Newspaper Page Text
January 17, 1912 ] THE!
ided not to run the risk of losing the guns
and powder by a tardy carrying out of the
compact with "Yankee money bags," as they
designated the officer who had sold his command
for a mess of pottage.
"We'll take up the trail of the fugitives
after the powder is safe," said Colonel Fry,
as they passed the cabin on the trot, ready to
meet their "tool" prompt to the minute. The
next moment the traitor led the way into the
cave, followed by a score of red-coats, and
then the big iron door, once a safeguard against
ItirlldVt f A/50 rl t?Ar\*-*n/I J ' ? ?1 - - *
uuiuu ivto, uiujipcu >v ilh a in Limuu puce,
its strong spring lock snapped and the raiders
inside were prisoners, occupying the identical
place they had intended for Colonel Robinson.
Leaving Abner and big Jim on guard, the
Colonel took Priscilla back to the care of his
good wife, where, after dressing the girl's
badly swollen arm, the big-hearted woman put
her to bed, with instructions to "shut her eyes
and go right off to sleep, like a baby."
Several hours later, after General Dix, in
charge of the captives had started on the inarch
to Newfield, the Colonel came back home,
chuckling over the success of the plot, " Priscilla's
plot," he insisted. "For if the child
hadn't suggested the trick, this old head would
never have figured out such a neat trap nor
how to spring it."
"In fact, you owe your life to the brave
lassie," insisted the Colonel's wife. "Just
think of a child of fifteen riding six long miles
in the face of such a storm as was raging last
night, for no other reason than to save your
life."
"I think that was reason enough for a hu.n
dred such rides, had they been necessary,
argued Priscilla. "Just think what a friend he
has been to both mother and me since dear
father left us."
"Well, you have certainly given me back
'good measure, pressed down and running
over,' my Priscilla," returned the Colonel softly,
"and everybody, even Colonel Fry, is singing
your praise today."
"For simply doing my duty!" exclaimed
Priscilla. "That is all nonsense, but if I have
been of any real service to the patriot cause, 1
am thankful for it, and count this the best and
happiest New Year of my life."?Belle V.
Chisholm, in Western Recorder.
SECOND EDITION.
i
BY ANNA C. WALKER.
Second Edition was a little girl of ten. A
merry, bright, fun-loving child, Helen Blake by
name.
She was called Second Edition simply because
she'so closely resembled her sister, six years her
senior.
The mother said she could not pronounce it
Second Edition Improved, for her eldest daughter
had always been sedate and thoughtful, while
Helen was a real madcap for fun and mischief.
And she was truly afraid that the little girl
would amount to very little in life.
The family grew to calling Helen "Edition"
till it became a habit of the household.
One day the little girl was so late in coming
home from school that her mother cried out in
real alarm, "Where is my Edition?" After
long waiting the subject of her fears rushed into
the house. But what a sight she was?wet, muddy
and bedabbled, eyes glaring and cheeks red!
"What is the matter, Edition?" cried out
the good parent in a tone of vexation.
"Oh, mamma! please don't be angry," im.
plored the child; "I couldn't help getting so wet
and drabbled, for Plorie Nelson fell into the
mill pond and I had such a time getting her
out."
PRESBYTERIAN OF THE SO
"What do you gay, Helen Blakef Explain
yourself," and the mother spoke with less ir
ritation in her tone now.
"Well, mamma, you see, Florie and I were
coming home all right, when we thought we'd
throw stones into the pond, just to see the circles
they make. All of a sudden Florie went too
near and fell into the water. You know it isn't
very deep by the big willows, but it was clear
above Florie's head. Florie struggled around
and then sank down, and if Tommy Moss hadn't
been trying to fish right there I couldn't a got
her out. But together we threw out a long
piece of narrow, thin board that lay on the bank,
and as soon as Florie came up we called to her
to take hold of it and she did. Then Tommie and
me pulled her right to shore. She got fearfully
wet through, and she said her mother'ud scold
her, she knew."
"Why, you dear little Second Edition, that
is more than First Edition ever did. How did
you know enough to pull Florie cut of the
water?" and the mother threw her loving arms
around the excited child.
"Well, mamma, I read about a little girl that
was taken out of the water in that way. I
thought of it quick and asked Tommie to help
me. Did I do right, mamma?" and the little
tired girl threw her head upon her mother's
shoulders and began to sob.
"Don't cry, darling, you did do right, and
you, with Tommie's help, saved Florie's life."
When the other two children of the affair had
confirmed Helen's statement Mrs. Blake, with
her arms clasped right around her youngest
daughter, cried out with pride and joy: "She
is Second Edition Improved. She is truly! She
is my little heroine!"?Ex.
DOROTHY'S SPEECH.
BY MISS MARY DEYO.
The Christmas dinner at Grandmamma's was
over, and all the family seemed bursting with
good cheer and happiness.
Aunt Betty had written dinner cards for each
one, a verse, a rhyme, a joke, a conundrum. All
had been read, over the nuts and raisins, and
it was with much jollity and laughter that they
rose and passed into the old sitting-room, where
a tire burned in the ancestral Franklin, before
which so many of the name of "Webster had
dreamed of the future or mused over the past.
"Now it's the children's turn," said Aunt
Betty; "each one must speak a piece."
Then there were some half-hearted protests
from the youngsters, some urging from the elders,
and Jesse, acred eicht. resnlendenf in hie no?r
blue suit, clambered up into the big mission
chair, made a hasty bow and recited, " 'Twas the
night before Christmas."
A gentle storm of clapping greeted him as he
clambered down. "It wouldn't really seem like
Christmas, unless some child recited that," said
Uncle Will.
"You forgot to make your last bow," said
Aunt Betty, as she passed him the bonbons.
His cousin's success moved little Brud to emulation.
He ran acoss the room and tried his
best to climb into the big chair. At last, he
was lifted up, hot and panting, his merry face
?> TT. ?
duelling ai cvcijr pure. rie wmiuu ior no
formalities, but dashed right in.
"Hey didda. didda, de tat an' de fidda,
De tow dumped ober de moon.
He itta dawd raffed to tee tuch port,
An' de dis' wan away wid de 'poon, 'poon,
'Poon!"
Such a storm of applause greeted this effort
that brdVe Little Brad scrambled down and ran
and hid his head in Mamma's lap.
lUTH (66) 7 I
4'Now, it's Dorothys turn. Come, little
Dumpling."
"Dorothy has a nice new speech. Aunt Betty
wrote it for her." I
"Come, Dorothy, say it for Grandma."
But Dorothy, lifted up into the big chair,
grew suddenly shy; she put her finger in her
mouth, hung her head, and when urged to speak, '!
only shook her head.
"O please, Dorothy, say it for Grandma; d <n't
be afraid."
Aunt Betty came and knelt beside her. "Say
it for Aunt Betty, darling; never mind the
nthnin inof oqv if fn A? ? 1" 1
. ,, juuv ouj ii i.v nuut i?eiuy, as you am
yesterday." I
Still the words did not come, and it looked
as if tears were coming instead.
"When I go over to Grandma's house,"
prompted Aunt Betty; "try, dear, and then I'll
give you a big, big fig."
Thus stimulated, Dorothy forgot her audience,
and, with a sudden burst, began to reel off:
When I do ober to Dramma's house,
My Dramma says, 'Heddo!
Here turns our 'ittle Dorotee,
My! how de chile does drow!'
An' nen she tates me on her rap,
An' astes how's 'ittle bruddar.
An' what's my mamma workin' at.
An' would I lite some shuddar?
When I do ober to Dramma's house,
My Dranpa says,' Heddo!
Where did you turn from, Dorotee?
Dat's what I want to know.'
An' nen he astes if I lite de dawd.
An' where did I det de hat,
An' says he'll show me de 'ittle pida.
An' what do I tink ob dat?
When I do ober to Dramma's house,
My Aunt Wee says, 'Heddo!
You darlin' 'ittle dumplin'!'
An' nen she hugs me so
Dat I can't bweav(, an' says we'll go
To wide dis apternoon.
An' she's made a new dress por my doll
She'll show me pitty soon.
Tin T J- -i? t-V
" ucu x uu ouer xo iramma s nouso,
Aunt Betty says, 'Heddo!'
An' nen she brasses up my hair,
An' nen she ties my bow
An' nen she shows me the 'nary bird.
An' says if IH say ' pease,'
She'll let me tate her picture-book,
But dat I musn't tease.
"I lite to do to Dramma's house,
For each one says, ' Heddo!'
An' dey have nossing else to do,
But sit 'round in a row,
An' watch what I'm tryin' to do,
An' hear me say my speeches;
An' when I've finished sayin' dis.
Somebody U div me peaches "
A soft and tender clappmg of hands followed
f Vlio - -V. ?1 --
u**ju9 ocij/ichit; cuui l, audi piUUUllS 8S U yOH
dear little thing." "Isn't she too sweet," and
she was tenderly lifted down and hugged up
in some one's arms until, the excitement passing,
she remembered the promised fig.
Then presently Grandma said, "Now well all
sing 'When shepherds watched their flocks
hv night,' " and the voices of the children rang
out clear and louder than all the rest.?Christian
Intelligencer.
It is one of the sublime facts of life that we
cannot sincerely endeavor to do a kind act
toward another without thereby becoming richer
and nobler ourselves.