Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1883-02-21
Mardi Gras In MaypOrt.

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took his seat at breakfast table one bright
February. at will be most as good as
Christmas"
al wish were there" sighed Tom, Char
lies younger brother.
"Pspa," asked the first speaker, 81 are you
going TO obey Rax's command to keep holi.
day to-day2 You know he said in the
newspapers that everybody must do so, from
the governor down"
"No, think shall disobey orders, and
GO to my office as usual" replied Mr. Grant.
" Don't expect me home until late tonight"
added he, turning to his wife al shall
have to work hard to get the Richie case
ready for court
"Then how can pay for those ducks
Peter Jones promised to bring me this morn
ing ?" asked she. haven't penny in the
house, and counted on your bringing your
pocketbook home to-day that you left be-
hind you in the office yesterday"
"Ohl" I'll tell you what to do" exclaimed
Charlie. "Send me and Tom for it,"
Chow very obliging you have become all
of sudden |" returned Mrs. Grant. "Well
since you and Tom are so anxious to see
the fun, ss you call ii, you may 90 after
lunch but | shall send Chloe along, to see
that you keep out of mischief. am afraid
to trust you in town by yourselves, at
time when all the idle people seem to go
crazy"
If Aunt Chloe goes, then baby can go,
too" said Tom. Don't 90 want ter doe to
town and see de funny folks ?" asked he,
addressing himself to little tot who was
perched on a high chair at her mothers
side. And baby's reply seemed to be salts.
factory, though it was expressed only by
patting the ques'ioner's face with her milky
spoon. Old Chloe at first declared she wasn't
going nowhere bout no SIGH foolishness,
but after promising to draw baby's wagon
themselves, the boys finally coaxed her to
consent; and after lunch they started off,
baby gleefully touching up her rather resive
team with the long switch which they had
furnished her.
leaving the muddy public road, with its
clay hills and deep gulies, the pleasure
seekers took short cut across some old
fields, and were not long in tramping over
the mile and half of brown grass and
early blooming purple daisies, interspersed
with canebrakes and pine thickets that lay
between their home and the little town. AT
ter passing through the suburb of negro
cabins, and entering the main street, the
first thing that attracted their notice was
party of savages, in war-paint and feathers,
gathered around cake stand.
"Good Lord massy, look at dem wild
Injns," exclaimed Aunt Chloe, whereupon
the savages, setting up yell, came dancing
around the bsby's wagon, much to the de-
light of its occupant and the indignation of
her nurse. "Go way from here tell you
exclaimed the latter, attacking the enemy
with her stick.
"They are only make believe Indians,
Aunt Chloe, said Charlie, with superior
wisdom, as the savages ran away in pre-
tended terror. But before reaching the NJ xt
street he himself came to grief. A shaggy
black bear, walking on its hind legs, seized
him around the shoulders, and Rugged him
until he was forced to call to Aunt Chloe
for assistance. But just then she had
fresh trouble of her own. An uncommonly
tall female with pigs face, had come up,
and claiming her as an old friend, insisted
on kissing her.
al never seed you before, and l don't
want to see you aginl" exclaimed Aunt
Chloe, as she struggled in the strangers en-
brace.
Tom was standing near the edge of the
sidewalk, laughing at his companions trou-
bes, when he felt his hat lifted off, and
turning, saw it borne away by man with
a horses head, riding on horse with
mans head. 1t was hung on lamp post,
whence it was brought down by good
natured baboon in blue spectacles. Scarcely
had it been returned when Aunt Chloe
broke into yell at the sight of red devil,
with horns and hoofs, mounted on a mus
tang pony and armed with huge tossting-
fork
"Hello, there |" exclaimed the devil, APP
preaching the sidewalk and brandishing his
fork. "You are the very old sinner | have
been looking for l'
Ga hearing this, Aunt Chloe gave another
YELL and then, amid the cheers of the crowd,
set off in run down the street, not stop
ping till she broke into Mr. Grants office.
d" De debbil been arter me |" was the only
excuse offered for this unceremonious en-
trance.
"Well, Chloe, am astonished at you,"
said Mr.. Grant. "Who would have sup
posed that you, who have been good
shouting Methodist for the last thirty years,
should be afraid of the devil2 Why didn't
you resist him, and make him flee from
you ?"
"I'll do it next time" said Aunt Chloe
and she kept her word.
After long rest in Mr.. Grants office,
from the windows of which they had good
view of the masquers on the street below,
the walking party set out for home, the
money for which they had sent being en-
trusted to Aunt Chloe, as Mr., Grant said
Charlie would be sure to lose it along the
way.
my pocket got hole in EN-" said the
old woman, as she took the pocketbook,
"but I'll tote it in my hand"
In going home they proceeded much more
leisurely than they had come, and had
stopped at the bank of little creek to
gather the yellow jasmines that were Just
beginning to bloom, when they were startled
by the sound of horses hoof gathering
down the hill behind them.
"Here comes another devil |" exclaimed
Charlie turning to see. "And a big black
one this time You had better look out,
Aunt Chloe |"
al amt afeard," returned the old woman.
But when the masked man, on coming up
with them, suddenly refined in his horse,
growled, 81 say, niger, hand over that
pocketbook," the boys themselves were
frightened. Not so Aunt Chloe.
81 amt gwine do no SIGH thing" was
her reply. "lf you take it, you take me
long wild it," added she clinging to the
pocketbook as the other attempted TO wrest
it from her grasp. She probably would
have had the worst of the struggle if an
other person had not now appeared ON the
scene; this was Peter Jones, the hunter,
who came up along the bank Of the creek
with gun on his shoulder and string OF
slaughtered ducks dangling down his back
Taking in the situation at glance, he
brought his gun into shooting position, and
with the single word, Get" caused the
devil to let go the pocketbook, and proceed
hastily on his way.
"Good thing for him my gun wasn't
loaded" observed Peter. I'd bet my bot
tom dollar it was one of them tarnation
horse-thieves that broke Jail last night.
heard say their friends got DISCUSSES for
them, so they might get away in the crowd.
If they are caught again in these diggins
they'll get hurt-sure as shooting"
Escorted by Peter, Aunt Chloe and her
charges reached home without farther mo-
lestation. The old woman received a lib
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