sames and many hard joke, both sly and open. was passed Offat his expense.
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open. was passed off at his expense.

 A young man, neighbour of his, wish- ing to appear in boots on certain occasion, and having none of his own, went to ask the loan of the parsons. Yes, Joel,' said the gOod-natured man, syou may have the boots; but you must return them soon.'

 'Sauinly,' returned Joel, 'I'll fetch them home right away, us soon as ever I'm done with 'en, and that'll be tomorrow evening, tt nothing happens

 The parSon looked out for his boots on the morrow ; but they did not. come in. It was the same the next day, and the day after, and so on for three weeks. In all that time J0eEaever showed his face, and the bootless parson began to lose all pa- tience; when, ono day meeting the delin- quent with a boot in each hand, he exclaim- ed:

 Well, young man, you're a. pretty fel- low, are you not3'

 Why. 50 tue gals says replied Joel. showing his teeth.

 You forgot to bring home my boots, as yoa promised sr,--4~-> 70 no, didn't forget, Mr. F--; set out the next day evening, to fetch lem home. But just as got agin the road that turns up to Deacon Thompson's-yoI know the Deacon has some plagUy hands some darters-well, jest as I got .dgin the road, yohr boots wouldn't go an inch far- der, and | was obliged to stop and talk along ofthe gals while, till by'm by it got to be so late, thinks ls wont carry them home to-night.' r We'll, what hindered you from bringing them home the next evening? 'Why the next evening I sot out with 'em again, ands with good deal of whippin and spurrin, got 'em past the road that leads to the Deacon's; and now thinks I, I'll get lem along we'll enough. We'll and that turns down 10 Curnal Butrick's; and there, as true as I'm alive, the boots stop- ped agin, and they wouldn't budge steps till I'd gone and talked with Sally Butrick awhile. So I got to be too late agin that evening" But that don't account for the whole three weeks No; but I'll tell you how it was. The very next evening determined the boots should go home, whether or no. So set out to fetch lem away round lots so as not to pass the Deacon's road, nor the Carnal's lane. We'll, this project worked atnazin we'll. Thc two greatest difficulties was got over and now, thinks !, I'll take the high road again but plague the boots, as ! came opposite the widow Smiths, they would stop agin. And so it was, evening arter evening, until this morning. l thought I'd set out in the day time, and see what could do tlieh.'

 Tho parson, vexed as he was, could not help smiling at Joel's account of the perver- sity of his boots, and congratulated him on his success in getting them thus far on their way bohe.

 sWhy, to be sure,' said Joel, I have been rather in luck, in getting by, as it were, the most dangerousest places but had to work pretty hard for il, though it was day time, for the boots would keep tarnal twitching and jerking as came past the Deacon's, and the Curnal's and the Widows. But I took the bits in my teeth, sot my face afore me, and here am. And now, Mir. F., if you'll jest take charge of the boots yourself,' I'll be much obliged to you.'

 70 certainly Joel, and glad to got them so.'

 Joel handed over the boots, and said as he turned about to go back-' I,m very much obliged to you for the use of 'em. MT. EF-; they're capital boots, and fitted me to shaven; but the truth ont is, they have tarnation mack of goin to see the gals.'-N Y. Trans.