The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-04-17

of marvellous pattern, beneath which
swung a large bunch of gold seals. This
was, of course the great Bristol merchant,
Mr.. Nautilus Briggs.
Samuel" said his uncle, az came here
with the intention of bringing you away
to share in the festivities of the season at
Jamaica lodge"
Strange to say, Briggs juniors face did
not light up in the smallest degree at the
prospect that dangled before him.
"Well," said the great man; "have you
nothing to say"
As Briggs, jr., had nothing to say, he
said nothing, but stood motionless, with
his eyes fixed upon the carpet pattern.
"NO? Well, as you do not seem dis
posed to express delight or thankfulness,
am relieved of adisagreeable duty. Your
beloved preceptor here gives me very
unfavorable account of your conduct, and
has limited that a little wholesome soli-
tude might bring you round to a proper
frame of mind. 1t grieves me as much as
know it grieves him, but our path OF
duty is plain. Your cousin Malthus de-
sires me to present you with sixpence
on his behalf, but"
81 don't want Briggs senior ssixpences,
said the hardened little sinner.
Schoolmaster and uncle exchanged
glances of despair.
every WELL" said the great man of busi-
ness severely, Il shall report your mes
sage to Briggs, senior, as you call him,
and shall return him donation he can
i'll afford, and have no doubt that his
gentle reproaches will fall on your head
when you meet again next half.
Briggs, junior, had no two opinions
about the falling of the reproaches upon
him in due course; but whether they
would be gentle, or whether they
were likely to fall on his head, was ques-
ton the solution of which he kept to him
self.
"You can 90, Briggs, jr.," said his mas
ter.
And he went.
To do the reverend gentleman justice,
he did not trouble his charge again that
day, for he, in company with his rubi7
cund better half, and two rubicund fe-
male likenesses Of mis- own image, drove
off to keep the Christian festival in the
company of fellow-countrymen at Exeter,
and the Junior Briggs was left to his own
devices, an arrangement which suited
him exceedingly.
He had his Christmas dinner in the
kitchen. in spite of orders that he was to be
served with that meal in the gaunt soil
tude of the schoOlroom and capital din
ner it was, with speeches, and toasts, and
songs by members OF the company, in
which he played, by no means, an insig-
nifcant part, treating the company to
"Dicky of Taunton Dean" in fine style,
and showing the gardeners and stable-boy
and the servants how to perform the
chorus of "Auld Lang Syne" as he had
many time seen it performed by sailors
on Bristol quay.
Then when tobacco and something
strong were introduced, Briggs juniors
tact limited to him the convenience of his
departure, and, having thanked everybody
FOR their kindness, he started for walk.
There were only two houses of note at
nconbe-Tusculum house and Barn
combe hall, the residence-of Sir HereHles
Adams, an Exeter merchant of great
wealth and acknowledged position, whose
brother was ranger of EXmoor, and whose
family had lived about Totness and Bow
don for centuries. Sir Hercules was very
grand and verv proud, and very high and
mighty generally. His hall was a sort of
select world of itself, shut in by broad
acres of woodland, strictly preserved and
jealously defended, by an army of keepers
and an array of traps and spring guns
and thunderingly-worde notice boards,
against the incursions of the vulgar.
Toward one of the keepers lodges
Briggs Junior, went. He knew every one
around-keepers, gardeners, coachmen,
fOotmen, grOOms with their wives and
children-and was a universal favorite,
for, although he was but a little ten-year-
old school-boy, there was something
about him which, Just as it disgusted the
high and naughty, endeared him to the
poor and simple. There was not one of
them who would not have done anything
to please the CHEEKY little man.
1t was getting dark as he reached the
lodge, and nature was dank and dismal
enough; but through the red curtains of
the lodge there streamed forth CHEEKY
light, and the silence outside was broken
by sounds of song and laughter proceed
ing from within.
Briggs, junior, hesitated; for, although
only Briggs, junior, he was little gentle
man, and had gentleman's reluctance to
intrude where he was not wanted.
However, he knocked, and on receipt of
a CHEEKY Come in" timidly pushed the
| door oped.
'I'm sure beg your pardon" he STAN
mered, as he found himself confronted by
a party of men, women and children,
seated round a roaring fire, with a table
| laden with dessert handy.
"Come in, sir. Come in. Master Briggs,
| junior, sir, and welcomew said half a
dozen voices. Every glad to see you o.
Christmas night, sir. No, sir; no intru-
sion. Come in"
So Briggs, jr., entered, not little
abashed at the attention shown him, and
deposited himself on the very edge OF a
chair which was set in the very center of
the company.
81 only came in to ask after the little
girl who tumbled into the Black pond this
morning" he said.
"That was Miss Doris, sir" replied the
head keeper, "but was you the young gen.
| tleman that pulled her out, sir?"
"Why-I happened to be-but, Morris,
you won't say anything about it to the
squire, will your" said Briggs. 81 was
| trespassing, you see, and he might -"
eff so be squoire knew as how it was
/ you what pulled Miss Doris out, sir, he'd
| do and say what / do; he'd shake your
| hand call you regular out-and-outer, that
i he would. Squoir be a strict man, but
he's just, and he dew love Miss Doris"
And Mr.. Morris shook Briggs ir.'s hand.
and every one else followed his example,
and then glasses were filed with port
/ wine negus and his health was drunk
/ probably for the first time in his life.
'She's all right sir, said the keeper,
when the ceremony was concluded. "Wet
through, and bit queer, but all right"
AYou won't saw ANYTHING about IL