Going A-visiting

I went down to the depot two hours before train time because 1 had several errands to do there. Looking up the broad street which ran through the villuge, I saw an old black horse, liitched to a light wagon, coming down on the gallop. In the wagon was a man and woman. The woman waved her hand and the man plied the whip, and in a couple of minutes the rig turued in and stopped at the platform with such suddenness that the mud flew in all directions. "Has she gone?" shouted the woman, as she began to climb out. "Who?" "The train." "No, ma'am." "Well, that's a piece of good luck. I thought we'd be about five minutes too late. For mercy's sake get that trunk checked and buy my ticket!" "Yes, Mary, yes," he replied as he put forth his best effort, and he dragged the cliest down the platform and asked for a ticket and a check. "It is an hour and tífty minutes yet," replied the agent. "VV- what? Hear that, Mary. You've been fretting and stewing aince 3 o'clock this morning, and here we are two hours ahead of time !" "Itcan'tbe!" "That's what he says." "Well, William, dou't you believe all he says ! You remember liow Aunt Harper got left by taking the word of a ticket agent. Sometimes trains are ahead of time, and sometimes behind. Kiss me good-bye, Williain." "But there's fots of time, Mary." She appealed to me to settle the question, and when I put the time at an hour and forty-five minutes she consented to go into the waiting room. She sat down on the edge of a seat and nervously began an inventory. "Here's my handkerchief, and here's my wallet with ninety cents it it, and here's my snuff-box and thimble and steel-bowed glasses. Here's the receipe tor making hard soap I'm taking to Cousin Jane, and here's that box oï inutton talier to go to 'Squire Johnson. William, I'm all right - haven't forgotten a thing !" "Do teil!" "And I only had five weeks to get ready in! Well, William, good-bye." "Oh, pshaw, Mary - lots of time vet." "Don't be too sure about it. You ean't always teil about these railroads. I don't want to get left." She sat down again, took a seeond inventory, and then musingly said : "I covered up the flour barrel, and hung up thatbagof dried pumpkin, and put that jar of soft soap away, and lowered the curtains in the parlor, and shut up the cook stove." "Yes, Mary," replied the husband. "And I poured the water out of the tea kettle, carried that piece of butter down stairs, sent home Mrs. Aiken's drawin' of tea and cup of brown sugar, and put that piece of pork back into the brine." "Yes, 111 swear to it." "Well, good-bye, William. I'll be home in three weeks." "It isn't time vet, Mary. It's over an hour before the train will come along." "Well, don't make any mistake. You know Cousin Hannah dreamed that I got left, and I don't want it to come true. And now let's see : You are to board at Henry's, and go over to the house once a day?" "Yes." "Be careful and shut all the doors after you." "I will." "And don't build no fires." "No." "And don't let the swill-pail get frozen up again." "No." "Well, William, good-bye. It must be time to go." "Oh, now, Marv, but it's iust an hour by the clock. Don't be so nervous." "I am a little nervous, I suppose, but I reckon it's because I've forgotten something. Did you take the starch back to JVIrs. Davis?" "I did." "And carry the Widder Smith's kettle home?" "Yes." "And did I scald the coffee pot out and hang it up behind the stove?" "Yes, I saw you." "And wipe out the stove biler and hang it up in the cellar-way?" "Yes." "Well, that's all, I guess, and I'll kiss you good-bye. I'll write you on Sundáy." "Now, Mary, don't be so oneasy. It's a bad sign." "Yes, I seem to be oneasy, but I hope it don't mean airthquakes or hurricanes. Now, William, your liver medicine is on the Bhelf in thekitchen." "Yes." "It's the right-hand bottle. The other has got goose oil in it, and if anybody is taken with croup you want to senil it right over.'' "I'll doit." "You take your liver medicine three times a day - half a tablespoonful- in water. 1 let't out an old spoou." "Yes." "If you have a pain in your chest niake -1 mustard piaster. ïhere's mustard in that tin l)ox on the second buttery Bhelf, lett-hand corner, and you can tear up one of uiy old aprons." "Yes." "Let's see ! You may have anotlier bile while I am gme. "Thé flaxseed is in that yaller box on the top buttery ahelf." "Vos." "And - why, for the mercy's sake !'' "What is it?" "There bain 't no ink in the house for you to write with ! 1 knew I'd forgotten something!" "That's so." "Well, it's too late now. Put a little vinegar and lampblack in the old bottle, and Í guess yon can niakp out. Well, good-bye, William. Reiuember 1 have phalked down the nuniber of hens on the woodshed door, and you won't for get that we have thirteon liogs, foitysix sheep, one horse and a yoke of oxen. Let the old clock run down and don't try to wind it, and if you want the lan tem you'll find it on the hook in the woodshed, with candle and matches all ready. Well, good-bye, William." - M. Quad. ' A lirijïht Outlook.- 'How is it witb ycra?" askd the editor of the subscriber who was dyin.i? in arrears. "All lo'oks brislit beiore me," fraspetl the suliscriber. "I thouglit so," sa-id the editor; "in about ten minutes you