Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1914-12-23
on such night as this?" cried the COB

ON such night as this:" cried the COB
lin.
Gabriel Grub. Gabriel Grubb!'
screamed wild chorus of voices that
seemed to fill the chnrchyard.
What have you got in that bother"
said the goblin.
Hollands. SIR" replied the sexton,
trembling more than ever, for he had
bought it of the smugglers, and he
thought his ouestioner might be in the
excise department of the COLLINS.
''Who drinks Hollands alone and in
churchyard on such night as this?"
Gabriel Grubb, Gabriel Grnbbp' ex-
claimed the wild voices again.
And who, then. is our lawful priZeY
exclaimed the goblin.
| The Invisible chorus replied, Gabriel
| Grubb. Gabriel Grubb!'
| The sexton gasped for breath.
''What do you think of this. Ga
| briel?" said the goblin.
! 'Its-it's very curious, sir; very Gu
rious. sir, and very pretty" replied the
sexton, half dead with fright. But /
think III go back and finish my work.
sir. if YOU please"
"WorlS?' said the goblin. \"What
worl?''
The grave, sir"
oh the grave, eh? Who makes
graves at a time when other men are
merry and takes a pleasure in it?''
Again the voices replied, "Gabriel
Grub, Gabriel Grubb"'
I'm afraid my friends want you
GabTiel.'' said the goblin.
Under favor. sir" replied the hor-
ror stricken sexton Il don't think
they can. They don't know me. sir
don't think the gentlemen have ever
seen me-
oh. yes. they have. We know the
man who struck the boy in the envious
malice of his heart because the boy
could be merry and he could not
Here the goblin gave a loud. shril
| laugh which the echoes returned TWEEN
tyfold.
II am afraid I must leave you
sir" said the sexton, making an effort
to move.
Leave usv said the goblin. "Ho. no
hov'
AS the goblin laughed he suddenly
darted toward Gabriel, laid his han(
on his collar and sank with hin
through the earth. And when he hat
had time to fetch his breath be fount
himself in what appeared to be a larg
cavern, surrounded on all sides bv COB
Inns ugly and grim
And now" said the king of the COB
Inns. seated in the center of the room
on an elevated seat-his friend of tn
churchyard-""show the man of miser
| and gloom a few of the pictures iron
our great Storehouses"
AS the goblin said this cloud role
gradually away and disclosed sma
and scantily furnished but neat apar
ment. Little children were gathere
T. round bright fire. clinging to thei
mothers gown or gamboing round he
chair. A frugal meal was spread upo
the table. and an elbow chair wa
placed near the fire. Soon the fatht
entered, and the children ran to me-
,, . him. AS he sat down to his meal tt
, mother sat by his side. and all SCENE
. happiness and comfort
What do you think of thatY' sal
the goblin.
Gabriel murmured something abo1
its being very pretty.
. "Show him some more" said tt
goblin
T. Many a time the cloud went al
b came. and many a lesson it taught
d Gabriel Grub. He Sa W that men WI
worked hard and earned their scan
e bread were cheerful and happy. Al
he came to the conclusion it was
2 very respectable sort of world aft
all One by one the COLLINS faded fro
his sight. and as the last one diss
d peared he sank to sleep.
The day had broken when he awo
q and found himself lying on the &
3. gravestOne. with the wicker bottle en-
g ty BY his side. He got on his feet
% well as be could and. brushing t
frost OF his coat. turned his face
q ward the town.
But be was an altered man. He h
J. learned lessons Of gentleness and go
nature by his strange adventures In
= COLLINS cavern Charles Dickens.
81