The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1885-12-30

and TINS afternoon 1 won--but come
aud see. aad he dragged me into =
neighboring saloon, where it appeared |
there had been rattle and he had gain
ed prize-a goose.
Jim. Wen take the goose home.n
he said, after It had been duly christ |
ened; s.you shall taste my sherry. and /
Mrs Lester viii be delighted to see |
you.
agreed" " answered and took the |
bird.
We left the house. took n eah. and
drove for Harry's house. which was
one of those little brown stone affairs
near the Park. and all the way there
he kept on assuring me how delighted
Mrs. Lester would be TO see me when
we got there.
However, that happiness was not
yet to be mine. for passing up the av-
enue he noticed two friends Just enter
ing hotel.
Why, said Harry. there goes
Jimley aud Wixham. -
What. Old Wixham, the vegetarian
theorist, the fellow with ridiculous ideas
OF human nature in connection with
carrots and turnipsp'i
'Yes. and Jimley, the disappointed
one, who IS always cursing his bad
luck. He'll be glad to know of my
good luck. Stopw-to the cabman.
We got out, and. being told to bring
the goose, | followed him into the
cafe.
"By all the godsr exclaimed jim
ley in tragic voice. pointing to the
goose, why bring that bird of ill-omen
hereP"
Its, a harbinger of joy said Har-
ry; "a prize I've won to-day"
"A prize?h said the other. ''Inever
Won anything in my life but a cradle.
ard what good is that to bachelor?''
"Ahi premium for you to get mar
i RED, said Lester. Perhaps if you
did your fortune would change. See
whatluck Eve had to-day as speei-
men,"
"Pshaw! Nothing would change
mlne. never make hit save when
play billiards. and then I'm so un-
lucky that if wast TO make miss I'm
sure to hit the balL@
You want to eat more vegetables
said Wixham.
NO" said Lester. Rather become
a sharer of my luck and dine with me
tomorrow. "
Il will, !" said the other, ''by all-but
no; must not make cocksure, for if
do some dire mischauce is sure to hap
pen to the goose
Nonsense, +" laughed Harry.
You IL dine of him, and Wixham,
too.
''What?" exclaimed the last gentle
man referred to. ME dine of that
bile-engendering wretch! Not much.
L will eat with you. drink with you, but
Will not disSect goose with you!
Still, / suppose you'll have plenty of
vegetables-so don't mind
just then the clock struck some
thing. had very vague idea what
1t did strike, and prevailed on Harry
to leave with me. Jimley bore the
goose TO the cab, determined, he
said, TO throw no chance away, while
Wixham, in accepting the invitation,
to dine off the bird, impressed Lester
to provide vegetables galore" for the
feast.
The cab rolled of. We ioked, l
think we slept until we reached our
goal.
We had paid our ''cabby" and were
going off When he called us back.
to leave your New-Years in my cabPH
Good heavens! we had forgotten the
goose. The cabman fished the lone
bird out from under the cushions and
gave 1t into my charge, and then drove
oil. emitting gurgling sounds that
were not unlike bottled-up laughter.
Why he made them l don't know. We
looked up at the house. The lights
were all out.
81 am going home," | said.
Not until you'v tasted my amber
sherry" he insisted. Besides my
wife, who l know is still up, will be
most delighted to see you"
He tried the key-an over the door
but the keyhole-and then kicked the
panels.
Q Lord! A barking and the rushing,
it seemed. of dozen dogs.
Hush, hushr' he cried, above his
breath. go down. and off they
went.
''It's my three pets" he said. as he
finally got the door open and we stood
insid e, where it was dark as pitch.
''She's gone to bed," he said. l
must 60 and ask her for the keys and
get light"
He left me then and presently 1
heard him speaking to his wife. say
ing:
Darling, l want the keys of'the cell
lar-friend Jimmy is below.
sis heP' was the indignant reply.
''Well, let him stay there. How dare
he keep you from your home and now
disgrace NV house,
l dropped the goose and was going
for the door when Harry, descending,
called my name. answered, LET
me out !"
mo! You must taste my amber
sherry, and you shall. | know how to
get at it. Where's the goose?"
Hes somewhere about here" l
said sulkily.
He must be found" he replied.
We rummaged around on the floor
in the dark and found the goose after
we had tripped over it few times.
''Now wait, he said. You'll see
the effect" and off he went again, but
was soon heard exclaiming: Give
me Joy, dear wifel I've won the goose,
and there, my darling, it is.
A sudden scream and then thud
upon the floor. He'o thrown the goose
upon the bed and she hurled it off.
And now the room shook over my
head, voice above said ''There!' and
something then came humping down
the stairs. mentally exclaimed, 'the
goose!''
The dogs rushed barking up the
kitchen stairs as | shrieked, Pretty
creatures, down. and Harry fastened
from above commanding them to be
still They did obey. The dogs were
very quiet, but not so Harry's wife.
81 She was "incensed at such a dis
graceful scene," and Harry said s'the
fault was hers. She should have given
the KEYS and not made him appfaf SO
inhospitable in the eyes of his dearest
friend, whom she now thrust out in the
cold without a bit to eat or sup, es-
pecially to sup
Tuen / heard rattling of keys aud
something that sounded very much
like a kiss, and then my friend appear
ed with a light. | followed him to his
room and partook OF the much be-
praised amber sherry.
Il am very sorry, +" | began 'ahat
Mrs Lester
"Nonsense!" he interrupted. Come
to breakfast. Here's happy New
Year to you, Jimmy" raising his glass
aIoft, and we clinked our glasseg Sud-
denly a noise as though kennel had
broken loose. All Harry's dogs were
| fighting below. Down went our glasses.
He clasped his hands and cried:
II guess-the dogs have got the
goose!s
He rushed away. There was lull
in the noise, and when be came back
there was something IN his hand.
Whats that?'' / asked in wonder
ment.
| He shook his head and sighed: MY