The river press., 1914-12-16
on such q night as this?" cried the COB

on such night as this:" cried the COB
lin.
Gabriel Gruhb. Gabriel Grubb"'
screamed a wild chorus Of voices tina
seemed to fill the chnrchyard.
What have you got in that bottle?'
said the goblin.
Hollands. sir" replied the sexton.
trembling more than ever, for he had
bought 1t Of the smugglers, and he
thought his 0uestioner might he in the
excise department Of the goblins.
"Who drinks Hollands alone and in
a churchyard on such night as this?''
Gabriel Grubb, Gabriel Grnbbr 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"
"Work?' said the goblin. what
work?"
1.-THE grave, sir
"Oh. the grave. eh? Who makes
graves ut a time when other men are
merry and takes pleasure in it?"
Again the voices replied. Gabriel
Grubb. Gabriel Grnbb!"
I'm afraid my friends want you.
Gabriel" said the goblin.
Under favor. sir" replied the hor.
ror stricken sexton. II 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 loud. shril
laugh which the echoes returned twen-
tyfod.
IL am afraid must leave YOU,
sir" said the sexton. making an effort
to move.
Leave us" said the goblin. "Ho. no.,
ho"
As the goblin laughed he suddenly
darted toward Gabriel. laid his hand
on his collar and sank with him
through the earth. And when be had
had time to fetch his breath he found
himself in what appeared to be a large
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 the
"Show the man of misery
and gloom Il few of the pictures from
our great StorehouSes."
AS the goblin said this a cloud rolled
gradually away and disclosed a small
and Scantily furnished but neat apart
ment, Little children We're gathered
round bright fire. clin-in- to their
mothers gown or gamholing round her
chair. y frugal meal was spread upon
the table. and an elbow chair was
placed near the fire. soon the father
entered. and the children ran to NEE,
him. AS he sat down to his meal tn,
mother sat by his side, and all seemed
happiness and comfort.
What do you think of that:" said
the goblin
Gabriel murmured something abou,
its being very pretty.
"Show him some more" said the
goblin.
Many time the cloud went and
came. and many lesson it taught 10
Gabriel Grubb. He saw that men who
worked hard and earned their Scanty
bread We're cheerful and happy. And
ne came to the conclusion it was
very respectable sort If world after
all. one by one the COLLINS faded from
MS sight. and as the last one diSap
peared he sank to sleep
The day had broken when he awoke
ana found himself lying on the fat
SfaVestone, with the wicker bottle emn
~ by his side He cot ON his feet as
Wei as he could and. brushing the
lroSt on his coat, turned his face To
ward the town.
hut he was an altered man He had
learned lessons of genteness and good
nature by his strange adventures in the
goblin's cavern.-Charles Dickens