The Strange Visitor To W

;.i i 11 1. tnniM i Times. Townnls the close of a long, hot BUmïniT day, not niany years ftgo, the daily nul coach oaine down the shadód street ftheqniet village of W , on ita : the old fashioi Dd i Ig at the cross io;ils in the center of the iwn, whoro s gign, swinging to the wind, nnounced entertainment tbr man and where, in I ravi Iers mail coach tho day's journey end(1. Tiie dity had boen a mercilessly ■Mi-m 'one ; the dost, in great olouda, ■lied np froin the wheels, the drivei b it grime and eoatless on hia box, and ie jaded animáis barely kept np oitfa a walk, bj e oonscioujp i ss of thcir noar approacn to the mghLV" ■ place. Not unpleasant, either, ■as the contrast Imli the dusty vitli its occupants prosented to tho cool, uiet óf the ridewalks and veraadas ' hich it pass d on it8 lazy journey down bo shaded thi . Bftn hi reliins s;it upon the grasey bonks, or ossed theii hats aloft in weloome. Bevies f laughiug, fair haired children flitti I y while within the white palingt -wliich. ined tho street could bo s '■ here nd there in the shodows, happy family groups, delightfully Buggestive of n iug coolness and comfort. Bo, :it any rate, thought tho solitary iger whom on tint particular eventg the mail coach brought to W . Ee bad been riding all day, and tw for sevei'al dayB previous, he said, and waa Hot a bit sorry to ndot' lii; journey. A saiher singular looking old gentleman lio was, foo, :H first sight, not at ill such a' om trould singlo out in a crowd to ask for eithi hy or assistance. }lis ftice i;il a worp nud '"■- a loóle to t r, his was plain, rather inclined to & nese even, and whon he spoke, his voice was quick and testy, thatofs man who ■■ti led v, Iiím lite wil li eme and anxlety and had leamedto ask no odds bn) 1. se whichhisown energies and e bira. t the driver, who in his decade of Btage oach i sist nee nad made a stucly oí hui'.nn nature in uil its phases, had mnde ip bis miii'l pretty early in that da) üs solitory passenger was nol a man to dly cultivated. All efforts to draw tim in; ition had proved fn Lod yet, thoughi i!'uys. "there's ■ hing kind and good behind (ira crabbed :uv and short anewere, I'll be bouml." He had mode a fina] and partially suceeeful effort, however, as they nearcd the rfllage. ..er in W bcforc, sir?" ho isked. "Tea - yes - but a long time ago. IIns he place changed much ? " " Precious little, to my knowledge, for wenty yi ars back," answered Iioggs. " Twenty : It's twice that sinco I was ure,' iiiil the stranger. "Mere boy, then, I s'posc,' continucd loggs. " Yes, quite a youngstor when I left the lace," was the reply ; and then the two ad elapsed into aiieni And now as they pa - 1 on througli the ;wiligb4(Shadows toward the village oen r, the old gentleman peered eagerly out, 1OTT on this side, now 011 that, now ga.iifi olosely at somc ono or aaother of tho jaunt olddwelüngsembowered in fiowers jj' the road-side, now leauing forward as rook, or troe, or other familiar .undiiKirk camfi b;iuk to liismeiuory. And io, he had looked and jnndered, the vriiclc carne to a halt before the tavern loor, and tlie journey w;is over. The old iu:iii - for ho did soem old, as with his short, bent figuro, and limping gait, hc shufüed iq tho liotel eteps, and icroas the sanded Hoor - gave souie direo tions about hisbaggage - which oonósted 0Í ;i sniall .superannuated trunk, and a carpet bag which had seen its best daya long ago - inquired in asharp, fitt'ul way where the proprietor vas, and upon that individual maJcing his appearanco, in the l'ui-in, not of the o.onvc ntiunal rubieundvisaged Boniface, but of a denmio, soberi'acud luau, whose lethargie inovements andreaigned expression of countenanen marked nim as one who simply oondcseonded to make his tearthly home and B hotel in W becauseho couldn't do any better, prgpounded in rapid monosyllab ; ury whetherhehad anj comfortaVjle rooms vacant. "Do yon simply want lodging over nifrlii. s'irr " meekly inquired tlie host. " No, sir,'' was the reply ; " á week, two weeks, a month, or two perhaps." A mom ntary glcam of the sordidsocmed to overeóme the Submissive in the innkeeper's countenance, but it quickly faded away again, as its owner said, "] trust we shall be alile (o accoünmodati you, sir. Please n giater youraame." The stranger glanced over the pages o: the book before him. Notan ai uval Ihat day - nonetheday before - in fact, onlj two for a week back. To thi beggarlj i d of guests he addcd his signatura Bcrawliagin ütile, dried-up charai which looked for all the world like hiniseit'jti. sive name, " John Thomp son, cis." gentleman was fatigued, an B littie ropasi all to hi'j_self iu the dining room was shown up to hia apart■' corner bed chamber, gorgoousl1 stilt' and eool with its white curtaine suowy bed spread and straight bi chairs. The window fastonings wi re, a is usual in rural Invenís, all oul of ordei and the simple country maid of all work who iunoei ntly held oer eai to the key hole after bidding the gue I " : od night, heard M r. Thompson tujning and frettin as he wrestli d with the ref ractory catchef iint.il finally tl went up, th blinda were flung open and the operatii euhninateil in an ce, , uut abou equally inade up of disgust and ss (im. Mcanwhile the loungers dowi wero airing all gorts of n charaoti r au sigub ol' the new eower- pöculationa which necessarily were of a most i ure, in viw of the limited 1 formation to be extraeted f rora the Imosi Ilegible ( gcrawl on the register. 1 Bul 01 ald thoy have known tho thought that vaá fost apon iiiiu'1 of liiin wlio s.ii. ü the wini above, looking out u]on the moonlit strooi : oould tin-v with hitn have rooalled the memories which oai fes hun - Ldonod bj i! ■ don of want rdship in. i a moss-covored fccunb stone iu rillrtge oburchyard har.l by - the most oar oallous of them would have prayed !.- og oa that gray li red head with itsweary thought10, W at the time of lts ïwisitation 2dr. ThompS'n, waa :: quiet country village with soaroely a thousand inhabitanl i and posaessing no especial characteristioa to dish it from thu hundrod other vil;'w iovin. ; tli.' liiils or on the bosoni of the landt witiiiii i. circuit of ahundred miles Erom t liu metropolis, Extending along the tumpiko rood for the ïlistunoe of a niilc or more on either sido, wore stfbggling rows of cottages, interepersod hora and there with more ostentatioua dwollings, while an occasicn.il shop window or sign peeped out from beueath tho trees to vary the monotony. Ábout midway the. main road, mul abont Úu: junotiOD Of (hese twO ighfares, forming with the esoeptiun of a few b;ick lañes and sido streets, the entin; village, were olmtered Öe principal stores, I E&oe, the office of the ■ v.'liicli wctíkly issucd to . . ■. . I hvud t 1 1 ■ ;:n bird to the ultima thulo of bouse, where Bemi-annui country lawyera and Iges oame together to plead "doubtful queslions of rignt and "wi'oii," and, last of all, tho hotel, the ugton House, :i veritable heads, 'tw;is s;iid, of the Fatlicr of his country in tho old Revolutionary days. raying out from this business center camo in the one direotion apon an okl stone bridge spanning a swiftly runninsr brook, and sa w before him the dusty road winding ite serpentine course np an aliterminable hill boyond ; in ihe opposite dü'ection he passed the vi i. :. ivlio ot' otner days, renova■ii liy modem hand -. and oame .■■uil-. Ir; il y banks of a canal, the favorite tf urohins for swimming in summer nd skating in winter. And then bevond were hiils, and meadows and coni iields nd grov and swiunps, an endless of worm fences, with here and there farm house peeping out - in sliovt, a ceno of tranquil beauty, telling only of . ad prosperity. Ni. w, the unannounced advont of " M r. bhn Thompson, of ITow Orloans," to a ittle plaeo like üiis did at all events proiicu uo small sensation among tho g' Lunters. Thorc were, naturafly enough, wo or three families of resident Th ons, each and ;i!l of whom, af (er diligent nquiry of their memories, failed to latives living in tho rem te city 'n.::i which the new corner hail i a's iin.mU8 were i garments in which ho ■■ on the norning suoeeeding his arrival, earned lim, r.i diff ir ml quart irs, the lellations of poor man, probablo misor, nid disguised millionairo. Meanwhile llr. Thompson w.is Btoical, wis u iroachablc; heaitated not to expresa imphatic disgust at whatovcr diu notsuit dm about the house, cast withering lupled with short replies, at one 1 the tardihood to accost him on the front liazza, lly, with his hands buried loep in his coat-tail pockets, limpcd and hufUed down the steps and turned iowi ;he cross stront as if for a stroll, leaving villagcrB in a stivte of doubt and curioity bordering on despair. All that day he was absent. It cannot :. said none knew where, for difl mes, lounging in and out of the hol various hours through th(; day, spoke of iav,ing mot tli" btranger, and inq who he was. One hadseen him st u n thedoorstep of old Mother Campbell's jottage, rapping vigorously at the door; anoth. v he Ead aocostedon the toadabout i quarter of a mile away, with the inquhy of wlu'iv Farmer Matthews' house lad stood. The house had burued ilown b me years before, butthe man had point■d out the spot) as near ;is ho co'.üd, and jone on about his bu iiness. Stiü n third iad seen the old man wanderi n the old church-yard, attentively examning the inscriptions, and had iinally leen him s atedon ;! grass-grawn mound, with 'ais head buried'in his hands, and &pily uuconscious of observation. And ast of all, about twilight, homecam John Thompson himself, looking wort nul weary, but with a gentier tone in his voiee, atiné aeked that his supper might at up to his room. And 60 tho gossips were none the wiser, for that night, at least. The' next day they got á slight ernmb of comfort, terminating in only a deeper mystery. After he had partaken of his breakf ast, II r. Thompson drew the mfiek and lowly host in a corner i quietly inquired " who is the best lawyer you have in these parts ? " " Well, there are thrce or four good ones," was the answer. 8quire !■ over tho way, is about is sound and square a man as any of them, I guess." " A young in;in!'" " Xo, sir, he's been practicing here these li't-cii years, and must behardonto fifty." " Thank you," said the visitor, and in a quarter of au hourafterhe was closotcd wiili ' Sqnire Jessup, an oldorly man, of g nial, benevolent mien, whose mild greeting, as hé uahered in his unexpocted oftller, went far to con vinoe tho lattcr that lio liad i'ound the soit of a man hc wantod. "I shall havo to request," said Mr. Thömpson, with something of ais former tiniiicss, af ter he had seated himself in tho cozy ann chair, and removed his hat and wiped bisforehoad with a great bandanna, "I simll havo to request that what I am about to say to you, Mr. Jossup, shal] be, for the presentí striotly cdiifidential." Tho lawyor nodded assent. " I am John Thompson," contintted the visitor, " and my home is New Orleang. '. . . ago, 1. was for a time resident of this village, and i have cj[i( back to it in ïny old ig'., to Bee wbat ohanges time haa made." The 'Squire was aboat to ask Bome■ihin, but was intorrupted by "Pray don't aak me any questiona now, sir. What I have to say shall bfl '■ai'l in a business lik', stmightforward . bare oalled t eetnae yout services. (Jai I trust youï " At ihis Budden and direct interroga tory the lawyer turne 1 and Lookei vigitor full in the boe. "With anythin that Ls honorable and right, JI i-. Thonij sr ,11. 1 siiy y ra, you can trust nu.1. 1 as no higher endorsement than the n wliicli my t'ellow-townsmen beai m the"loveand affection, espeoially of th pooier ol lesos amone them. ïask aobetb eDcomium when I iir than the ' the needy i I tte whom Provi i niay enablo me to befriend may shed ovt iny gravo." 1 1 is countenanoe wanned m tía Bpoke, :mil the pilde of au honest, eneroushiar shone in his mild l)luo they nat the attentivo glauco of ;he strenger Ehe lattoir foli roassured. "Tobe brief then," gaid he, "Irani rou to buy mo a piooe of property, a pari f the Matthews farm." " A goo ! piece ofli the 0, " and worth a good ttgure."' "Isll.'.ll wint ;'iou! t - - 1 T aevcs of it," lic mtinued, " iaoludlng the site of thé ld rm houso wllich stood outhokuoll near 10 road." " And how high to vou want to payfor ': " "Aíüii prioe whieh you can botter udge ofthanloau. Who ia the ownr ■■; " " Matthews still owns it -that is Ilio on of tho i! 1 man, Joshua Matthi w-." "Can youarranga an interview f " "Yes, he lives noar il. hasd. I can 'lid for llill! ÏIOW ." - ad forhiin tlion," replied Mr. 'hompson. In li-ss tiraothan the oíd tata luid ox1, thi re i-iüii1 a rap on the door, and 10 brown, BUnburnod i'iico of a niícii of hirly, (all and uncouth in figure, po iped i. " AV : i 1 1 to see me, 'Sifuire ? " " res," Bftid tin; l.'iwycr; "OOtOte in Mr. fatthews. 'riiis is Mr. Tnotnpson, a g n loman from the far South, who has tukn r. notion to settlo down in "W , nd is looking for Bome oligible properv." Witli tliis introduction the three sat own, and in half an hour the bargain vas struck. Mr. John Thompson had nrchased of Mr. Caleb Matthefl all liis ight, litio and interest in tho ti u ocrea forosaid, in considera tion of the BUtn of on one thougand dollar notes, all orisp ad ïx-w, conntod mt cm the tablebeforo ïim, the siiii Caleb Matthewa (slightly wwildered] by hun, the said John Thompoool and scll'-possesscd as a cueuuiïer). Then Mr. Thompson, reiterating ia request thnt thO parchase might, for lio present, lic kept a perfeoi secn ', bade lio otlicrtwo good day, promiging to cali o-niorrow for his papers. But, in spito of (lic injunction of screoy laid apon him, Caleb Mattlicu-s. vith his ten now bank notes rustling in ïis pocket, found the news too good, and 00 surprising, to keep it long to himsclf. 5etweon him and a garrnlons wifeand a ialf a dozen brothers and theii wivös, the ïformation soon spread itself throngh ha village, and of courso it gat.i' trength and dimensions with cach repeition. Storics of tho fabulous woalth of he niystorious stranor were circulated, nd it was wií li a deforential regard that he glaucos of those he met on his daily ambloa wt-rc directed toward him. Day ly day the public curiosity abont him beame gieator, 1 il hé aeemod (o caro not v straw - in fact. appeared unconscious of ■iii thi' best noticod man in the vi I 1 i had iio intercourse with any casual acquamtencö. As thd d tys went on he ;row moodier and móïH reserved haó ei ! hour or two cm :v aorwDg surreying his newly bought tien ..liiif.' them over and ovor tgnin, and busying himself in all sorts of ilatíons. Oáe íay, ju.-1, a ,ftor iae jjui-obns, bc calluti un ■1 lawyer roieiyea hiüi cordially, as beforo, and wonI Int he hlad not called sooner foi lis papers. "Tve been very busy aU by mysolf,' tras Mr. Thompson's answer. "And now 've called i" engageyour sorviQes ag . ■'. musco; tho dood is all right, is it, ir?" " Pérfecily, thore it is, sir - signad, seal11 and deliverod." Mr. Thompson took the document, rear t carofully through, asked one or twi [uostions and then foldod t np ogain :iid it nway in his c.ipaoious wallot and iroi i eded : "I wiah to begin building ;itoncc. Tho ilans and spocincations of tho proposoc diflcfl I have here with mo ready for the milder. K.uw [ want you todo is to ob;,iin for me a fair estímate of thé tota! )Oït of materials and labor requirea foi ts eösaplctiói! beforo tho lOth of nest Der." Mr. Jossup stretched out his hand to Sake the drawings whicht his yisitor hai i li oed, and glancod ovorthem hastily ■ " Why," said he, " this (alls for a 1 and a fincr building than any wcliavo ii X)wn." Mr. Thompson's oye sparkled for a mo nent. " Indeed r" was all he said. "Ofbrick, wsth onc hundred and f ï f t j roni and onc hundred fcet depth, ;hc lftwyer read. " Why, you don't mean jO occupy such a house as this all alono [ hope," he saiil laughingly. Xd', replyihg, Mr. Thompson continued ■ If tho estimates, wbich by tho way . would like you to sabmit within a week tor}', I vould aak the privilege if naming you, sir, as my reprüsontative in carrying out the details of the work, ii Irawing up the contracts and in making the paymonts when thcy fall duo ; in re turn for which you have only to nami your compeiisation. I have my particu iar reasons for asking this of you and '. hope you will considi.'r it favorably." " I thank you for the trust you desire to repose in me," said tho 'Squiro, "anc ■ I it." " Bend in your bill whenover you do BÍre," said Mr. Thompson ; " and le( t u n v unnecossary dday in the estimatea Do as you would do for yourself, and in; word for it you will not rogret it." And so he left the ïmji.led lawyer to his reflection. Btraightway there wen forth mysterious summonses from the din gy littlo office to oarpóntera and ioinors and bricldave.is, and plaaterers, and paini erg, and for several days thereafter thore rere quiut littlc conclaves where iigures and plans and roughly-ècrawled caloulations li'il.l high revel, and linally, within tlio timr iixcd, " Siiniru eseup sent, his cliënt word that bo was ready to eee liiia again. t.-nns uvro concluded satisfactorily, the papers were rigned, Mr. Thompson depoeited a oheok for one-hali the amouut of tbi1 csliui.ii' , took a rccoipt for it, and dircotcd that tin.' vork should bo bogun :ií once. "I ara goingaway for awhile," said hei "ftnd vvill keep you advisod of my whereaboilts, so that you may write me frota timo to Mme wnat ss isbeing made." "xou have placed in myhand," gaid tlio good old la'WTrer, " a trust which I i ,i v.ill flnd has npt beenmisplaced." And they shook bands and parted, and (. day's étage coach took away Mr. John Thompson in the. direction from n', hioh lu! had oome. A mon'.b passed iVWfly, and ihcn anothor, and the calm, genial days of the Indian summoi oame around once moro to throw theii the fields and orchards and woods abou ■ Ful little vilipon n1i!i ii '■. .■ ba vi' lookcd. And dayby daythe waÖa gVovi bigher, the great building began i loom up mere and more distinctly on the little knoll overlooking the little village, and with il iroportionately the speculation and ouriosity of boholders. A glorious mansión it was, with ii at, wide, airy halls and long corridors, and high ceüings, an 1 ljUMïd oovered perandahs, and gilleries suggc tive ofthose to besoen in the tropics. There werc in il ro i .:il ii . both groat and. sniall. Silting rooms vi: li great genereus windowsfor letting n the sunlight, ooy Little bedrooms, and an tries and closets of all kinds. And all i viili snob an air of brightnoss and comli? moss throughout, from top lo bottom, bat c"!'v mu' wb i strollcil to look at old Thompsou's placo," asthoy had como loalíit, invariably envied tho comfort f the future ininato. Ainl tli'H, fchoro carne, at intervals, con. to "Squire Jessup" (healone knew rom whoin) viki", and figures, and bird, and no end of oud rustic chairs ; nd tíie workmen laid otii paths and pcaveled walbs, and sel oiit shrubbury dges o: box, and p it up a bigb fenoe about tiw waole ten aores vith a huge gatoway ïn front, so that iiw pcople ooald no Jonger ent v at til asure, bat hád to pi ep Ln througb the re.lis-work; and then the workme:i all eft, a monster padlook a] I the ;ate, ni 1 lo! lír. Thompson's place was nishod and i1.:: ly for an 01 oupant. By this lime Winter had set in, and teople were already talking of the holiLays. Just before the happy aeason arivod, camo back a sort of harbinger of Janta Claus, Mr. John Thompson - not 11 adusty stage coach in thetwilight, but vrappod up in lmffalo robos behind a lot ifjingling sleigh-bollB, and wilhin the tours of night. The i i m t day hia ftnival was the town opic; overybody bad expected him of : he lookcd older many thought, iut ho was as activo asesor, for all that - made m arly oall at 1 li ■ Squiro's, passid most of the day in going atyt the uilding and grounds, and, returning in he evening, slippcd away to his bed bcIotb :my mu' had half a chance lo son íim. Then, ís if surprises would nevar n !.'■■. rather, aa ifMr. John Thomp 'und of eccontricitios was inexhaustible, ihere appeared ;i day or two after, posted i]i all ovnr the village, an invitation to Hgh and low, rich an ! poor, youn ; an 1 oíd, to attend a house-wanning to begiv■n on Chsistmas eva by " John Tho gon, Esq., of New Órloana, at his recently ionipleted regidem e in khig village." Aml ;ho village newapaper o tts aext issue lontaineu tii" sime invtition, strengthmed by gundry hintej and pmtty broad ono?, too, til ! no ono conld well afford to ;ich an occasion as this promised to jo. And so days chased cach other by, and people wonderei as thoy saw the 3rcparation3 for tho festivities; tables, ihairs, and evockerj', and whole wagonloads of good tlniigs all drawn up and quiotly disappearing within the mysterious gateway. At last the eventful evening carne, and a hundred lights glan'cing out from the Windows of the ni'w bmlding, cast their livotul glare down the snowy road, and lit up tin1 grounda with a blaze ot' light. Tlio liost liad no íoason to regret the liberal bospitality, as, standing at thewide doorway, ho welcomed the throngs of rich and poor, young and old, whoj tttracted by motives, had cqme in response to bis invitation. '3quire Jossup, arrayed in his best suit, with high collar and brasa buttons, was everywheid among the ■ bappy and proud as onq vrho had dischargeu an important trust. .n 1 .stiil the thronga flowed in at the Ur. Thompson had a kind nrord for onch : i'.nd thon nnally tho great house was full of people. Just when the buzz ofconvcrsitii.nl a.;u the noise ot' many feet SOemi l at their hcight) thoro carne a sound of somoisne ng to secure silerice, and, looking around to discover thc cause, the guosts s.tw Mr. Jolin Thompson standing on a chair in the center of the huil, evidently d( sirous of saying something. " Sh - , sh - , sh - ,' went round tho aesembly. "(Juiet thero," shouted some, and axnid n silene hardly to have been anticipatod in suoh a crowd, tlie queer old man began ik, though in a voico which secmed ao fonger sharp and tcsty, but soft and ulbiia with omotion. "Mjr friends," lic said, "all who have come to visit me this evcuiiiir and I to enjoy youraelves, 1 wou ■ your pationoo and forbearanoe while I relate a little story. On thís same night a good many yoarsagO, BÖ many that now I soarcely care to count them, ther ed alongyonder highway, through o . iri ving storm and bitter cold, ápoor young won in, leading by the hand a little boy ofsixyeaiB) son. Whenco she or how, matters not in my story. 8ho was dostitute, hungry, brokon-hoarted, but shc saw the lights in the village yond was pressing on with fierco onergy toward hope and help in the distancei Aias! ïfearied nature oould bear her up no mi we ■ ■ i uk down uuder tlje darl Bhudow of a tree by the roadside, even then not forgotting to shicld her poor ch i ld nndor her threadbare, Bcant) garmente from the cutting blasts, They feil aslcep. Bhe ia Bleeping still in the old churoh-yard yonder. The littlo boy whoni she warmed in her last embrace was sparcd by Providenco to grow up to be the old man who now stands bcforo j-ou. God sent me kind and benevoleni friends from among you in those terrible ifadversity. Porinylife, my education, my whole chaiacicr, I havo to thank thoso of you (and tlu-iv may be some herewho remember the incident) who took me in their keeping and provided for me until, in an ungrateful day, I stole away to make my wáy alono iu the wide, wide world. My friends, it bas been a hard, long jouruey for these forty yeare, I have seen disease carry me to the verge óf a tomb to whieh I had previously consigned al] whoiii I loved. Stozmfl and war andotlier misfortunes have, time and again, lci't me uil Imt impoverisneu. xet, i nave come out unscathod, oarrying with me through it all the rcmoiubrancc of that unpretonding tombstone üi yonderrhurohyard, and ilic coHsciousncss of one soleinn, imperativa iluty to be dono before I dio. that duty, by God's will. I shall to-mght discharge. Nevermorei it' l oan help il, slrili i poor, struggling mothei perisn in cokl umi wanl by your roadsides. NeverahaU your poor, your siok, your aged want fot oomfort, fo'od and Bholter. K. ! thia building whioh I liavo caused to bo erected - io you kiuAv wliat it is for? For me, do you thmk ? I expeet nerer to enter it again. It is for your poor, sick and destitute. I have built it - and hen: the old gentleman ncrvously pulled a douument irom bis breaat poobet. "See! this isaoopy of a deed by whichl transfer this house and ground entire to the proper authorities for this parpóse. Tu doing !iis boI 1 realizó the dream,. thn ainbition of the groater pari ofmy life. I thank ■ ,.m He luis cnablcd inc to so ï'oalize it. And now in conclusión, my good frieuds, I will say that yon will liml niugio ftl] ready in the other room foran oldfashionsd dance, and a goodaupper when you wan; I. Make yoursi-lves tis happy a can, but I doubt whether, at tae , of your glee, there will bo one i v.lio is half so happy as old John Thompson." Anud teara and obeera, and oonntless wringingsof hiawithored hands, the old gontloman descendí d trom his ohair, and was lust in the crowd. Ho oame to the Burface onoc more ín thejig, danoing ut a furiousrato with the pr&ttiest bixom laso In the ro na, and tben ditappoared. - The feasting and dancing went on until moming: bul whnn the daylighi stole in. and the guests h i ■ ash For Mr. apson, to bid hiin " good-by " I) ily 1 1 :li 1 si'cn hiin had shot awny b 'hind some jingling sleigh-bellfrin tho night, and hts never nince been. back to W