A Coutraband League.

A Coutraband League .

*—& K | N the Eastern Division of tho beautiful county of gt | j Kent is situated a pretty and romantic island , g ™ a washed by tho waters of thc North Sea . As long /§> ago as A . D . 830 the Danes visited and scourged this T island for the first time , returning to their ships , but » only to again renew their attack . Theso fiercespirited invaders soou afterwards wintered in the place , and obliged ' tho peaceful and agricultural islanders ,

principally graziers , to furnish them with the required supply oftho island ' s famous mutton and other substantial necessaries which were wanted by them during thoir stay . By way of compliment for such forced generosity , those barbarians retired in the spring , promising to return as soon as possible .

The Danes met their just reward for all this at the hands of tho kings of Kent . Tho habits of the aborigines of the island were of rustic simplicity aud homely conteutedncss , thoir chief vocations being confined to digging and delving , to the growing of corn and tho breeding of sheep . Thoy wore excellent shepherds , and have left their mark in this

respect , which can be traced even among those of the present generation . Thoy lot the Danes invade their island without offering any resistance or opposition , but with tho utmost civility and complaisance accodetl to tho demands mado . Their reward in tho end was peace , and perhaps they , by thoir simple non-defensive policy , had more of this

world s goods loft to them than thoy would have bad if they had fought and conquered . That thoy were not cowards they afterwards proved , but being simple and withal natural philosophers , thought that " prudence was tho bettor part of valour , " inasmuch as thoy wore numerically vastly inferior to tho Danes . It is nofc my purpose to chronicle the rise and

progross mado by tho islanders in tho arts and refinements of civilisation ; that they did progress thuswiso is certain , for their rustic simplicity has very recently disappeared , although tho mutton is as succulent aud as famous as over . What will not the lapse of a few hundred—a thousand—years bring about ?

To modernise this tale wo must rim back in our minds from tho present date to a littlo more than ninety ycarsago . Tho island was dotted by woll-cnltivatod farms and cosy homesteads , villages had sprung up , and just outsido one of these villages , which , being situated on a hill , had au extensive view both land and seaward , was tho smithy , while a little further on , on

tho top of another hill , was a windmill . Between the forgo and mill was a substantially-built farm-house imbedded in a wootl of apple anil plum trees , and having a good stretch of meadow land between it aud tho highroad . A lano led from tho rear of tho house to tho cliffs . Tho man who occupied this house was ostensibly a farmer , and dressed himself as such in knee

brooches , top-boots , and velveteen waistcoat and coat , with a broad-brimmed , slouched hut ; being a person of some reputation ns a traveller , or rather , as tho villagers said , " a man who had been in foreign parts , " his complexion and general appearance warranted tho saying and also his pseudonym of Dark Joe , albeit his namo was Joseph Bowdly .

Now , Dark Joe , Will thc smith , nnd Dick tho miller wore good friends , although the parson and clork , and Tom tho soxton , said thoy had secrets , and kept thorn from the clerical party , or rather to themselves . Scerots ! Why , tho reason of their woll-to-do-noss was a secret . Tho village gossips , male and fomalo , said " their money was not got by hard work . " Tho

harmless cackle of mistaken minds ! No men worked harder than this trio , nnd at thoir respective callings too . Whatever other kind of work was done by thorn to make money must havo been extra to that of their general avocation , anil only went to prove that thoy wero really very hardworking men . That they wero rioh was well known . Dark Joe owned several

freehold farms ; the miller nnd smith had gootl freehold estates , where thoir families lived under very comfortable circumstances . Ono morning Sir . Jones , the excise officer , looked in at tho forgo and spoko quite confidentially to Will , tolling him that " from information received ho hoped to make a good seizure , antl that very day too . "

Will pricked up his ears , drew out of the officer a littlo more news , antl bade him good speed with his expedition . No sooner had Mr . Jones loft tho forgo than Will proceeded to make up the fire and to blow tho hollows , sending volumes of smoke and sparks up and out of the smithy chimney . Whether this was a signal or not cannot exactly bo said , but in a fow

minutes Dark Joe camo to tho forgo and held a whispered conversation with Will . Joo loft , and wont directly to his stables , where ho always kept a good roan horso , which ho saddled and mounted , trotting across tho fields to tho high roatl , aud then he went along towards the East End Coast Guard Station . Afioi' a consultation with tho officer in charge , and a friendly nod or two to tho men on tho look-out , ho

turned his horse round and retraced his way until he camo to a cross road whicli lot ! to the King ' s Ferry . Proceeding dowu this roud ho met M . v . Jouea , the excise officer . Dark Joe reined up and greeted Mr . Jones with " Good morning , officer . " Mr . Jones returned the greeting , and was for { lushing by and going on his way , when Dark Joo adroitly

A Coutraband League.

moved tho horse aud barred his progress , at the same timo , saying , "You aro going the wrong way , officer . " " No , I am not , " replied Mr . Jones . " Oh I yes you are , " said Dark Joo . " Well , I kuow my duty and my road , " retorted Mr . Jones . " Ah ! but , officer , " said Dark Joe , slipping his finger

and thumb into his waistcoat pockot , and bringing forth a guinea , which ho exhibited to tho exciseman , " If you had one of these over each eye , you would not be able to seo anything . " " And if I had one on my tongue , I should not be able to say anything , " replied Mr . Jones . Thc throe guineas were produced , and pocketed by

the officer ; each individual , with tho polite commonplaces of tho timo , bade tho other " good day , " and parted , Mr . Jouos to walk leisurely on to the East End Station , and Dark Joo to trot towards the King ' s Ferry House , his destination . The clericals had got wind that there was going to bo a seizure of contraband spirits . A vessel , very

much like a smart revenue cutter , had been seen in the offing ; evidently there was to be a landing , but whether at Bings's Hole , under tho cliff , or at tho Ferry Hard , was more conjecture . Parson Rollco knew , his clerk knew , aud oven Old Tom the sexton knew that tho brandy thoy drank came duty freo from Calais , and that the hollands they

admired so much camo from Flushing in a most mysterious way . Tho Reverend Jolly Rollee called upon James Jarnell , tho clerk , and told him to go to old Tom Cribwell , the sexton , and bring him along to the parsonage house , where ho would await them . Before long they were seated in thc parson ' s parlour

quite in committee form . The chair was occupied by tho Reverend Rollee , the vice-chair by the clerk , whilst the sexton , as odd man , stood for committee , referee , anil retailer of news . Under theso circumstances the chairman felt , as ho knew he ought lo feci , supreme for he always had the casting vole .

Tho reverend chairman said that their supply of unsophisticated hollands and cognac , which camo as o right from long and continued usage , was in danger of being stopped through tho ferret-like ways nnd keen observations of tho persevering and indefatigable excise officer , Mr . Jones , who was a fresh comer among them , aud ho called upon the clork to call upon the sextou for his

vica voce report on the subject . The vice-chair mildly requested " Old Tom " to state what he knew about thc affair . Tom said " as how he 'ad ' card tho old wimmeu in tho village say that Master Bowdly was a dark un , and that Barstow tho smith , and Spriggs tho miller , was linked with him . If thoy all wasn't smugglers thoy knowed

nothing , that's all ; and now tbey was abont to bo kelchetl , antl no doubt thoy woultl swing for it . " The chairman hoped the news was exaggerated ; in the first place nobody wanted tho supply of ardent spirits stopped . Of course , everybody hail thought that tho secret understanding between Dark Joe , the smith , aud tho miller , meant something illegal , but who

was any tho worse for their proceedings ? Some people wero bettor off . llo should resolve himself into a deputation anil wait upon Mr . Bowdly , just to give him a friendly warning . This was carried new . con . The mooting adjourned sine die . When tho Rovorond Mr . Rollce arrived at Mr . Bewdly ' s house he found this gentleman had just returned from

bis ride

Mr . Bowdly welcomed tho parson , invited him in , and tho two wero soon discussing the topics of tho day over a glass of grog . " Havo a pipe of tobacco , " suggested Mr . Bowdly . Tlio Rovorond Rolleo assented ; the appearance , character , and fragrance of the " weed" indicated that it paid no excise duty . Under tho influence of tho narcotics

his reverence soon felt freo to advance the especial subject of his visit . " Likely to be a seizuremade to-day , " ho said . " A seizure of what , and when , and where ; really what tlo you moan ? " enquired Mr . Bowdly . " I mean that tho excise and the coast guards aro on the track of somo smugglers , " . said tho Rovorond Rolleo .

" Nonsense ! " ejaculated Bowdly , " who put such a thing into your head ? " Tho Reverend Rollee was fain to admit that Old Tom , the sexton , was his authority . "An old woman ' s yarn , " said Bowdly , laughing ; " why , there cannot be any smuggling going on about hero ; tho excise and coast guard are too sharp . I

suppose tho next thing you will havo to tell mo is that I am a smuggler . " The Reverend Rolleo was as candid as his host ; ho said , "Well , I havo heard that you and the miller and the smith aro suspected of being contrabandists ; but this , of course , is only another old woman ' s yarn . Tho purport of my visit to you to-duy is purely a matter of

friendship , namely , to put you on your guard . " " Well done , parson , " saitl Mr . Bowdly ; " so you really think that I um a smuggler , and now am likely to be caught . " " I admit , " saitl tho Reverend Rollee , " that I think some of your acquaintances must bo smugglers , even if you are uot one ; this tobacco and grog speak volumes . "

' Bravo , my friend , exclaimed Bowdly ; " thanks for your appreciation and discrimination ; let mo assure you that 1 am in no danger ; your sermons and prayers may do mo good , but your advice cannot . Don't trouble your head about my affairs , but como and dino with mo to-morrow . " Tho Reverend Jolly Rollee quaffed his grog and took

A Coutraband League.

his leave , feeling that . his visit was not altogether a success . Mr . Bowdly watched his departing guest , rubbed his hands , and smilingly said to himself , " Good man , ifc would be a pity to stop his supply of cognac . What a lot he must think he knows I " Passing through the village tho Reverend Rollee met fche

clerk and sexton ; thoy wore anxious to know the result of his interview with Mr . Bowdly . The only piece of information vouchsafed by tho parson to them was that they were no better than gossiping old women , and that when fchey had found out another inare ' s nest they might let him know . All day the village gossips wore expecting something

to happen , but hour after hour passed away , and yefc no sigus of the expected , aud in some cases hoped for , raid occurred . The miller had been busy superintending his mill ; the smith had mado his anvil merry all day . After nightfall tho miller wended his way to Mr . Bewdly ' s , so did tho smith . The three , seated in the cosy parlour ,

held a very interesting conversation . Dick aud Will wero highly amused at the occasion of the parson ' s visit to ' ! Dark Joe " and its result . Dark Joe went on to say that a " cargo" had been safely beached the night before , and it now remained for distribution . Dick said , " Thc donkeys were ready . "

Will said , " They should have his attention . There was scarcely a farm or well-to-do dwellinghouse on the island but what had a secret receptacle for a kog . Stablo , outhouse , or barn had its hidden keghole . At one place it was under tho manger , at another it was iu thc foundation of a barn , so as to bc nnenssible from the outside as well as within .

The mill , the forge , and Bewdly's house wero free from hiding-places . Tho worthy occupiers of theso p laces had access to a store—their hiding-placo—a cave in the cliffs . To this place the donkeys were driven afc night , shoeless , anil just before loading them with a couple of kegs , pannier fashion , Will would nail on their shoos , but reversed the order of so doing , so thafc in tho

morning any shoe-prints that might bo soon wero always leading to the cliffs , implying that tho animals had not come back . Tho conductors never walked , but always rode . The guinea " specs " ov blinkers answered their purpurpose , and so well that the kindly gift of a fow pairs ,

judiciously distributed now and then , enabled all concerned to live at ease , and to carry on thoir secret trading with much profit , so that many families afc tho present day aro reaping the benefit of the wealth mado by their progenitors who belonged to the Contraband League . J . S .

Christmas Morning.

Christmas Morning .

^ SPARKLING ami white , - | ffifl | In the clear sunlight , r ^ = 3 ® There breaks on our sight ? A dazzling glow ; No meadows so groeu Adorning tho scone ; Nought but the sheen Of the glittering snow

All silent aud still Is the murmuring rill , And the wheel of the mill Hath coasod to go No breath of a brcozo Is felt by the trees , Disturbing tho frieze

Of tho beautiful snow

So bracing tho air , And the scene so fair , Beyond all compare , Our glad spirits flow ; And feelings long pent In song find a vent , And this one wo sent Forth over tho suow : —

THE CAROL . Air , " Porfida Glon "— Cherubim . " Morning victorious Comes forth all glorious , Driving tho shades of night Back by effulgent light , Type of tho Light of Light which hallowed this day

" Hail , holy morning ! Whito thine adorning , Robed by Omnipotence ; Spotless as innocence , Even as the Babe whoso birth wo hail with this day I

" Pcacofulnoss reigning , A silent proclaiming That with tho Saviour's birth ' Peace and goodwill on oarth ' First camo from Ueavon to us on blest Christmas Day

" Hark ! tho bolls ringing Chimes to our singing—Rising in harmony , Swelling the symphony , ,,. ' Peace and goodwill to men' this blest Christmas Day - W . F . V .