48 WINTER SKETCHES. 



existence and death. God only knows why 

 He made us to live and to die. 



Then the great bell which had summoned 

 those now departed guests to their meals, 

 called our little company to supper in a small 

 room adjoining the kitchen. *' All we have," 

 said the landlady in excuse, " is tea, bread and 

 butter, milk, tripe, and sausages ; we are ten 

 miles from the railroad and from any town, and 

 the butcher comes only once a w^eek, when he 

 brings the newspaper." 



She needed not to make any apology. In 

 company with the family, including boy An- 

 drew, who entertained me with more reminis- 

 cences, I made a hearty meal. Soon afterward 

 the usual tavern loungers made their appear- 

 ance. The landlord was in a jovial and gener- 

 ous mood. 



" Gentlemen," said he, ** we've got a visitor 

 to-night, and I am going to treat. Liquor 

 shan't cost any of you a cent. Call for gin or 

 cider as much as you want. The whiskey is 

 all out." 



The invitation was accepted with alacrity. 

 *' Fetch on your gin," was the general demand. 

 Afterward we had cider, then gin again, and so 

 the gin and cider alternated, and if they were 



