00 TOM DRAW'S VISIT TO PINE BROOK. 



" Well, well, boy," responded Tom, "I guess it 'taint the first 

 time as you've said so, though I don't know right well what for 

 neither. Any how, I hope 't won't be the last time as I'll fix 

 you as you wants to be. But come, it's gittin' late, and I've got 

 to drive Hard's horse over to Paterson to-night." 



." Oh, that will not be much," said Harry. " It is but nine 

 miles, and we are twenty from New York." 



" Any how, we must take a partin' drink, and I stands treat. 

 I showed Beers Hard how to make that egg nog. Timothy 

 Timothy, you darned critter, bring in that ere egg nog.'* 



This was soon done, and Tom, replenishing all the glasses to 

 the brim, said very solemnly, " this is a toast, boys, now a raal 

 bumper." 



Harry grinned conscious. I stood, waiting, wondering. 



"Here's luck !" said Tom, "luck to Harry Archer, a land- 

 holder in our own old Orange !" 



The toast was quaffed in an instant ; and, as I drew my breath, 

 I said 



" Well, Harry, I congratulate you, truly. So you have bought 

 the Jem Burt Place ?" 



" Thanks to old Tom, dog cheap !" replied Archer ; " and I 

 have only to say, farther, that early in the Autumn, I hope to 

 introduce you, and all my old friends, to the interior of the new 

 box." 



