Year: 1873

SARATOGA, July 2i.-"WhO is Old Tom y"
asked Mrs. Sprggns.


1 replied that did not know, and asked why she
asked


because" she said, "when Mr. sprggins and are
sitting on the piazza, every little while some OF bis
friends come up and say that Old Tom wants to see
nim and he gets up and goes OF looking pleased and
omes back with his face SINNER than ever and smelling
u peppermint"


Several OF the young ladies have asked me If there is
spring away of on the far piazza for they the gen
aemen wipng their mouths when they come back from
promenade there.


This morning the spriCgnses down to breakfast
ater than usual aud there was difference IN the order
of their arrival Usually Mr spriggins frisks Ill nrSt III
sort OF Ipayor-this style, and Mrs Sprigghs lo"hh
he little sprggins by the hand foloWsWth tne hi'oo
and dignity of a Christian mother conscious OF trS lux "
80 her duty and satisfied with the way her Dack nan
some up But this morning Mrs. sprgg1ns leu the van
with the injured air OF person who pays taxes anu Is
oot allowed to vote and Mr. spriggins Followed a'er wiz"
ns head down on the floor though hunting LOT soo
tbug he'd lost and his hair was thinner thah usual
ooed as though moths had got IN during the night
And he ddn seem TO want anything for breakfast put
ockles: and when Mrs sprggns got through she DIDN'T
wait for him as usual but just clawed hold OF Ihe tte
spriggins and sailed out Of the room Ike serapn
sliding down a Rverdale hill on shngle-yOuu nave
thought she getting away from something cS'ch'k


The fact Of It is my boy" hs is what Mr. SprlgGihs
aid to me after breakfast cOnfdennaly) "theres no
manner Of use those newspapers agong on ana as
cussing whether Ola Tom Gin will intoxicate, Tor I've
tried It, never could drink more than gallon OF any
thing without feeling IT, and you needn't tell me that
Old Tom won't set fellow up If be takes enough otlt'
even if il does mix better with Congress water than
some other drinks You good many OF the boys
got yesterday and kept looking toward me- ana
got confused after awhile that one OF them went
home with me- and when we got about where thought
the room was he put in his head to ask





of him disappeared KIND o. student, as though
something took hold of it. And when he came out he
said he thought there must be a mistake somewhere
that he'd accidentally stirred up the nest OF female
reshng machine disturbed the old bird while she was
busy Matching, something. She's little but she's
amazing powerful Mrs sprggns is, and she thought 1t
was she yanking. ddn't sleep much last night
Tor she'd good deal say that she thought d be inter
esting me and you maynt have noticed 1t much but
she's got a way Of fixing fellows attention when she
that's surprising and she gives you nothing but
facts either. She great facts, Mrs spriggins is"


Passing the BARRIERS shop just saw sprggins in
there having his head shampOOed it's the third time he
has gone through that to-day and guess he'll feel bet
er by and by. You the trouble with SprigGins is
that be can't mold much and desOnt know when
he's full Most men muzzlelOaders and good deal
ike guns some can burn good deal Of powder com
'oraby and others can't take five drains without
Winlung and others kick up laundering fuss with one
IN them. II man doesn't know when he's got enough





bis pocket and load by that; guessing by
"hngers-full" won't do. And then one
wouldn't be safe unless he evened the


measure of every time with straight edge. The better
plan after all, is do dOsck to Congress water.
the beverage which neither cheers nebrates Fail
ing this putting up at Hollytree cofee-house strikes
me as sensible. And notice that they establishing
these benencent institutions all parts Of the country
The ladies OF Saratoga not moved in the matter yet
but OF course they'll lend hand 10 the good work 10


- 'whea lovely woman stoops tO"-HOry


in this vicinity. shall become patron OF the housea
permanent bOarder.


You see a man Of my age sleep occasionally, and
sver since the rheumatism struck my other Knee and
extra hanuel became necessary, I've made 1t my
uce retire carly not that I'm bashful about showing
ny prehensile features in the parors but 1 don't
scty thirst exhibit my "linments" miscelaneously
Well by the time I've gOt soaked and swathed and
packed comfortably away like crotOn bug in fresh
country butter band begins TO play right under
it's a good band, nice band but an elderly
gentleman with his interest powerfully excited
about sleep, and able TO travel, would get
up and Lire pair OF horses and drive off
hundred miles or the BallstonrOad TO get
away from even GideOn's Band. However, you know
that Heaven will bless If mOrtals will be kind, and that
at period Of his natural life the breath Of the best
oassoon must give SO you lie awake and trust 10
Providence and apopexy BY and by the trombone lets
down bit and the fellow on the flute weakens, and
ron begin to think that schools about out. Then the
band across the way begins; my good friend Gilmore
comes in with his anvl-chorus aud fires off few coum
biads the sidewalk but you call to mind how light
aing struck the Boston Coliseum and fan back on the
TACT that il looked black In the west when up to
ped BY and by you get softly up steal quietly TO your
trunk unpack your Ballard rifle from its case rapidly but
careful not break anything and slide the muzze out
OF the window without attempt at ostentaton just
as you've got the top Of GlmOres head well covered,
hath no vii
rooted over again without going to Boston for It, his
baton falls for the last time like benedictOn, and
go back to bed happy in the thought Of having saved
cartridge Then the young lady the next room, who
has piano. comes skipping up the stairs with the wild
grace and gentle footsteps OF Texas steer
one OF the airs the band played struck her
fair and fragile fancy, and she wishes TO play
It. She plays it you 10 speak Until two O'Clock
n the morning she just claws that ivory and bowls Ike
lunatlc under full moon. But at last even she stops
BY the shower Of harpns the floor it is evident that
she's taking down her hair for the night, and re-
turn 70 It's sheath the scalpng knife which you had
drawn with dim idea Of going in 10 assist her in un
dressing Now it's three O'clock and you think II won't
be absolutely necessary kill any before daybreak
But Just you get asleep there's smash and crash on
the sidewalk under your window, and you jump and
look out 70 see which chimney has fallen down.
It's only the ioeman, who has dumped
load ten tons or so cOngeatOn, and you retire. sas
fed that patient prayer is a powerful purchase But
hark the heavy sound breaks in mOre and nearer,
clearer deader than before Did you not hear 1t no.
twas not the wind the hOrsecar rafting O'er the
stony street. because they have horsecars in Sara
toga; tins noise he nothing short Of earthquake
you positive this point, but feel IL your duty to
jump up and look out and anybody's left alive
It's a another who has Just dumped bigger load
under your window. From until breakfast time
more icemen than you thought could be found in the