ly punished by
your imprisonment last night. I think you might have been less hasty in
striking Michael. Is Michael in court?

"_Mrs. Flaherty._--He is. Stand up, Michael, before his honor.

"Mrs. Flaherty, Michael and Timothy were standing together in a row.

"_Judge._--Now I am going to insure perfect harmony in your house for
six months to come; I shall bind each of you over in the sum of $200 to
keep the peace.

"This was almost too great a humiliation for the blood of the O'Briens
to bear; but there was no alternative. Mrs. O'Brien Flaherty satisfied
herself as well as she could by looking screw-drivers at the Judge;
Michael appeared demure, and Timothy appeared jolly. The bonds were
given, and the interesting trio left the court.

"The Judge rose from his chair, and made a bee line for breakfast."

During the various narrations which were given during the evening, Mr.
Quackenbush remained seated in the corner, saying nothing and doing as
much. His eyes were partially closed, and an occasional sigh was all
that escaped him.

When Mr. Dropper concluded the reading of his contributions, it was
moved that Mr. Quackenbush open his mouth, and say something, under the
penalty of having it pried open with the poker.

This caused Mr. Quackenbush to open his eyes; and, after various
preliminary hems and coughs, he announced that there was a certain rule
of evidence which gave a witness the right to refuse to say anything
tending to criminate himself. He should avail himself of that rule.
Having said these words, Mr. Quackenbush rolled over on the floor, drew
himself into double bow knot, and was soon snoring against noise.

In the meantime Mr. Spout had taken the floor, and stated that he had on
one occasion been over at the Essex Market Police Court. He was there
the involuntary witness of the trial of a case, which might account for
the non-communicative disposition manifested on the present occasion by
Mr. Quackenbush. During the proceedings, the justice called out the
name of R. Percy De Laney Blobb; and in response to the call a tall
individual arose and came forward. "I thought I recognized in the
individual in question," continued Mr. Spout, "a person whom I had seen
before, and I was not mistaken. He was wild, and disposed to regale the
assembled company with a numerous collection of songs, which he had at
his tongue's end. His dress was much disarranged.

"The evidence of the officer who had arrested the