Year: 1871

Gr1cK upon some 0oys, they retal1ated by locking Harry in the cellar, where he had hid. Harry took things coolly and knowing that it would be two hours be- fore he could be released, laid down and went to sleep. He awoke very much re- freshed, but, very hungry. There was plenty of food of various kinds in the cellar on swinging shelf, but it was too high for him to reach. So he jumped up and stood on the edge of a soft-soap barrel. He leaned forward and grasped an apple-pie. As he was leaning back he slipped and went souse into the soft soap up to the neck. Then, in founder ing around, and trying to get out, he tipped himself and the soft-soap over.

 They both came sprawling out sim ultaneously. In struggling to get up from the floor, which was very slippery, Harry stumbled against the now empty barrel. Exaggerated, he drew up his foot and gave it smart kick.

 It rolled back, and knocked out the faucet to barrel of molasses. Now followed @ great flood d-molasses and soft soap, in great quantities, mingled to- gether-enough to float the little City of Ragusa. But the best of it, or rather the worst of it was, that Harry did not know that the molasses barrel had been broached. Itwas very dark in the cellar, and even if it had not been, he might not have discovered the leakage for the barrel which he so unfortunately kicked lay close up the stream of molasses which was running, so that Harry dld not then discover it, and it slid into the soft-soap so easily that he didn't hear it running. The fact is, the boys mind was on his new suit of clothes during all this catas- trophe. They were completely saturated with soft-soap. He was afraid they would be entirely spoiled, or at least the colors would come out, if they were not imme- diately rinsed clean.

 It was impossible to get out of the cellar, and there was no water to be had in it. He had spoiled three suits of clothes lately, and now, at the fourth one, he was afraid mothers patience would give out. What should he do O, what should he do !! A happy and original thought struck him. The dear boy showed real genius. He said, "I will wash them out with cider p He stripped naked to the skin, laid his soapy clothes under the cider-barrel faucet, and then turned it. When they were well saturated, he took them, piece at time in his hands, and rubbed them back and forth over his knuckles like a regular washerwoman. Just then his father and came home.

 We were told by some boys whom we met that Harry was asleep in the cellar. As soon as we arrived we lighted Ian tern and went down, and there we found him, stark naked, standing before bar rel and washing his clothes out with cider. O, he was the most comical and Imaginable sight that ever beheld His face was as black as negroes, the burnt cork not having been washed off since the performance, and in contrast his delicate little body in the gloom looking as white as marble. The cellar floor was covered with soft-soap, molasses and cider, and in these mixed liquids hoated pies, cakes, cookies, apples, pears, peaches, three loaves of bread, and two Jumps of butter. All this we discovered in an instant. was making the whole house ring with laughter, but my hus- band had thus far kept on a sober face, thinking, suppose of the damage. He looked terribly cross at Harry, and said, sternly, "Come here, sir, and tell me what you made all this mess for You will catch 1t, young man, I can tell you. /"

 Harry was frightened and ran. He went racing around the cellar, still naked with his black face, and swinging his pants in his left hand. My husband caught him by the shoulder. The little rogue gave Q dive headforemost through his fathers legs, and they both went down into the soap, molasses, and cider Harry was up in an instant. He made l for fho cto ire h11t bic fothor hooIaI him off, and the little fellow was obliged to take refuge in the ash-bin. His body being wet, the ashes stuck to him, which made him the most ridiculous thing in existence. I was so nearly killed with from sheer weakness.

 Just now Harry came up and clasped his arms around my knees He had just time to say, 70, mother mother please don't let father whip me P when like an avalanche, his father bore down upon us. The floor was so slippery, and he had got under such headway, that he could not stop. The consequence was we all went down together into the slip pery foed. The lantern went out, and we were left in almost total darkness. My husband now began to laugh joined him; Harry came in on the chorus. We all laughed together for fifteen min utes. Harry now stood up, and putting his greasy arms around his fathers neck, said, "Dear father, I did not mean to indeed I did not p There was silence for moment and then father answered. "Well, Harry, since you are not alone in it we will be forgiving and let you of this time.'