Year: 1875

| the house of their sister in a very stealthy
manner.


Climbing the fence in the rear, they
softly opened the window and obtained
access to the pantry, where they demol
ished mince pie and a quantity oi
| doughnuts. Then, with appetites ap
peased. they removed their boots and
prepared to investigate the best room,
stole along the hall, which was dimly
| lighted by the moon, assembled the stairs
and reached the door. The faint rays OF
of the moon disclosed q chair piled with
| clothing, and they could distinctly trace
! the outlines of form beneath the bed
clothes, and had not the remotest idea
but that Sam was enjoying sweet repose
upon Hannah's best bed.


A few whispered words were exchanged,
and then as softly and lightly as if shod
with down, they drew near.
Quick as thought they seized upon the
form of the sleeper, bedclothes and all,
bore it swiftly down the stairs. out into
the snow and were just about to deposit
it in huge drift, when a shrill scream
broke the stiffness of the night. and oh
horror-it was that of womani And
in their CONSERVATION they dropped
their burden plump into the middle of
the drift



1T isn't Sam, but some woman, as sure
as am a sinner, and she has tainted.
Run and call Hannah"


With admirable presence of mind he
lifted the limp form of Eva Stanley and
carried her into the house. But her cry
had already been heard and the inmates
came rushing into the hall just as he ap-
peared.


George! John for goodness sake
what does this mean, and who have you
there?" asked Mrs. Carpenter in breath.


Blessed if l know p began George,
Thought it was Sam, so we concluded to
give him douse in the snow, for getting
into the best bed and trying to euchre
US. Quick! believe she has tainted"


Just like you !" scolded Hannah, as
she assisted in depositing Eva once more
on the bed from which she had been so
unceremoniously taken; beginning your
tricks upon each other before you are
fairly in the house. Clear out now p


Long before she was done with her
TRADE, her discomfted brothers had be-
taken themselves down stairs, where
they almost went into Mysteries over the
joke.


"a pretty kettle of fish" said George,
rolling over the floor and letting off peal
after peal of laughter.


81 should think it was" replied John 4,
holding his sides. "Oh my But what in
the dickens is to be done about it, and
who do you suppose she is, George?''


Some guest of Hannah's of course,
and young and pretty at that. I don't
know how it is with you, but feel par
ticularly small and extremely cheapS-
would sell myself at very low price"


Cheap" roared John; "cheap2 |
would actually give myself away this
blessed minute and throw something in
to boot. What are we to do? can
say but I believe shall dig out of this
place and get back to the city before
morning | haint got the courage to
face the music, so I'll get up and get"


He began hastily putting on his boots,
and would have put his threat into exc
cution, but for the appearance of Han
nah who at once asserted her authority.


"You are not going a STEP, said she,
but / don't wonder you feel ashamed of
yourselves. What on earth possessed
you, is more than can tell


That's right, Han. pitch .in--fire away!
I'll take any amount just now, for am
as meek as lamb. But who is it we
have played so shabby a trick on?' re-
piled George


Trick! | should think it was Why
it is Eva Stanley, just as nice a young
teacher as ever lived She is our school
teacher, and this is her week to board
here; and | knew you boys would be
squabbling over the room as usual so
put her in there, little thinking that you
would come in such stealthy manner"


EVA Stanley? Whew pretty school
teacher" andrepeating his sisters words,
he gave lugubrious groln


oh - o11ostinpaI Tobn
vainly endeavoring to restrain his laugh
ter at the wry faces his brother was MAX
ing.


"Yes, l soon brought her to; but l
don't believe the poor girl will ever get
over her fright. She said that the first
thing she new she was being lifted out,
and was so much alarmed that she could
not utter q sound; but the moment the
cold air struck her she realized that she
was being abducted or something of the
kind, and had just time to utter a scream
when she tainted 1t is too bad. 1
shouldn' wonder if she had taken her
death of cold. being dragged out of a
warm bed this time of night and drop
ped into snow drift in that fashion.
No wonder she cried poor thing


"Cried, did she p repeated George with
a groan.





her in my arms and let her have her cry
out while l explained how she happened
to be mistoken for Sam, and became the
victim of your mad pranks."


THAT was neat in you, Han. m awful
glad you hugged the poor little thing.
Wish you had given her brotherly hug
for me-'pon my honor, do Oh, dear !
l am in sackcloth and ashes from this
time, henceforth and forever replied
George with another dismal groan.


And how on earth do you expect US
to stay and take the consequences p
asked John, beginning to look serious.
I'm for taking myself off instanter. l
had rather face a masked battery than
this pretty teacher, after making such
fools of ourselves"


81 don't care if you had" answered his
sister, Indignantly. THE only way to
do is to brave it out, both of you, and
apologize for your rudeness. She is not
bit stupid but pleasant and merry, and
no doubt you will have jolly laugh over
the affair.


But Sam, how are we to get along with
him? You know well enough, Han. We
shall never hear the last of it from him !;
that will be brought up at all times, and
in all places"


''If you two can keep secret, I'll find
way to silence Bridget, and it is a sub
iect Eva will not care to have discussed
and fortunately my husband is away
from home. So go to bed and rest con-
tented"