Year: 1867

they were soon deep in discussion. I
beat a hasty retreat to the guard, and
producing a sovereign, said


If you get US off In five minutes
from now, waiting for no one, and ring
your bell at the very last minute, this
is yours.


All, right, sir the luggage is all
In, and most of the passengers. Take
your seats Going on % he shouted,
whilst l stood with my watch in my
hand


"ODe minute left Ring the bell
now % I said. "If they undo those
screws IN one, or even five minutes, [ II
eat them"


We jumped into a carriage, the
guard gave the final whistle, and the
train moves slowly on. We anxious
ly watch the result of our plot, with
our heads out of the window. And
waiting one or two minutes, we notic-
ed a figure gestculating at the station
window. The train then passed into a
deep cutting, and we lost sight of it.


/ think that L have forgotten to say
that l was going to spend the Christ
mas with a college friend He had
gone down few days before, and had
promised to meet me at c. station.
You may imagine that I was not
sorry to find myself arrived there, nor
yet to see my friend Tom stamping his
feet ON the platform, no doubt thor
oughIy tired of waiting for the train.
As he drove me up he began talking
of the different arrangements he b ad
made for our mutual amusement
Tomorrow" he said. I've set aside
for a skating party / have had the
pond in the park swept, and invited
all les jel5nes dengOiseIIes within reach.
and as they have all accepted. it will
give you a very fair idea of our native
beauty. "


Now, of all jolly things in the world
I think a skating party is the iolliest
Tom says that I am fond of showing
my skating off but I deny that this
has any thing to do with If. In the
first place, the frosty weather land the
mulled claret) induce high spirits -
then there are the troubles to laugh at
and the ladies' skates to strap on
(Which last in my own mind, is not the
least pleasant part of the entertain
ment.)


We had by this time reached the
house, and after having accomplished
our toilets Tom took me into the
drawing-roOm.


THE guv' nor ism t at home but let
me introduce you to my sister Minnie. -


Miss Minnie rose, and held out her
hand at once, but for my own part,
was too dumfounded to utter single
word. [ an told that I am far from
eloquent when describing female beau
ty, so I will not attempt It here +; but I
mustTsay that I had never, and have
never since, seen such a pretty and
merry face. When dinner was an
nounced, however, I had recovered
my equanimity sufficiently to offer her
my arm, and after a short time we got
to know one another thoroughly.


The dinner (perhaps it may hay1
been the port Wine) had opened my
heart, and when he removed to EUTn s
sanctum to smoke (where, by-the-by
| Miss Minnie insisted on joining US,
saying that she liked the smell of to-
bacco, and fonnd it so dull by herself, ,,
| I began to relate my adventures with
the old gentleman.


Peal after peal of laughter arose as
! [ proceeded with my narrative. ]
warmed with my subject, quite out-dO-
| ing myself IN the description of the
old gentleman s angry face and his IT
ate behavior.


Here ~ [ said, In triumph. is my
i trophy and I held out the nightcap.


Never shall [ forget that moment
/ brother and sister stared at it for one
second, and then Tom, looking vacant
4 iy at me, Immediately went into al
| hysterical fit of laughter His fact
began to grow quite black, and thu
tears rolled down his cheeks.


My face presented anything but
laughing appearance, for 1 was strucl
with amazement at this behavior. A


last, with what little breath he hat
left, he managed to get out the words


Its the -guv--nor night cap !


As he said this he pointed to small
label inside the cap, which I had no
noticed before, and there, sure enough
were the words