Year: 1876

commenced gong over tnem a4i
again. I must have fallen asleep
where l was, for the last thing
remember on that memorable
evening I was sitting on the floor,
trying to strike matches and
talking to myself in an angry
way.


* * x


When I awoke [ was lying on
the floor in my. own house, my
head resting gently against the
corner OF the stove, while my body
was completely surrounded by
what looked to be the wreck of a
match factory. The sun was
pouring in his hot rays at the open
door; the birds were singingsweet-
IL without and all nature seemed
animated with new life.


I thought it was. all a horrible
| dream, q wicked delusion and
snare; but when [ attempted to
| rise, my sore toe caused. me to
change my mind and showed how
apt the human mind is to err es-
pecially when just aroused from
slumber.


After I got things Strengthened
out little and was eating my
breakfast, Deacon Hall rode up to
the door and said,-


"Brother Peckham: why didn't
you come to church this mornin'
at ten ?"


"What church at ten to-day ?"
asked, in no little surprise.


"Brother Peckham," said he
severely, "you know we have
meetin' every Sunday at ten;" and
with a painfully pious look he rode
solemnly away without saying ano-
ther word.


It was several minutes before l
could recover from the shock his
words had occasioned. Was it
possible that I could have made
such a mistake, and, tod ay
was Sunday instead Of the day
before? What ifit had not rained. ;.
| and I had not got lost: and had
went on and seen Victoria Evange-
line, and she would have known
| what fool I was? turned. mourn
fully away and went into my dom
icile. I tried to feel happy, and
be thankful for all my bad luck on
the previous day, and think it was
all for the best. This took consid-
erable selfcontrol, but [ was
about conquered when I hit my
toe again-all was lost! [ knew
it was Sunday for old Hall never
jested or lied about anything. Ny
mind was made up in an instant.
I would try it again if [ had to 60
all the way on one foot.


I knew the road was wet and
muddy, and l would be in a ruin
ed condition on account Of the
mud; but l was not to be banked
now. I puton a new pair of over
alls, rolled them up to my knees,
and with my boots under my arm
struck boldly forth in the direction
Of the Storrs plantation.


The sun was almost down when
l left home, but [ did not care
for this as the sky was clear, and
the moon would shine in a short
time. I trudged along, whistling
and limping as merry as I could
| be under the circumstances
When the sun went down and
| darkness began to spread it's drea-
ry wings over the surrounding
scenery, a kind of lonely feeling
| began to steal over me. I knew I
| neared the creek, and the darkness
proved to be mnch greater than |
had expected-so dark, in fact, that
l had to get down on my knees to
find the foot log. But find it | did
and commenced to "coon" it across
on my hands and knees. When
about halfway the log suddenly
made crook, or I slipped, or
something else-at any rate l fell
off, kicking and splashing into the
muddy water below.


Kind reader, bear with me for
not relating what was said ard
done from the time I struck the wa
ter until I reach the opposite bank.
But I did reach it, and now was
Observation-Disclosures. N o..
thing could have stopped me-
| was more determined than ever
to see Victoria Evangeline.
l reached the abode Of my be-
loved in safety and found my way
round to the back door. The
| aureament between US was that