked rrimus.
 If Boots comes again, the only thing you have to do IS 10 wish him 4 good night. and to cover up your ears. was m. recommendation.
 Ina, evening. Jus, as we were about to begin prayers. we were all startled by some tremendous blows on the cellar door, My wife. thinking there must be some one al the back door. told Saltwater 10 go and see who could be knocking in that outrageous way. The girl did not stir. After a moment she said ,.I.'s the cellar door.
 Impossible said her mistress. go quickly and see what il IS.
 We heard the unlocking and relocking of the yard door. When the girl came back she said there vas no one there. Pres entl, while was reading. there came more loud blows as fl struck by heavy tst. and unmistakably against the cellar door
 When prayers were ended we wen; 10 make acquaintance with our mysterious rapii,e On opening he door there was nothing to be seen but the flight of steps.
 My Ni;e md eAc hanged glances which said very plainly. '' \ sweetheart. So. as the youth appeared shy. gave him an encouraging invitation to come forth and show himself. No reply.
 ln determined 10 know who you arc said l. nobly plunglng into the abyss to be seen and not a corner in which anything bigger than a mouse could hide The window. IL was tightly closed up for the winter. and was besides blocked with snow was certainly mystified. but I sen, the young ones of to bed with an assurance that wind In an old house was capable ot making the most extraordinary noises. and in illustration WIG all in turn shook the door not. however producing anything like the previous effect.
 .. l, must have been l, the back door. said my wife. with searching look al saltwater.
 No it's the cellar. door that does ii" quietly replied the girl.
 Ho~ can l, make that noise a itself."
 .. don't know.
 Did you ever hear II before =
 ''Ies : thi, evening. when Miss was al the plano.
 Ne decided that we must watch Still water.
 In the course of the sight. we were awake by .he agreeable sound of drip, drip. drip" in one corner of the room. My wife pu, basin beneath. with towel in it, to deaden the sound. Presently 'd drip, drip" again. rus, outside the door. which we always kept open.
 There sudden thaw. and we're in for il" said 1. Let's go to sleep. It won't hurt the floor cloth
 But there was 10 going to sleep; for the drip came faster than ever. until ii in- creased to a little stream. There were no matches in room ; but managed to ind my bath. and to SC, II. with blanket in- side i.. under the spo, whence the sound came.
 When. al breakfast. 1 announced the sad news ot the sudden thaw there was chorus of exolamations. Why. every thingss,s as hard as iron. etc, etc
 The mother meanwhile was directing her handmaiden to dry up the water winch 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 we, blanket. She stared more eNpresslvely, and Wa, mute
 Don't you understand:
 cs. ma am Bu, there is no wet blanket. and no water ,o wipe up.
 D stairs wen, mistress and servant : and. m TWO minutes. back came nly wife, looking quite bewildered.
 There not trace of a,cr ,nywh here" :" sad she and vet. af.er you were asleep heard 1t drp fast upon the oounterpane lust at my feet.
 Our delighted offspring settled i, that mother had been dreaming and primus irreveren,ly hin,ed tha, I generously len, IN, bath in order 10 escape my morn ing's shudder.
 When Tertius was being tucked up that night. ke asked Who was ;hai-pcrson who came aud looked l; me ai,e, was in bed: =
 Saltwater. suppose.
 "oh no. IL was m old woman, and she had funny cap on.
 ou dreamed her deas
 Bu, hadn't been to sleep. And I turned my head to the wall. and when l looked ter her agaln she had..sone away
 "YoG mus, have been half asleep. Now go to sleep quite. and finish the dream
 The next nigh; primus began
 Mother. l wish you would tell that old party not ,o come into my room wi.hou; knocking. had us, got into bed. happened ,o glance across to the drawers. and there she stood. coolly look. ins at me. was disgus,ed. and turned my back upon her. Presently. looked