Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-07-20

ask you p
"'Deed, dunno, sar, less it's some be-
nighted trabeller in search o. shelter out'n
de Storm"
Hump and in search Of supper, too,
OF course, and everybody gone away or
gone to bed but you and me-"
AT this moment the ringing was follow
ed by q loud knocking.
"Marse, don't les you and me listen to
it, and then we amt 'bliged to sturb our
selves wild answering Of it," suggested
Wool.
"What, sir do you think that am
going to turn deaf ear to a stranger that
comes to my house for shelter on such q
night as this? Go and answer the bell
directly"
eyes, sar."
"But stop-look here-mind am not
to be distubed. If it is traveller, ask
him in I; set refreshments before him,
show him to bed. I'm not going to leave
my warm room to welcome anybody to-
night, please the Lord. Do you hear ?"
Eyes, sar," said the darkey retreating.
As Wool took shaded taper and open.
ed the door leading from his masters
chamber, the wind was heard bowling
through the long. passages ready to burst
| INTO the cozy bedroom.
SHUT THE DOOR, you scoundrel !"
roared Old Hurricane, folding the skirt of
his warm dressing-gown across his knees,
and lowering closer to the fire.
Wool quickly obeyed, and was heard
retreating down the steps.
"Whew !" said the old man, spreading
his hands over the blaze with look OF
comfortable appreciation. "What would
induce me to go abroad ON such night
as this Winds blowing great guns from
the northwest falling fast from
the heavens, and rising just NJ fast before
the wind from the ground cold Us Lap
land, dark Us Erebus No telling the
earth from the sky. Whew |" and to COM
fort the cold thought, Old Hurricane
poured out another glass of smoking
punch, and began to sip it.
| "How l thank the Lord that am not
doctor If were doctor now, the
sound of that bell at this hour of the
night would brighten me should think
pleurisy, and wanted me to get up and go
out in the storm-to turn out of my warm
bed to ride ten miles through the snow to
prescribe for her. A doctor never can
feel sure, even in the worst of weathers,
of good nights rest. But, thank Heav-
en-, am free from all such annoyances,
and if l am sure of anything in this
world it is Of my comfortable Sleep" said
Old Hurricane, as he slipped his punch,
smacked his lips and toasted his feet.
At this moment Wool re-appeared.
| SHUT THE DOOR, you villain Do you
intend to stand there holding it open on
me all night ?" vociferated the old man.
Wool hastily closed the offending por-
tails, and hurried to his masters side.
"Well, sir, who was it rang the bell?
| please, marster, sir, it wer' de Reber-
end Mr. Parson Goodwin"
Goodwin? Been to make sick-call,
l suppose, and got caught in the snow
storm. I declare, it is as bad to be par
son rs it is to be a doctor Thank the
Lord am not a parson either If were,
now, might be called away from my
cozy arm. chair and fre-side to ride twelve
miles to comfort some old man dying of
quinsy. Wool, here--help me into bed |;
pile on more comforters, tuck me up
warm, put bottle Of hot water to my
feet, and then go and attend to the par
son" said the old man, getting up and
moving towards his inviting couch.
"Sar sar stop, sar, if you please"
cried Wool, going after him.
"Why, what does the old fool mean ?"
exclaimed Old Hurricane, angrily.
| "Sar. de Reverend Mr.. Parson Good
win say how he must see you yourself,
personable, alone"
"See me, you villain Didn't you tell
him that had retired?'
Eyes, marse, tell him how YOU wer'
gone to bed and asleep more'u al hour
ago, and he ordered me to come wake you
up, and say how it were a matter o life
and DEATH"
Life and death. What have 1 to do
with life and death? 'front.' stir ! If
the parson wants to see me, he will have
to come up here" exclaimed Old Hurri-
cane. suiting the action to the word by
jumping into bed and drawing all the
comforters and blankets up around his
head and shoulders.
"Mus' fetch his reference up, sar ?"
Eyes. wouldn't get up and go down
to -Washington--SHUT THE DOOR, you
rascal, or I'll throw the bootiack at your
wooden head !"
Wool obeyed with alacrity, and in time
to escape the threatened missile.
After an sabsence Of few minutes he
was heard returning, attending upon the
footsteps of another. And the next min
ute he entered, ushering in the Rev. Mr..
Goodwin, the parish minister of st. Ma
rvs.
"How do you do? How do you do
| Glad to see you, sir glad to see you,
though obliged to receive you in bed
, Fact is, l caught cold with this severe
, change Of weather, and took warm ne
, excuse me Wool, draw that easy chail
| 10 ha.l riI Ia khxyM Nv
: win, and bring him glass of warm ne
D gus. 1t will do him good after his cole
4 ride"
D ~ thank YOU, Major Warfeld. will
take the seat, but not the negus if you
: please, tonight"
| "Not the negus? Oh, come now, you
are joking! Why, it will keep you from
h catching cold, and be most comfortable
a night-cap, disposing you to sleep ant
\. sweat like baby. OF course you spent
the night with us?"
II thank you, no. l must take tn
l. road again in few minutes"
s ''Take the road again tonight Why
. man alive. it is midnigh}, and the snow
j. driving like all Lapland."
II "Sir, am sorry to refuse your proffei
J. ed hospitality, and leave your comforta
2 BILE roof tonight, and sorrier still to hav
a to take you with me" said the pastor
gravely.
u "Take Me with you No, no, my goo
10 sir-no, no, that is too great joke-ha
3 La"
. "Sir, I fear that you will find it vel
a. serious one Your servant told you TIL
=. my errand was one Of imminent urge,
AZ cy?"
O. "Yes, something like life and death
exactly. Down in the cabin near Il
IN Punch Bowl there is IN old woman d
pit ing"
90 "There knew it. was just sayil
a there might be IN old woman dying. Br
it my dear sir what's that to me? VIII