Year: 1866

Ao0s


It is the habit of many persons to take a
look under the bed before retiring tor the
night. Mrs Evergreen, my beloved wife,
INDUCES, if indulgence it may be called, IN
this peculiar practice. do not object to 1t
in the least so long as she does not enforce
the performance upon myself but when as
she has put out the light and enseofced her.
self under the comforter, then it is hard that
|, who am not troubled with nervous appre-
hensveness, should have to get out in the
cold and do it for her. | have often remark
ed to Mrs. Evergreen, when [ have seen her
prying under the bed, that it was silly hab-
It, and that the SCORER she gave it up the
better. To this gentle admonition my bet
ter-half invariably rejoins


ia, Evergreen what harm does it do
It's kind of satisfaction to know that no.
body's under there, and then | don't think
of such a horrible thing after L m In bed. -,


Il think my dear, you might just as well
pursue your Investigations further and look
into the bureau drawers and the clothes
basket"


Evergreen" she will rejoin, don t
mention the idea, or shall certainly do so.
Come to think of it man could very east
ly get into the clothes basket y


Certainly he could, my dear, quite as
easily as Falstaf You should certainly In
clude the clothes-basket, and by by,
.I~-~,s st.e ~h;.-..as; 'uhy NOT look mn that
as well ?''


Now Evergreen, you re laughing at me.
But can't leave off the habit and [ never
will. It's comfort for me to know that
there's nothing wrong about it, and | don t
see why you should deprive me of it. -


So under the bed goes the candle, and no
6 "a, Nj
Evergreen is able to repose in peace. But,
as already Observed this precautionary act
is sometimes forgotten, and am myself
obliged to rise, light the lamp, and report.
I've done it more frequently of late than is
agreeable, and have intimated as much to
Mrs Evergreen. She says:


Very well, Evergreen, I'll do it myself


But this procedure is almost as bad, for
she invariably lets the cold in on me both in
getting out and getting in. If it were not
for increasing this mental idiosyncrasy on
the part of Mrs. Evergreen, by giving her
some good reason to apprehend danger, l
should relate to her what | am about to lay
before the reader In this narration, there
fore, ask the public most particularly to
bear in mind that Mrs. Evergreen is of a
sensitive nature, rather apprehensive and
slightly superstitious, and that what | have
TO say must under no circumstances be i'm
parted to that lady. If for two-and-t twenty
years THAT is the period of our welded life,
aud happy years have they been)-n, L
say, | have for this long period refrained
from imparting the matter to the beloved
sharer of my sorrows, surely the public
(which, as we know, always does keep a Sc
cretl will keep mine


All young men, suppose, have love at
talrs before they eventually fix their affec-
tons on the one who is to bless their lot in
life. | know that { had, and don regret
1t. Regret it? far from it. Mrs. Ever
green is not present, and therefore have
no hesitancy in saying that if had my life
to live over again I'd like to go through
with the same sentimental experience, par
tlcularly if it was to be succeeded by lead
ing to the hymenial altar the present Mrs.
Evergreen.


was not bad looking when I was in my
t8entles. | think may go farther, and
confidently say that "Gus Evergreen" was
adecided tavorite among the girls of Oak
vile, and | really believed that / could
have had any of them for ''the asking.
As before remarked Mrs Evergreen is not
present, and 1 indulge my thoughts some
what more freely than would otherwise be
the case. don't think that cared partic-


10y ioi any vi tHe girls OI OdkVIiie, nOW-
ever and | might have kept my heart whole
70 this day had it not been for the circum-
stance which am about to relate.


Fred Evans, who had been my chum at
sschool, came to make me visit at Oakville
lor day or two," as he said when he
came but he made it week or two easily
enough after I'd taken him about little
among the young ladies'" When that
ame had expired Fred said he really must
60 as he didn't know what his father and
mo- mother would think of his long. absence;
put put 1t ended in his relieving their anxiety
" letter and sending for his trunks. |
anew how the matter was perfectly well,
and that Belle Bronson had bewitched him
out OF his FIVE senses. Fred tried to put it
VI to the country air and the quiet which
was beneftting his health, etc.. but it was
no use trying to deceive me, and told him
20 Then he owned up frankly and prom
Ised to help him all l could in the prosecu-
sn non OF his suit. never thought Belle
IILft' or that She would willingly distress any
human being but she had way of looking
~ ones eyes as if to captivate them, for her