The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1891-07-09
WRATH OF THE MCCOY.

When was Is years of age I paid &
visit to an uncle and an aunt OF my
fathers, who lived on the family es,
tate in Scotland. My grunduncle was
well-to-do in this worlds goods, and
had had leisure to devote his life to
scientific pursuits and to write about
his ideas and discoveries. He had an
exceedingly well-arranged laboratory,
and dabbled in everything. He was
perhaps OF q more practical turn OF
mind than most scientists, for he not
only theorized and experimental, but
turned his knowledge to account, and
thereby made his home rather alarm
ing to ignoramuses. Doors opened
and shut, and bells rang, seemingly as
he willed them. He had made OF cleo
tricity q sort of servant OF all work.
The Scotch domestics gave warming
in 81 body the first evening that the
hall lamp lighted itself. They consid-
cred the proceeding "uncanny," and
my aunt confded to me that it was a
most expensive Illumination.
f'However," she added, "a man
should be master in his own house,
and has a right to spend his money as
he pIeases; so l say nothing"
For her part she liked going about
"among the poor"-not to give aims.
Scottish poor folks seldom want that.
She helped them to work for them
selves, started poor widows in little
penny shops, put boys. to trades,
found places for young housemaids,
and lent small sums of money to be
paid back in dribiets when the honest
folk could do it.
She worked in the right way, and
left them their self-respect. Mere
charity never does that
The house was we'll furnished with
articles that would enrapture those
who are bitten with the present mad
ness for "old things" Square rugs
lay on the polished oaken floors, and
great orange trees grew in tubs in
each of the six windows of the draw
ing-room. Outside summer was gay
little flower garden. -
1t was, however, not a. pretty part
of the country. 1t was grand and
solemn. Beyond lay mountains apt
to be covered with dim gray mist;
near by, loch, the waters OF which
seldom sparkled, and in dull weather
seemed perfectly black; and from the
heights on which my uncle's dwelling
stood a road descended into a valley,
deep and lonely, walled about with
great rocks, it's vegetation sparse and
coarse, and lying here and there so
many mighty powders that one
could fancy giants had hurled them at
each other in the course of some
tremendous fight. Far away above
all arose a tall, curious, shaft-like
object, which one could scarcely be-
} ileve the work of nature. Its local
name was Daffy's Darning Needle, and
on its summit was an eagles nest.
The eagles swooped down upon the
sheep-folds to their owners cost at
tambing time, but were perfectly safe,
as the Needle was inaccessible even to
the Scottish boys, who can climb any
thing climbable.
1t was my delight to mount my
pony, Jackanapes, and go galloping
of over the country. No one object
ed to my going alone. I was quite
safe There was nothing improper in
1T. Every one saw knew me, and I
gained health and strength by it.
What with oatmeal for breakfast
and these rides, my cheeks grew round
and rosy, and spirits high: I forgot
all at last even that it might be pos.
-sibie for me to loose myself, until one
day [ actually did it. At 5 o'clock in
the afternoon too with the autumn day
suddenly drawing to q close under a
cloudy sky, which threatened one Of
those furious mountain transforms
which only those who have experienced
can appreciate. aE...
LOST laughed to myself-but all
have to do is to trust to the pony.
sackanapes certainly could not lose
ailmself SO near home.
However, Jackanapes had either
done that very thing, or was obsti-
nate and determined to make me find
my own way. The storm came on.
The way grew perfectly dark, and I
fancled that | heard q torrent roaring
somewhere near me, dashing over
preclpice. There was such q thing in the
neighborhood, knew. Life was as
sweet to me then as to any human be-
ing who ever lived, and 1 succumbed
to terror, soaked to the skin, SILVER
ing from head to foot, daring to move
neither to the right nor to the left
and expecting death at every moment
Threw my paddle over my face and
burst into tears. In fact, cried like
.ababy. ~
"Oh, me! oh, me!''' I moaned. 81
shall never see any of them again!
What adeath to die! what a death to
-die!" -.
At this instant felt my pony
tremble beneath me. He trembled as
q human being does in mortal terror,
quivsred all over and seemed about
to fall to the ground. I uncovered
my face. All had been dark when |
vailed it in the great horror OF seeing
nothing, but now saw something
light which resembled very cold moon
flight, SO white one might call it blue,
IT shone, strangely enough, at about
the height ora mans head.