St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1890-09-06
NOT 70 be eAFFLED.


Now AGr. Thompson Happeaed - Call
IIls O0cs hoy Exosmesis.
James 10 IN apple-faced ofIice boy.
lie was looking intently 1t big dusty
bottle which had stood for . long time
ON one corner of his employers desk.
In the bottle, but this time curiosity
seemed have become so strong that he
could no longer resist. No one else
was in the room. He stole up to the
bottle and with an effort pulled out the
cork. .'Whew! il it isn't something
good!''
Quickly he looked toward the door
and listened. No sound. Then he
raised the bottle to his lips, took q
lingering drink. and put it down again.
'l'll bet my old hat that's currant wine.
Ny! amt it good. though p
James replaced the bottle, looked at
1t moment then went away and
brought back = cup of water, which he
poured carefully into the bottle until it
was full again. Then he went home to
supper.
The next day James heard Mr.. Thomp-
son calling him. He appeared 1t his
employers desk trembling with fear.
and looking toward the door.
flames, am going to Be away for two
hours. Tell any one that comes in that
! will be back by twelve o'clock" and
Mr.. Thompson picked up some papers
and went out
The heart of James rose rapidly. His
eyes rose at the same time until they
rested on the dusty bottle.
Now. Tad Roy and Billy Peters and
Fred Appel are good fellows, and they
might like . little OF that stun, too. :"
The three Office boys from across the
hall were quickly brought in, and in
five minutes the hottie was empty. ''rll
have to fill it up with water again."
James decided, and he did it Then he
sprinkled some dust over the top Of the
bottle.
When Mr.. Thompson came back he
had friend with him. ''Sit down, old
fellow" he said when he got in. II
was telling Mrs. Thompson only yester-
day that didn't know what had become
of you. Why. haven't seen you before.
Tom. since the night We had the jam
boree when We left college in ~. See
here; there's a bottle of old currant
wine up there that was given to me
four or five years ago. and we'll use 1t
to celebrate your visit with. Two
glasses, James. You can almost see
the sparkle through the dusty bottle.
Now see the light shine on the juice as
1t comes out of the prison. Why, tit
looks thin and colorless, doesn't it!"
"Rather-rather watery. should
say"
ut doesn't seem to have any odor,
And-and it has no more taste than
water either! Now, that's q mystery.
ought to be able TO explain IL, too. for
used to dabble in chemistry. The
cork is slightly porous you see, and the
alcohol, being. volatile, has passed out
into the air by the aid Of exosmosis,
carrying the body Of the wine with it."
Mr.. Thompson's friend sthought it
might look reasonable. and the two
went out together. James slipped out
too. and going across the hall whisper
Cd to Tad: THE boss doesn't suspect US
. bit! He's just told man that some
body what he called Moses took it"
The dusty bottle still stands on Mr..
rhompson's desk. He frequently ex-
plains to visitors the strange passage OF
che wine through tho neck of the bot
tie. In confirmation, he uniformly
offers . taste of what Is left, which can.
not be distinguished from water.-New
York Tribune.