BANGE OF ArPRENTICESHIP. 271 



where the light is,' said Luke, *for Jahn told me so. — Why he 

 is up — I see his shadow/ * Where V inquired another * why 

 there' answered Luke, * and Peg is up too, as I 'm a sinner 

 — we'll have a rig.* Who accompanied Luke I know not, 

 but I told Peggy to put out the light instantly, and to prevent 

 any nonsense I would hail my brother from the window, and 

 tell him what he had to expect, if he troubled me to come down. 

 The term * Peg is up* hurt me — and might have carried me, 

 fatigued as I was, farther than he would have liked or I wished. 

 " Going, as I thought, towards the window, I fell over a stool 

 and brought poor Mrs. Crumplehorn down with me. This was 

 vexing. I however soon recovered myself, and had to grope for 

 my suffering partner, who, from fall and fright, was senseless. 

 The noise from within and without, roused up again Mr. and 

 Mrs. Strap. They fortunately fancying the whole proceeded 

 from the street, opened their window, and then asking what was 

 wanted, were saucily asked by Luke whether, Tim lived there ? 

 *Tim,* said Mr. Strap, ^ 1 '11 Tim 'e, you noisy, drunken 

 fellows, I '11 Tim 'e.' This expression of poor disturbed Mr. 

 Strap brought a remonstrance from my brother's companions, 

 that it was best to start, and a remark from Mr. Strap that they 

 would *find it so,' and no sooner were these words uttered, than 

 the old man sprung a rattle, which he kept suspended over his 

 chimney piece, when off scampered the sparks as quickly as 

 rakish heels could carry them. 



^* I was now desirous, from the great trouble which I had 

 occasioned these good folks, to make it appear that I was alto- 

 gether ignorant of the parties, so I opened my room door and 

 inquired the matter. * Nothing, my dear soul,' said Mrs. Strap, 



* only some fellows in the street, that were I suppose about to 

 break into the house ; and father has driven them off by springing 

 his rattle. I hope it has not frightened poor Mrs. Crumplehorn,' 



* Not much ma*ara,' answered Peggy. I thanked Mr. and Mrs. 

 Strap, and wished them * good night,' though I could not follow 

 it up with ' all 's well,' from the trouble which I and my family 

 had occasioned them ; but knowing that I was rich, I fancied it 

 in my power to make them some trifling amends, without 

 blabbing the intention before the deed. 



*' With this thought, and a yet stronger even that of count- 

 ing over my money, I commenced ray early nap; but the visit I 

 received in the morning, the fright of my mother and household 

 in the country, from a ghost story, and other laughable matters, 

 I think I may put off till another evening. * And indeed,' said 

 I, looking at the cuckoo, * now you can with propriety, for if I 

 stop to hear more, I myself must expect to be put off. *This and 

 thus terminated our evening ; and I departed ; but not without 

 again being reminded of tlie baker, whom to avoid gave rae a rout 

 of some few hundred feet additional to my usual homeward track. 



To be continued. 



