The Lambkin and the Meadows.

Manawatu Times, Volume X, Issue 1189, 1 March 1884, Page 2

The Lambkin and the Meadows.

It is autumn now, but it was winter clear and cold, and the snow was finely packed whm Dr Meadows was one of a sleighing party, which he describes, so far as he and the young Widow Lambkin were concerned, m the words following :— The lively widow Lambkin sat m rtn same sleigh, under the same buffalo robe with me. "Oh, oh! don't, dont !" she eXclaimed, as we came to the first bridge, at the same time catching me by the arm, and turning her veiled face toward me, while her little eyes twinkled through the moonlight." "Don't what?" I asked. "I'm not doing anything." " Well, but I thought you were going to take toll," replied Mrs Lambkin. " Toll !" I rejoined ; what's t^at ?' "Well, I declare!" cried the widow, her clear laugh ringing out above the music of the bells, " yon pretend you don't know what toll is!" ' " Indeed I don't then," I said laughing; pray explain, if you please. <■ "You never heard, then," said the widow, most provokingly — " you never heard that when we are on a sleigh ride the gentlemen always— that is sometimes — when they cross a bridge, claim a kiss, and call it toll. But I never pay it." I said that I had never heard of it but when we came to the next bridge I claimed the toll, and the widow's struggles to hold the veil over her face were not enough to tear it. At last the veil was removed, her round rosy face was turned directly towaid mine, and m the clear light of a frosty moon the toll was taken for the first time m his life, by Dr Meadows. Soon we came to a long bridge, with several arches ; the widow said it was no use to resist a man who would have his own way, so she paid the toll without a murmur. But you won't take toll for every arch, will you 1 doctor ? the widow said, so archly, that I could not fail to exacct all my hues, and that was the beginning but never mind the rest. The Lambkin had the Mea« dows all to herself m the spaing.