The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1888-08-24

hundreds OF years ago, and which are
now the wonder and pride of visitors
and villagers. A noble family had
lived there for centuries. its members
once fierce warriors, but now peaceful.
kindly people, interested in helping
their neighbors and respected by them.
Nothing delighted Gladys like visit
to the castle. The curate's house
keeper was a sister of q maid in the.
grand mansion, and several times.
when the family were in London,
the little girl had been all over tho
great dining-hall, hung with old ban.
ners over portraits of men in armor.
Yes, and in corners were whole
suits of armor that once were worn by
fighters in historic battles. Then there
were galleries fall of wonderful Curl
osities, chapel with dark oak carv-
ings of queer beasts and birds and hail.
angelic, haf-demoniac creatures, bed
rooms with silk embroidery. and fur
niture that had been once in Queens
chambers. Outside were endless gar.
dens with fountains, and parks where.
deer rested unmolested under huge,
old trees. Oh! it was all, as Gladys
thought, most beautiful.
The present owner of the castle was
an earl who had fine young SON, not
quite come of age, a great favorite
with all the common people Gladys
knew the'old earl by sight, but never
had seen the young man, who was az
Oxford studying. One day the house,.
keeper took her to the castle, and the
two friends, the maid and Mrs. Phil.
lips, gossiped and drank tea, and told
their various aches and ails until
Gladys grew pretty tired.
"You are such a quiet child, you
may go look about the dil,ing-hail,
DEAR" said the maid at last; ..only
run right back to us if the earl should
bring friends there. fancy he is Tar
away though. u
Gladys gladly went to the great room
and stood long at the window looking
down at the river and into the tops of
old cedar trees planted by Crusader
from slips brought from the Holy Land.
All at once she saw what looked like q
homely brass kettle, and going near,
wondered what such an ugly thing was
kept there for 81
Gould you eat all the porridge that
could hold, little one?" asked very
pleasant "boy," as she innocently
thought him when she glanced up.
Il might in a year, perhaps, eat as
much.'
The young man, smiling. lifted her
lightly into the huge vessel, where she
nestled like queer bird in a queerer
nest.
"What is it here for?" she asked,
when he took her out.
"It has stood here hundreds Of
years. They say the old earls were SO
much like giants they emptied it of
beer at one draught. We don't believe
that, do WEI But every time an heir
comes of age this pot is filled with wine
and emptied many times over, ifthere
are many guests"
And out on the lawn, and in the
parks, casks and casks of beer" added
Gladys, thoughtfully. "Grandpapa
told me all about it, l remember"
Then she gazed fxedly into the vast
bowl, with her little hand ON the rim,
and the young man asked at last:
"What are you thinking aboutp"
"That | would not do it If Iwere
the merit heir" t
Ibid you ever see him?"
mo; but he is a very fine, brave,
handsome young gentleman.
Indeed! Well, what would you .do?''
al would scour it out, +" and she gave
funny little frown, "then l would fill
it with sweets for all the children"
then she laughed, land out on the lawn
| would have tea, and coffee, and gifts
flannel petticoats for old women"
Here her auditor gave a shout; but she
calmly went on Flannel is far warm
er to last than beer, and Mrs. Phillips
says, when men drink beer, babies and
grandmothers lack the flannel. /
would be a Temperance heir, and try to
lessen drunkenness among my people,
not make them drink more.
Greatly amused, the future earl put
little Gladys through a long history OF
the village poor, the suffering, the sick
and the care the curate took of his
flock. Then he sent her away with q
bright half-crown in her hand. and 1t
was not until six months later that she
knew the pleasant boy was the heir
whose grand birthday festivities she
attended.
There was wine and beer, but less Of
it than at any SIMILAR occasion for
three hundred years, and before the
curate died he saw a great reform in
the town and county, which began at
the castle. Gladys sowed seed that
bore fruit TEMPERANCE Banner.