142 AVARWICK WOODLANDS. 



THE SUPPER PARTY. 



Blithe, loud and hearty was the welcome of fat Tom, 

 when by the clear view halloa with which Harry drove 

 up to the door at a spanking trot, the horses stopping 

 willingly at the high well-known stoop, he learned who 

 were these his nocturnal visitors. There was a slight 

 tinge of frostiness in the evening air, and a bright blazing 

 fire filled the whole bar-room with a cheerful merry light, 

 and cast a long stream of red lustre from the tall win- 

 dows, and half-open doorway, but in an instant all that 

 escaped from the last mentioned aperture was totally 

 obstructed, as if the door had been pushed to, by the huge 

 body of mine host. 



"Why, darn it," he exclaimed, "if that beant Archer! 

 and a hull grist of boys he's brought along with him, too, 

 any how. How are you, Harry, who've you got along? 

 It's so etarnal thunderin' dark as I carnt see 'em no how !" 



"Frank and the Commodore, that's all," Archer replied, 

 "and how are you, old Corporation?" 



"Oh! oh! I'm most darned glad as you've brought 



A ; you might have left that other critter to home, 



though, jest as well — we doesn't want him blowin' oi;t his 

 hide here; lazin' about, and doin' nothin' day or night but 

 eat and grumble; and drink, and drink, as if he'd got a 

 meal-sack in his little guts. Why, Timothy, how be you ?" 

 he concluded, smiting him on the back a downright blow, 

 that would have almost felled an ox, as he was getting out 

 the baggage. 



"Doant thee noo, Measter Draa," expostulated Tim, "be- 

 haave thyself, man, or Ay'se give thee soomat thou woant 

 loike, I'm thinking. Noo ! send oot yan o' t' nagers, joost 

 to stand till t' nags till Ay lift oot t' boxes !" 



"A nigger, is it? darn their black skins! there was a 

 dozen here jest now, a blockin' up the fire-side, and 

 stinkin' so no white man could come nearst it, till I got 

 an axe-handle, half an hour or so since, and cleared out 

 the heap of them! Niggers! they'll be here all of them 

 torights, I warrant; where you sees Archer, there's never 

 no scarceness of dogs and niggers. But come, wall; in, 

 boys! walk in, anyhow — Jem'll be here to rights, and he's 



