ong breath, "that's cool,--denyin'
his own flesh and blood. Rather stuck up, ain't he?"

"He is, somewhat," said Paul; "if I were you, I shouldn't be disposed to
own him as a relation."

"Darned ef I will!" said Jehoshaphat sturdily; "I have some pride, ef I
am a pedler. Guess I'm as good as he, any day."

XXVII.

MR. MUDGE'S FRIGHT.

Squire Newcome sat in a high-backed chair before the fire with his heels
on the fender. He was engaged in solemnly perusing the leading editorial
in the evening paper, when all at once the table at his side gave a
sudden lurch, the lamp slid into his lap, setting the paper on fire,
and, before the Squire realized his situation, the flames singed his
whiskers, and made his face unpleasantly warm.

"Cre-a-tion!" he exclaimed, jumping briskly to his feet.

The lamp had gone out, so that the cause of the accident remained
involved in mystery. The Squire had little trouble in conjecturing,
however, that Ben was at the bottom of it.

Opening the door hastily, he saw, by the light in the next room, that
young gentleman rising from his knees in the immediate vicinity of the
table.

"Ben-ja-min," said the Squire, sternly,

"What have you been a-doing?"

Ben looked sheepish, but said nothing.

"I repeat, Benjamin, what have you been a-doing?"

"I didn't mean to," said Ben.

"That does not answer my interrogatory. What have you been a-doing?"

"I was chasing the cat," said Ben, "and she got under the table. I
went after her, and somehow it upset. Guess my head might have knocked
against the legs."

"How old are you, Benjamin?"

"Fifteen."

"A boy of fifteen is too old to play with cats. You may retire to your
dormitory."

"It's only seven o'clock, father," said Ben, in dismay.

"Boys that play with cats are young enough to retire at seven," remarked
the Squire, sagaciously.

There was nothing for Ben but to obey.

Accordingly with reluctant steps he went up to his chamber and went
to bed. His active mind, together with the early hour, prevented his
sleeping. Instead, his fertile imagination was employed in devising
some new scheme, in which, of course, fun was to be the object attained.
While he was thinking, one scheme flashed upon him which he at once
pronounced "bully."

"I wish I could do it to-night," he sighed.

"Why can't I?" he thought, after a moment's reflection.

The more he thought of it, the more feasible it seemed, and at length he
decided to a