Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1884-01-31
nope Arthray won't get his lantern in my


asked Mrs. Arthray "How many children
have you! We have four"
SI'm not married. said Tom, and as he said
it through his teeth, Mrs. Arthray blamed
herself for not having kept herself vel
enough informed about her cid friends t"
avoid distressing ropics. She hurried backD
the subject Of the chimes.
4Oh, forgot to tell you, this is an entirely
new set of chimes, so you must come and try
them. One of the old bells or gongs as Os'
car persists in calling them was cracked, yol
know. and my husband got the vestry's per-
mission to replace them ALL and he thinks the
new set will be swcetcr than the old that yoI
and heard SO often when we were children.
You will come just for a few moments. wout
your
"Do, Mr. Dolser" said Arthray, "anl help
us TO double the meaning OF
"Rins ou. tho old. ring in the new"
~With the greatest pleasure" sail Tom.
He felt that he was under false colors. ta: te
believed they would protect him If only that
dreadful lantern would be mercifa!. He
wo:iid plead neuralgia, toothache, anything
to keep his face hid len by the listers collar,
be would enjoy honorable company for
little whiie; the schoolhouse bell could wait
we're ringing
Then tie slowly learnel that he could chat,
for Mrs Arthray talked cheerlly Of old times,
and aroused memories which un!oosed his
tongue, so that by the time the ola church
tower was reached, Tom had entirely for
gotten his task for the night and his relnu-
neration that was to last for week.
Arthray set hi, lantern in a wiEdow.ledge
Of t,NN'- th,
two little mallets anl rang ont "Ol1 Hun
ired" with great precision and force. no
other bells had yet begun for the hour had
not ye, struck Then, like a good patriot,
he rang yankee Doodle" The clock below
then struck g. and the general jaasle be-
gan. The delicate notes of the chimes wo@li
be lost in such clamor, so the trio stoo and
.hatted. Arthray, who was as curious AMI
ignorant about local affairs as active busl-
ness men usually are, askel numerous ques-
.ions, to all of which Tom made prompt re-
oily, although frequently compelled 10 throw
himself upon his in!aglna.!oh-he be would COM
nit any crime rather III III E,"e Mrs Arthray
,uspec, that he was ~. what Il, seemed to
believe Eim.
One ty one the be'!s crew silent, and again
Arthray rang the chimes wLen H. rang
"AueSte lie!e> ADNi oiSnc H'Ni'' i.' ia"
hearl hi. mother s,Eg it thou.an., ot times
He turned abruptly TO Mrs. Ar;Eray and
aid.
II must 20 now this moment"
"You won't fail u ca. to-,!nyT said ths
,dy you receive! my card. ! surp,sa"
Alice" SAID Tom in low, qlick to"es,
'you don't know NE I'm the worst druak-
ard, the loves: tramp. IN al Thornton l
|. "a. 10 Il.
ucs, tonight, bat I've insnl,ei you ty even
,,ardlns Eear you ana speaking tc you I'm
ruined ragged vie, worthless ~ TO. teI.
AXE gentleman IN ten years anil tonight.
Now, II do rot call. yo;.li ..at tell anything
Lat will make ether pecp.e iuake tar Of
ne'
Not CALI" said Mrs Arthray, a. EeI tus-
band turned away from the bells Ger
anly you will call INSIST upon i: Oscar,
Mr.. Dol,er mast hurry away to look after \
reforming druakar' VINO rec l., every thing.
want to help in the good work, have you
4ay money in your potketF
Arthray handed his wife small roll OF
bank notes. tie lady wen: to the lantern ard
counted SlV0 from IT, AMI handed them to
Tom
Now, ring Just one time before You 60"
81 can't, I've entirely forgotten Ike bells"
said Tom.
"Ill help you-vou can do it With sing
ma.e.-here' As she spcke she p.acea
uale. in his right hand, seed III, wrist wlth
her left and guided him IN playing Add
Lang Syne," her rich voice singing Lear lis
ear.
"Should auld Acquaintance be forget,
And never brought - lnlnl'
Should au.d acquaintance be tOrgC:,
And days of Aud Lang Syne
@rherel" said size at the end OF the fourth
tar, now we won't detain YOU any longer.
bat remember that III be the most dlsap.
pointed woman III Thornton. you d'nt
call tomorrow
Tom dashed down the narrow steep steps
without saving a word From force OF habit
lie returned to the tavern bar where lie en-
countered storm of curses The lcunsers
demanded that he should fulfil! his promise,
but he refusel. and declined to explain.
Then they wanted the schoo'house keys, but
lie pretended to have lost them Strange
stories were told of his subsequent doings:
It was said that he called on a physician
and then on minister, both between
midnight and daylight; that he had paid
overcome the fa.tii'ousness OF the owner of
barber shop aud bathing establishment. and
chat he had persuaded the owner OF cloth.
ing store to open his place Tor few moments
md fit him to the best garments on the
shelves. However it all may have come
about, it is certain that in the afternoon of
New Years day, Tom Dosler, in the garb and
bearing of gentleman, though without
much composure Of countenancc, called on
Mrs. Arturay He had to introduce himself
again and be feared the consequences If his
hostess had to introduce him to Others.
Heaven kindly arranged, however, that the
.nly ether person present was an old clergy
man, who had been pastor to Mrs. ArthTay
AM Tom quarter of a century before. After
Tom had gone. the laiy made cc::Aaant OF
III, minister The old man hoped, yet he
feared; lie had prepared dozens CT pledges in
twenty wears, all of which Tom tad .igred
AMI broken. Yet after the late drunkerd had
become, if not TIE original self, at least an
in llstriouS AMI respectable member Of so.
ciety, AID Mrs Arth,ay wa, one day l!3usly
attrlbutlns the cnang. to heavenly lnau-
ences. the old pastor looSel at Eer s;gn-
laE.ly, AMI said;
1T is no won Ter to me now that Jesus
Christ was born Of woalln
In Good Company.
EXClanse.
Lord Tennyson d Eyncourt vii! fl"i t:at II
ali lis comrades il the peerage are ne! the