Year: 1876

Out, hhLlS SA pAa4HCu ~ hVA hO" ea4S
/ happened to be mistaken for Sam. and


became the victim of your mad pranks.


THAT was neat in you, Han, said
| George. 'sI am awful glad you hugged


the poor little thing. Wish you had


given her brotherly squeeze for me


'pon my honor | do"


"And how on earth do yon expect US


to stay and take the consequences ?''


asked John, beginning to look serious.


81 am for taking myself off instanter. /


had rather face q masked battery than


tins pretty school 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 stay and brave 1t ont, both of


you, and apologize for your rudenesa."


"Bnt Sam? How the deuce are we to
get along with him? You know well
enough, Han, we shall never hear the
end of it from him"


"If you two can keep the secret, I'll
find way to silence Bridget, and it is
subject Eva will not care to have dis
cussed. and fortunately my husband Is
away from home. So go to bed and rest
coniented"


She showed them to the bed she had
intended them to occupy, and soon the
house was once more hushed in slumher


Meanwhile their brother Sam had
reached the depot few minutes 700 late
He found the train he was to have taken
already gone, but on consulting a time
table he found that another train start
ed two hours later, and SO decided to take
it. He figured to himself, as he impa-
tiently crowded into an empty seat, and
was being whirled along at a rapid rate,
how snugly his brothers had ensconced
themselves in the best bed, which by
right belonged to him, he being the eld-
est; and consummated plan 10 get even
with them.


Some time after midnight he was de-
posted in Hollythorn, and reaching his
sisters house he secuted around until
he found a way of entrance into the
kitchen, where he deposited his luggage
and removed his boots. Then he quiet
ly stole up stairs and opened the door Of
the best room. "Sure enough" thought
he, "my fine chaps. you are in clover !'
For there we're not to be mistaken signs
of the room being occupied.


To think of coping with their united
strength by dragging them forth was not
practicable, but there stood the pitcher
of water, and he knew that good dous-
ing with the icy fluid would bring them
out quick enough.


He lifted the pitcher, approached the
beG, raised it and suddenly dashed the
contents upon the sleeper.


Such a torrent of screams as he had
never before heard rang through the
house, and before Sam could collect his
scattered senses the door opened. and
Hannah, George and John rushed in, |
clothed in scanty apparel-Hannah with
a frightened look on her face and lamp
in her hand, that revealed the entire
scene.


There, sitting in bed, with her hair
like mermaid, her night-dr |
d@uged, her face colorlesS, and looking |
terror, was the young school-mistress;
and there was Sam, with the empty |
pitcher in his hand, the very picture of
staring around like an idiot
at the havoc he had made. Hannah,
George and John instantly understood
the situation; and the latter, at the COM
mand of their sister, dragged Sam away
while she assisted the drenched and ter
riied girl to dry clothing, and then took
her to her own room and bed, explain
ing, for the second time, the mishaps of
the night.


"I'll keep you with me, now, my poor
child" said she, though with difficulty
keeping back her laughter. "Those boys
are nicely come up with, at any rate;
and if it wasn't for your being so terribly
frightened, and the way my best bed has
been used, / wouldn't care. But you are
safe now"


Hannah kissed her charge, and went
down to see the boys, who, soon as
they were fairly shut in the regions be-
low, begen to appreciate the joke; and
now that Sam was as deep in the mud as
they were in the mire, gave no quarter


an be blamed it know what it
means," said Sam, looking in confusion
at his brothers. who were rolling and
kicking in commissions of laughter.


Means" said George, holding his
sides. at means that you have stolen
like a thiefinto Miss Eva Stanley'p bed
chamber, who is young lady teacher
boarding here; and thinking it was your
humble servant and Johnny snug in bed,
you attempted TO drown US out and made
a grand mistake. How do you like it,
Sam ?"


81 confess see the point, but can't
see the JOKE. It is a most outrageous
shame"


At this juncture Hannah came in, and
began rating them koundly, thereby let
ting out the whole story. 1t was Sans
turn to laugh.


Miss Eva was not visible the next
and Hannah announced that
she was sick with a severe cold. Hannah
had her unruly crew under her thumb
for once in her life, and had the satisfac-
ton Of seeing them behave with some
dignity. They appeared never to forget
that there was an invalid in the house,
and went on tiptoe about. Sam who
seemed to take the entire responsibility
upon his own shoulders, sent off slyly to
New York for choice fruit and flowers,
which he induced his sister to convey to
The young lady with the most abject
apologies and regrets.


In a couple of days Eva was able TO
come down stairs. She was looking quite