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250
THE MORNING TIMES, SUNDAY; FE&KUAHY 28, 1897
- -"Vj -v
AARON IH THE WILDWQODS
The Story of a South
ern Swamp
By JOKL CHANDLER IIAItRIS
(Copyright, 1S97, by Joal Cliandlur Harris.)
CHAPTER IV.
(Between Midnight aud Dawn )
When Aaron parted from Chunky Riley
on tlie hill aftei they liad come riom the
Swamp, he vent along the path to the
spring, stooped on liin hands anil knees
and took a Jong draught ot the cool water.
Then he went Ju the rear of the negro
quarters, crossed tLc oiuarU fence, aud
passed thence to the flower garden in
front of the great house. At one corner
of the house a large oak i eared its head
above the second story. Some ot its
limbs when swayed by the vmd swept the
dormer window thai jutted ut froi.i Lit
tle Crotchett's room. Behind the red cur
tain of this dormer window n light .shone,
although it was uov past midnight. It
shone theie ut night whenever Little Crot
clictt was restless and sleepless and vauted
to see Aaron. And this was orten, for
the youngster, with all his acta ity, rarely
knew vliat it was to be fiee from pain.
Bui for Ins journeys lirne. and yniu r od
the Gray Pony he would have been very
unhappy indeed. All day long he could
make some excuse for putting his aches
ftt-ide; he could eea forget them. But at
night, when everything was quiet, pain
would rap at the door aud insist on coming
m and getting in bed with him.
Little Crnichett had many quaiutthoughts
and queer imaginings, and one of -these
was Chat Paia wax a Mire enough some
thing or other that could come in at the
('jr Mild g. out when ii t!i!se a little
goblin dressed in red flannel, villi a.
green hat running to a sharp peak at the
top, and a yellow tassel dangling from
the peak a red flannel goblm always
smelling of camphor and spirits of tur
pentine. Sometimes and these vere rare
nights the red goblm remained away,
and then Little Crotchet t could fleep
and dream the most beautiful dreams.
But usually, as soon as the night had
fallen on the plantation and there vis
no longer any noise in the house, the
little red goblin, villi his peaked green
hat, would open the door gently and peep
in to see vhether the lad was asleep
.aid he knew at a glance whether Little
Crotchett was sleeping or only feigning
sleep. Sometime the youngster vould
hut his eyes ever so tight and lie as
still as a mouse, hoping that the red
goblin vould go away. Bat the trick
never succeeded. The red goblin vas too
smart for that. If there vas a blaze in
the fireplace he vould wink at it very
tsdcmnly; if not, he'd vink at the candle.
And he iieer vas in any hurry. He'd Mt
squat on the floor for many long mo
ments. Sometimes he'd run and jump
in the bed with Little Crotchett and then
jump out again Sometimes he'd pietend
he vas going to jump in the bed, when
suddenly another notion vould strike
him and he'd turn and run out at the
d-jor and not come back again for days.
But tins was unusual. Xtgntiti and night
out. the year round, the red goblm rarely
railed to show himself in Little Crotchett's
loom and crawl under the cover with the
lad. Theie was bjt one person in all that
region whom the red goblin was afraid of,
-itil that was Aaron. But he was an ob
s'inate goblin. Frequently he'd stay after
Aaron came aud try his best to fight it
'Ut with the Son of Ben Ali; but in the
end he wo ild have tog j. Tnere weretimes.
however, when Aaron could not respond
to Little Crotchett's sipial of distress the
light in the dormer window ai.d at such
times the red goblin would have everything
his own way. He would stay till all the
vorld was awake, and then he'd sneak off
to his hiding plac;. lea-ing Li'tlc Crotchett
vcak and exhausted.
Thus i t huppanei that while Chunky Rile v.
vas taki'igau uiiexpec." 1 rid?oi the White
Big. and afterward whiie the three men
were sitting on the pasture fence beyond
the spring, the red goblin was giving Little
Crotchett a good deal of trouble Xo mat
ter which way he turned in bed. the red
goblin vas there. He wa 5 there when Aaron
cinte into the flower garden. He was there
when Aaron stood at, tiie foot oT the great
oak at the comer of the house. He vas
there when Aaron put forth his hand, felt
for and found one of the iron spikes that
had been driven into the body of the oak.
The red goblin vas In bed with Little
Crotchett and tugging at his back and legs
when Aaion pulled himself upward by
means of the iron spike; vhen he found
iiuother spike; when, standing on aud hold
ing to these spikes, he walked up the trunk
of the tree as if it were a ladder, and vhen
be vent into Little Crotchett's room, by
vny of the dormer window. The real name
of the red goblin with the red hat was
rain, as ve know, and he was very busy
vith Little Crotchett this night, and
though the lad had fallen into a doze,
he vas moving restlessly about when Aaron
entered the room. The Son ot Ben AH
btepped to the low bed. and knelt by It,
placing his hand that; the night winds had
cooled on little Crotchett's brov. touch
ing it with firm but gentle strokes. The
lad awoke with a start, saw that Aaron
vas near, and then closed bis eyes agaiu.
"It's a long vay for you to come." he
E.ud. "There's a lot of things for you in
the basket there."
"If tvice as long it would be short for
me,' replied Aaron Then, still stroking
Liule Crotchett's brow with one hand,
and gently lubblng his body vith the
other, the son of Ben All told of Chunky
Riley's ride on the "White rig. "With
his ejes closed the hid could see the
whole performance, and he laughed with
to much heartiness that Aaron laughed
in sympathy. ThU vas such a rare event
tli.tt Little Crotchett opened his eyes to
see It, but he soon closed them again,
101 jiov he felt that the red goblin was
pieparing to go.
'I sent Chunky Riley," said Little Crotch
ett, after a vhile, "They're after you
toroorrov Jim Simmons and his hounds.
And he has a catch dog vith him. I
is.iv the dog today. He's named Pluto.
He's big and black, and bob-tailed, and
bis ears have been cropped. Oh, I'm
afraid they'll get you this time, Aaron.
"Why not stay here vith me tomorrow
end the next day?"
"Here?" There vas a note of surprise
in Aaron's voice.
"Yes. "What's to hinder you? I can keep
everybody out of the room, except"
"Except somebody," said Aaron, smil
ing. "Xo, no! The "White-Haired Master
Is a good man. Good to all. He'd shake
his head and say, 'Runaway hiding in my
house! That's bad, bad!' Xo, Little Mas
ter, they'll not get Aaron. Tou sleep.
Tomorrov night I'll come. My clothes
vill be ripped and snagged. Have me
a big needle and some coarse thread. I'll
mend 'em here, and while I'm mending I
may tell a tale. I don't know. Maybe.
Tou sleep."
Aaron vas no mesmerist, but somehow,
the red goblin being gone, little Crotchett
vas soon in the land of dreams. Aaron
remained by the bed to make sure the 6leep
vas sound, then he rose, tuckerf the cover
about the lad's shoulders (for the morn
ing air vas cool),blew out the candle,
v ent out on the roof, closing the vindov
sash after him, and in a moment vas stand
ing in the flover garden. There he found
Jtarabler, the track dog. awaiting him,
and together they passed out into the lot
and vent by the spring, vhcre Aarou
stooped and took another draught-of the
cool, refreshing vatcr.
All this time the three men 'had been
sitting on the pasture fence at the point
vhere ir intersected the path leading from
the spring, aud they vere sitting there
still. As Aaron started along this path,
after leaving the spring. Rambler trotted
on before, and his keen nose soon detected
the presence or strangers. With a whine
that vas more than half a whistle ,
Rambler gave Aaron the signal to stop,
and then vent tovard the fence. The
situation became clear to him at once, and
it vas then that Chunky Riley and the
three men had heard him bark. They
called it barking, but It was a message to
Aaron, saying:
"Lookout! Lookout! Son of Ben Ali,
look sharp! I tee three Grizzlies two,
and another."
There was nothing alarming in the situ
ation. In fact, .aron might have gone
within hailing f'istance or the three men
without discovery, for the spring lot
was veil wooded. If Mr. Addison Aber
crombic had any peculiarity it was his
fondness for trees. He could rind some
thing to admire in the crcokedesb .shrub
oak and in the scraggiest elm. He not
only allowed the trees in the spring lot
to stand, but planted others. "Where
Aaron stooJ a clump of black jacks cover
ing a quarter of an acre had sprung up
some years before. They were now well
grown saplings and stood as close together,
according to the saying" of the negroes, as
hairs on a hogV tack. Through these
Aaron slowly edged his way, moving very
carefully, until he reached a point close
enough to tlie three men to see and hc.tr
What was going on.
Standing 111 the Mack shadow of these
saplings, he made an important discovery.
Chunky Riley, it will be remembered.
Aonui and
suspected that the two Gosetts and Mr.
Simmons were intent on capturing Aaron;
but this was far from their purpose. They
had no such Idea. While Aaron stood
listeuing, watching, he saw a tall shadow
steal along the path. He heard the swish
of a dress and knew it vas a voiunn.
The shadow stole along the path until
it came to the three men on the fence
and then it stopped.
"Well?" said Mr. Gor-Sett, sharply.
"What did you see? Where did the nigger
go? Don't stand there like you arc deaf
aud dumb. Talk out!"
"I seed him come fum de spring, Marster,
an' go up by de nigger cabins. But atter
dat 1 ain't lay eyes on im."
"Did he go into the cabins?''
"1 Hs'n at eve'y one, Marster, an' f ain't
hear no talkin' in but one."
"Was he in that one?"
"Ef he wuz, Marster, he va'nt savin'
nothin. Big Sal was talkin' vid ilan
dall, suh."
"What were they talking about?"
"All de woids I hear uni say vuz "bout
der Little Marster how good he is an'
how he all de time thinkm' mo' 'bout
yuthcr folks dan he do 'bout his own se'f."
"Humph!" snorted' Mr. Gossett. Mr.
Simmons moved about uneasily.
"Whyn't you go 'in an see whether
Aarou was in there?" asked George
Gossett.
"Release, Marse George, dey'd 'a' know'd
right pine-blank what I come fur. 'Sides
dat, Big Sal is a mighty bad nigger 'oiuan
when she git mad."
"You'ic as big as she is," suggested Mr.
Gossett.
"Yes, sir; but I ain't got de ambition
what Big Sal got," replied the vomau
humbly.
"I tell you, Simmons, that runaway
nigger is the imp ot Satan," remarked Mr.
Gossett.
"But, Colonel.lt he's that, what do you
want him caught for?" inquired Mr.
Simmons, humoiously.
"Why, so much the more need for catch
ing him. I want to get my hands on him.
It I don't convert him, why, then, you
may go about among your friends and say
that Gossett is a poor missionary. You
may say that and welcome."
"I believe you!" echoed George.
"You may go home, now,'' said Mr.
Gossett to the woman.
"Thanky, Marster." She paused a mo
ment to wipe her face with her apron, and
then climbed over the fence and went to
ward the Gossett plantation.
Aaron slipped away from the nlghbor
hood of the three men, crossed the fence
near where Chunky Riley had been stand
ing, went swiftly through the pasture for
half a mile, struck into the plantation path
a hundred yards ahead of the woman, and
then came back along the path to meet
her. "When he saw her coming he stopped,
turned his back to her, and stood motion
less in tlie path. The woman was talking
to herself when she came up. but when
she saw Aaron she hesitated, advanced a
step, and then stood still, breathing hard
All her superstitious fears vere aroused.
"Who is you? Who is dat? Name er de
Lord'. Can't you talk? Don't be foolin'
wid me! Man. who Is you?"
"One!" replied Aaron. The sound of a
human voice reassured her somewhat, but
her knees shook si she could hardly stand.
"What your name?" she added.
"Too long a name to tell, you."
"What you doin'?"
"Watching a child looking hard at It."
"Wuz you, sho nuff?". She came a step
nearer. "How come any chll out dis time
or night?''
"A black child," Aaron went on. "Its
dress was afire. It wentnp and down the
path here. It went across trie hill. Crying
and callingcalling and crying: "Aaron!
Aaron! Mammy's hunting for you! Aaron!
Aaron! Mammy's telling on you.' "
"My Lord from heaven," moaned the
woman; "dat vuz my chll' de one vhat
got burnt up kase 1 vuz off in de riel'.''
She threw her apron over her bead, fell
on her knees and moaned and .shuddered.
"Well, I'm Aaron. You hunted for me
In the nigger cabins; you slipped to the
fence yonder; you told three men you
couldn't find me.''
"Oh, Loid, 1 vuz bleeged ter do it. It
i vuz dat er take ter de "Woods, an' deyaln't
no place fer me In de woods. "What'd I
do out dar by inese'f at night. 1 knpw'd
dey couldn't cotch you. Oh, dat wuz my
chll'.''
"Stand up," Aaron commanded.
"What yer gwine ter do?" the woman
asked, slowly Using to her feet and holding
heiself ready to dodge an expected blow;
for, as she herself said, she was not at all
"ambitious."
"Your breakfast Is ready and I've
been waiting here to give it to you.
Hold your apron."
The woman did as she vas told, and
Aaron took rrom the basket which Little
Crotchett had given him four biscuits
and as many sllcas of hum.
"I'll take urn, and thanky. too,'' said
the woman; "but hungry as I is, I don't
b'lleve 1 kin eat a mou'ful un uni utter
what I done. I'm too mean ter live.''
"Get home. Get home and foigetit,"
Aaron replied.
"Oh, 1 can't go throo dem woods atter
vhat you tol' me,'' cried the woman.
"I'll go with you," said Aaron. "Come.''
"You!" The woman lined her voice
until it sounded shrill on tlie moist air of
the morning. "You gwine dar to Gos
sett's? Don't you know dey er gwir.e
ter hunt you in de mornln'? Don't you
know dey got de dogs dar? Don't you
know some er der nlggers'll see you an'
maybe de overseer? Don't you know
you can't get away fum dem dogs ter
save yo' life?"
"Come," said Aaron, sharply. "It's
late."
"Min' now. Ef dey catch you. Hain't
me dat done it," the woman insisted.
"Come, I must be getting along," was
Aaron's reply.
He went forward along the path, and
though he seemed to be walking easily,
the woman had as much as she could do
to keep near him. Though his body
Little Croehett.
swayed slightly from side to side, he
seemed to he gliding along, rather than
walking. Ahead of him, sometimes near,
sometimes far, and frequently out of sight,
a dark shadow moved and riitted. It
was Rambler goingin a canter. A hare
Jumped from behind a tussock and went
skipping away. Jt was a templing chal
lenge, but Rambler hardly glanced at
him. "Good-by, Mr. Rabbit. I'll see
you anotlier day.'
Thus Aaron, the woman and Rambler
went to Gossett's.
"Man, ain't you tired?" the woman
asked, when they came in sight of the
negro quarters.
"Me?" T'll go twenty miles before sun
up," replied Aaron.
"I never tell on you no mo'," said the
woman; "not ef dey kills me." She
turned to go to her cabin, when Aaron
touehod her on the shoulder.
"Wait!" he whispered. "If it brings
more meat for your young ones, tell!
Fetch the men here; show 'em where I
stood if it brings you more meat for
your babies."
"Sho' 'miff?" asked the woman, amazed.
Aaron nodded his head. "What kind or
folks is you?" she cried. "You ain't no
nigger. Bey ain't no nigger on top er de
ground dat'd stan up dar an' talk dat
away. "Will dey ketch you of 1 tell.'"
The voman was thinking about the meat
Aaron lifted his right hand in the air.
turned and disappeared in the darkness,
which was now changing to the gray of
dawn. 'I he woman remained where she
vas standing for some moments as if
considering some serious problem. Then
she shook her head.
"I'd git de meat but dey mout ketch
'im, an' den vhat'd I look like?"
This remark seemed to please her, for she
repeated it more than once before moving
out of her tracks. When she did move
she vent to her cabin, kindled a fire,
cooked something for her children she
had three placed a biscuit and a piece
of ham for each, and, although she had
not slept a vlnk, prepared to go to the
field. It vas almost time, too, for she
heard the hog feeder in the horse lot talk
ing angrily to the mules as he parceled
out their corn and forage. Presently she
heard him calling the hog3 to get a. bite
of corn the fattening hogs that vere
running about in the horse lot.
Soon, too, she heard the sharp voice of
Mr. Gossett. her master, calling to the hog
feeder. Andyoj may be sure the man vent
us fast as his legs vould carry him. Get
out of the vay. dog, chickens, wheel
barrows, woodpile, everything, and let the
negro run to his master! Had he seen the
horses? 0. yes, .Marster, that he had ! They
vere standing at the lot gate and they
vickcred and whlnned so that he
vas obliged to go aud sec what
the trouble vas. And there
vere the horses, Mr. Simmons'
among the rest. Yes, Marster, and the hog
feeder was Juston thepointof alarmingthe
neighborhood, thinking somethiug serious
had happened, when the thought came to
his mind that the horses had grown tired
of waiting and had broken loose from their
fastenings.
0, yes, Marster, they would do that way
sometimes. because horses have a heap of
sense, especially Marster's hones. When
one broke loose the others wanted to folio w
him, and then they broke loose, too. And
they vere fed eating right now. and all
fixed up. Saddle 'em by sun up? Yes,
Marster, and before that If you want 'em,
for they've already had a right smait
smack of corn and good clean fodder.
As for Aaron he had far to go. He had
no fear of Mr. Gossett's hounds. Hut he
knew he vould have some difficulty in
getting away from those that Mr. Simmons
had trained. If lie could outmaneuver
them, that would be the bestplan. If not
well, he vould make a stand in theswamp.
But there was the crop-eared, bob-tailed
cur the catch dog-that was the trouble.
Aaron knew, too, that Mr. Simmons vas
a professional negro hunter, and that he
naturally took some degree of pride in it.
Being a professional, with a keen desire
to be regarded as an expert, it was to be
supposed that Mr. Simmons had made a
study of the tactics of fugitive negroes.
As a mattex of fact, Mr. Simmons was
a very shrewd man. He vas also, i n spite
of his calling, a Tory kind-hearted man.
Inhissoullie despised Mr. Gossett, whose
negroes'were constantly in the voods, and
loved and admired Aduison Abercrombie,
whose negroes i.e,er ran away, and who,
if every slave on his plantation were a
fugitive, would never call in Mr. Simmons
to catch them.
Aaron was far afield when, aB the sun
rose, Mr. Gossett's hog feeder called the
house girl and asked-her to tell Mr. Gos
sett that the horses were saddled and ready
at the front gate. Then Mr. Simmons'
dogs, which had beeri shut up in the car
riage notice, were turned out and fed. The
hounds were given half-cooked cornmeal,
but the catch dog, Pluto, must needs have
a piece of raw meat, which he swallowed
at one gulp. This done, Mr. Simmons blew
one shon,, sharp note on his hoin and the
hunt for Anion began.
(To be continued.)
WOMEN AND BUSINESS
A prominent English review wants to
know why an Englishman always doubts
when drawing up his will whether ltlssafe
toleavehlswifeinthepo'itionofexccutoror
trustee; why lawyers proclaim vith one
voice that, save in exceptional cases, no
property is safe which is trusted to the un
checked control or a woman; and why the
absence of women from all positions of
great financial responsibility is conspicuous.
Englishwomen of the new order rush to
the defense of their sex, and declare the
reason to be that woman has not been
tralnciln the ways of business and finance;
that while the boy Is brought up In famil
iarity with bondsand coupons, interest and
investments, the girl has Leen reared In
what bus been considered "seemly femi
nine ignorance" of such sordid details.
"The shadow of the harem," it is
said, still rests upon the woman of today.
"The creature vho ror centuries had her
thinkingdone for her, who has been hedged
a boutwithvarpingconventioiis and trained
to lean upon the nearest manly shoulder,
whose matured intellect was' directed
upon the uiiagitnting details of house
wifery, can haidly be expected suddenly
to develop the shrewd penetration, the
keen foresight and the cool self-reliance
of the energetic 'piomoter.' "
An American writing on the same sub
ject takes a much more rose-colored view
of woman's business ability than the one
vhich, it would appear, prevails in Eng
land. He sajs. "There is no computing
how many dollars It would be in the
pocket or the average man if lie would
show just a l h) ut twice as much deference
to his wife's judgment as he docs. Many
shrewd men understand this fact, and
more than one successful man is in the
habltof meeting a new business proposition
with the remark. 'I'll ask my wire.' "
"If some of the superabundant confi
dence of mo&t men in their own exclusive
capacity to manage affairs could be trans
ferred to their wives and mothers there
would be fewer business failures and more
evenly-balanced family burdeus."
SOME LATE NEW THINGS
A newly designed carpet or rugbeaterid
formed of a zigzag wire loop, the ends of
which are fastened in a wocden handle.
A new pocket cuiefor use in writing has
a holder Tor pen and pencil, a bottle or ink
and a pouch fur holding poMuge stumps.
One of Edison's latest patents is a two
pointed receiver for the phonograph, which
will give two records at once from the same
cylinder.
Chair bottoms nre braced in the center by
means of a metal btidge fastened to the
edges of the chair bottom and pressing up
ward on the seat.
To promote combustion in furnaces a dou
ble set of fans, one larger than the other,
arc set In an air shaft, exhaust steam act
ing on the smaller sot to run the larger, or
air fans.
Artificial straws for use in drinking are
now made of a mixture of chewing gum,
flour, glucose, grain sugar and starch, and
are flexible enough so they will bend with
out breaking.
NoKelos bicycle chains are made by cov
ering the linkb with rawhide, which is fas
tened to each link by wrapping around It
and lapping the ends under a small bolt to
hold them fast.
To prevent chatelaine hooks from slipping
off the selt, a snap-button is formed in a
flap fastened to the hook, the eye being
placed in the back side of the strap, and
the knob fastened to the flap.
For use in fasteningkeys andcoverlng the
keyhole a flat plate slotted at one end lsat
tached to the door below the lock so as to
slide up over thekeyhole. theslotfittlngover
the flat shank of th ekey.
Globulur matches Tor use is an auton atic
cigar-lighter aie little balls of sulphur and
phosphorus, thslighterseizlngoneundignlt
ing it when a lever is pressed, an ejector
removing the waste portion after use.
Cheered the Baby Carriage.
"I saw MrCIeveland'sfirstload of house
hold goods come into the Presidential
mansion," writes Maude Carpenter. "It
was on the day that he was inaugurated,
ne had been sworn in at the Capitol, but
had not yetcome to the White House to take
hisplaccouthegrandstandthcieandreview
the profession. Theie was a big ciowd
waiting alout the White House to fee him,
when an express wagon drove up, aud, with
the assistance of a policeman, passed
thiough. This wagon was piled 1 igh witli
trunks and boxes, and upon the lop of it
was a bright, new baby cairiage. Bow
thecrowd cheered when they saw it! They
towed down at once to Baby Ruth, even
as they had been towing down to Baby
McKee for the past four years. It was
the strongest evidence I had yet seen that
Harrison as a President was dead and
Cleveland, the now President, alive."
Mrs. Burnett to Hoys.
Mrs. Frances Hodgson Burnett was ap
pealed to in a case, where a gentle little i
mother was much perplexed about her ten-year-old.
The boy was trying to get good
marksiu his classes, and the youngster who
sat behind him pinched and pulled and Jos
tled him so that he couldn't possibly think
or work. What was to be done? Was he to
be a tell tale? Somehow or other boy na
ture revolts against this. This is what I he
little lady of "Fauutleroy" fame said
about it:
"Well. I think if that had been my son
I should tsll him to take that boy one side
after school and say to him fairly and
squarely. 'Now, I want good marks. You
don't. Hut I do. and I am going to have
them, and If you don't quit bothering me
I shall hit you in the eye, and I shall hit
you hard.' And then I should advise him
to make his words good at the very next
offense."
Boeing to Malte $100,000.
There are two operatorsinstocksin Wash
ington. Mr. Whits and K. K. Kennedy, who
are apparently running a race to sec which
will make $100,000 first. Both of these
gentlemen have been tremendously success
ful during the last six mouths. Mr. White
has been on the right side almost always.
Wr. Kcnncdyhasnowin his poascssion some
sixty or seventy thousand dollars which he
has acquired from a $15 stake in the last
six months. He is in the habit of carrying
510,000 around with him in his vest pocket
for small change, cigars, drinks and the
matters of every-day expenditure. The
other SG0.000 was salted away and it is
1 added to every week.
The Story of a
Dog in tlie Snow
BY MAY BELLEVILLE BROWN.
(Copyright, 1897, by S. S. McClure Co.)
There were four of us, all born on our
Kansas farm. I was the oldest, and ct
that time was twelve years old, Susie
was ten, Dan was eight, and Lincoln five.
Mother had not visited her old home, in
Pennsylvania, since I was a baby, so, that
she might spend a wluter there, father's
sister, Calista, had come West to mother
us. Mother had been gone two days vhen
c nnel."
the stage from the nearest railroad town,
thirty miles away, had brought out aunt.
We found her to be a maiden lady of
some forty odd, with glistening spectacles,
a kind-hearted face, but a primness about
her mouth that told of prim Ideas and
ways. She found us a disconsolate little
brood, missing our mother for the first
time In our lives, hovered drearilyaboutthe
fire in our comfortable living-room, in the
gathering dusk, consoling ourselves with
Jack, as he was the only cheerful and
sympathetic one of the party. She gave
us a motherly greeting that wormed our
hearts, but when we dragged Jack forward
to share the caresses he was turned away.
She might as well have thrown cold water
over our little group, as to have shut
Jack out from her heart.
He was "only a dog," as she said, and,
it must be confessed, not a pretty one.
Xonc of your glossy Scotch collie, nor
curly black Newfoundland, nor tawny St.
Bernard, out Just plain, mongrel, yellow
dog. with stubby hair that raised itself
in a lidge along his backbone, from ears to
tall, ir anything threatened one of us, the
while he would growl deep in his throat,
with a side wise glanea of his eyes, butvith
the kindest and most raithiul heart that
a dog ever had.
We children grouped ourselves behind
the stove, discontentedly. We had no heart
for picture books or popcorn that uight.
for, instead of being in our mld.se, Jack
was exiled to the dark and cold. And
after we went to bed our whispered in
dignation was not;. I fear, very respectfully
expressed.
Aunt Calista was one of the kindest of
foster mothers, though her rule was a
little more strict than that to which we
had been accustomed. Our comfort was
carefully looked after, and various ginger
bread men and doughnut horses, to say
nothing of mince and apple turnovers, that
were tucked into our pockets or dinner
baskets, weie proor that she thought of
childish tastes. Our play hours were cur
tailed a little, our tasks a trifle prolonged,
but that was no hardship to healthy chil
dren. We would have growu to love her
dearly had it not been for her- altitude
toward Jack. For him there was no more
evening naps beside the fire, no subdued
rough-and-tumbles with Link over the
carpet, no waiting at the back door, with
impatient whinings and scratchings.
"Your father needs a watch dog, no
doubt," she would say to us, "but uot
a house dog. He has a warm kennel, and
j 011 can carry his meals to the barn for
him, so there is no need of having him
about the house. And you are not to
spend your time romping with him, either.
It is rough on your clothes, as well as your
manners."
Several times Jack came pleadingly to
the back door, but furtlly one day Aunt
Calista threatened him with the broom
stick, aud after that he did not come
again. This indignity to Jack so wounded
Link's feelings that he disappeared en
tirely after supper, and only after a fiantic
seaich did we find him, in the keiinel,
cuddled down with the dog for a pillow,
and with tearstalns on his round cheeks.
Aunt Calista was used to thecold winters
"I Remember Locking Aly
of Michigan, and professed herself stricken
with wonder and delight at our Kansas
weather, as the weeks passed by, with only
an occasional hard freeze.
"You Kansans don't know what you
have to be grateful for, Aleck," she said
to father one day. "You don't have any
winter at all."
Father smiled as he replied:
"Never mind, Calista; we'll give you a
taste of winter by and by that will
make you think a Michigan winter is
Italy."
dun nfii'mnnu whfin fnf,hfr broinrlit
stay in tlie house, but he said no more,
for fear of frightening aunt. Almost be
fore father was back at the barn the air
grew thicker and great flakes of snow
began to fall and drift, I had seen him
take the clothesline from the back porch
as he vent out, and I knew he intended
to fasten it to the veil curb at the cor
ner of the house, for a guide when ne
came back. He vas gone a long time,
for he had a great deal of vork to do
before all the stock could be protected
from the storm. Suddenly Aunt Calista
remembered that his heavy comforter
vas folded away in the press In ihe
vail.
"There, children," she exclaimed, bring
ing it out, "that careless father of yours
Is out in all this storm vithout a thing
tied around his neck. He'll catch cold,
" '"
"We Found III 111 in tli
sure, and we'll have him in bed. You
stay here and I'll run to the barn with
it. I'll be back in a minute "
"O, Aunt Calista, don't!" I called after
her, but she had opened the door and
stepped, out The light streamed Tor a
moment across tlie porch, so she had no
chance to see how thick the air vas
until she was lost in It. I stood in the
door and culled after her for a moment,
but the wind seemed the tear my voice
away before It was six inches from my
lip". Then a great gust rushed past me,
.slamming tlie door against the inner wall
and blowing out the light, so that I vas
glad enough to be able to creep back into
the house. It took all my strength to
shut the door against the wind, and try
that time Susie and Han and link were
crying with terror, and I tell you I felt
like It myseir, as I groped about in the
dark for a match.
I was alone in the house with the chil
dren, I was afraid father was lost In the
storm. I was sure AUnt Calista was, and
that she would likely be frozen to death,
as she had only thrown a light shoulder
shawl over her h?ad. I knew enough about
bli7zaids to know that there is not much
chance for any one out in one alone. I
quieted the children as well as I could,
and then vhen the viud didn't seem to
blow so hard on that side of the house,
opened the door, and, closing it quickly
arter me, stood outside. Holding to the
outside storm door, I called and called,
again and again, but my, I could scarcely
hear my own voice, so I came in, and ve
huddled dovn, miserably frightened, to
vait.
It seemed hours that ve heard only
the rattling of the wind. Then there was
a stamping on the porch, and father opened
the door, out of breath, and white with
powdery suow.
"Where's auntie?" he asked, looking
vonuerimrly at us.
"0, father!" I exclaimed, breathlessly,
"she took your comforter out to you.
Before I could stop her she opened the
door and ran out, and that was long ago,
and I've called and called, and the wind
blew my voice away, and and "
Here I broke down and commenced to
cry Tor the first time. Father stood per
fectly still Tor a muuient, and though the
wind had reddened his cheeks, his race
turned white.
"My God!"
That was all he said, and we never had
heard him say it before, so we knew he
felt dreadrully. Then ho began to act.
Getting his lantern and a wrap, and a
bottle or brandy, and telling me to have
hot water and blankets ready when he
came back, though I knew by the sound
of Ms voice that he was hopeless, he went
out to explore the yard as far as his
rope would reach. The Iignc of his lan
tern could only be seen a few minutes,
and we were alone again.
He went over every step of the vard.
and then spliced his rope, and went farther
out, but it did no good. He couldn't drop
the rope, ror then he, too, would be lost,
and perhaps ic would all perish.
After a long time he came to the door
again. I never saw any 01c look so terrible
as he did when I met him at the door.
He seemed ten years older than vhen he
started out.
"Lida." he began, brokenly, when there
cams a sudden little lull in the wind, and
we heard a faint sound that was not of the
storm. It was a dog's high-keyed, long
drawn howl, aud, though It was in the
opposite direction rrom Jack's kennel,
we both knew it was Jack.
Father took the rope and hurried as best
he could in the direction of the sound. A
lull came while he was on his way, and he
shouted to Jack, who answercd"Row row
row-w-w-w!" with a joyful howl. He
went to the end of his rope and called
again, and again Jack answered, right be
side him He hrd to reach as far as he
could to touch the dog and hold the rope,
loo.
Aunt Calista lay, almost unconscious,
en the ground beside the dog, with her
hand tight in his cellar. Father loosened
her hold, and picking her up, started
Tor the bouse, Jack following. It vas
hard work to carry her and take in the
rope, too, and be was almost exhausted
by the lime lie reached the door. There
Jock, in memory of sundry rebuffs, started
to slink away, but father called him in,
and even Aunt Calista feebly motioned
her liand to have him come.
Such a busy, joyful time as we had
over the rescued and the rescuers. And
no one was happier than Jack, and be
wriggled himself about the room, in every
one's way, but not scolded. Aunt Calista
soon recovered from her numbness, for,
though it had seemed hour- to us, she
hart really been out but a short time and
had kept moving, and then she (old us
her story.
Jack had been sitting in front of her
as she talked, listening attentively, with
his head on one side, and when she had
finr-hci she leaned forward, took his
he mely yellow head in her hands aud
ki'.'-ed him between his honest, brown
eves.
Fingers in His Collar."
"Jack," said she, "if you will only for
give me for my crossness and let us be
Trietids, it shall be for always, you dear,
good dog."
And Jack told her, by wagging his tail
and licking her hands, that he accepted
the apology in the spirit in which it was
gl-cn.
Couldn't Phnse Frank Untton.
While the late Frank Hntton was Post
master General an exchange draft for
some $20,000 needed his signature. He
was not at the Department; neither was he
at his home. But old Sol, the messenger,"
knew where he was, although no amount
of coaxing could make him divulge his
seciet. He offered, however, to take
anything to the Postmaster General that
was absolutely necessary. Seeing that
the case was hopeless, they gave the draft
to the messenger, who took it to the place
The game had been pretty stiff, and the
chips weie piled in a miniature mountain.
The Postmaster General signed the $20,
000 draft, then tossing it carelessly on the
table.Iaughlngly said:
"Play to that, gentlemen."
The laugh died out, and the game vent
on, and ended, but the lefreshing incident
remained as characteristic of the nan
vhose good fellowship crowded out all
supeifluous conventionality.
I Scheme of a D;af and Near- t
Sighted New Yorker Who
Likes the Theater.
t &
A combination opera glass and tele
phone designed to help the deaf to bear
as veil as the short-sigted to see stage
performances the better has been devised
byanafflirtedXew Yorker for hiownuse.
Inappearance the new contrivance is much
like any other opera glass, the chief
difference being that to each of the barrels
is attached a flexible tube that may be
fitted In the ears when the glasses are
held to the eyes. Just tiack of the large
lenses there are a number of small holes,
through which the sound is conveyed to
collectors forming a diaphragm. This
diaphragm receives and conveys the sound
to a second set of collectors at the back
of the barrels, where it is. caught againand
conveyed through the tubes to the car
drums.
By a clever device the holes In the bar
rels arc so constructed as to shut out all
sounds excepting those coming from the
direction of the stage, thus making it
practically Impossible for the user to hear
anything excepting that widen he has a
desire to hear. In other vords, he cannot
be annoyed by the comments of any fol
low spectator or auditor vho has "seen
and heard it all before," by the rcoiarka
of the fair members of the audience upon
the govns of their friends, or by the criti
cisms of the dead-heads.
The investor Is well-to-do, and has no
intention ot placing his contrivance on
the market, as, for various reasons, the
expense of construction is so great as to
place it beyond the reach ot any one who
has not plenty of money to spend. Ee
has had one made for himself, however,
which he seems to enjoy greatly, and naa
presented a rev to his friends.
One of the latter, on reception of his
gift, said that it must have been such an
instrumentthat wasreferrei to by a Scotch
man, who declared t f t a spy-glass whieb
he used brought a church ten miles away
so near to him one Sunday morning that
he could not only see a riyon the minister's
nose, but could hear the sermon vita per
fect distinctness.
Hints for Tones: Mothers.
When preparing an outfit for an infant,
provide the softest and finest materials
your means will permit. One should stop
to consider bow soft and tender the skfn
of the infant is in its early days.
Embroideries should never be selected for
trimming the necks of dresses and night
gowns. Lace is much daintier, and while
less expensive than embroideries, it gives
a richer appearance -to tlie Httle ward
robe. For night wear, flannels should have
an admixture ot cotton. This prevents
shrinking. The day skirts may alo be
made of CGttun and wool flannel, but silk
and wool makes a much handsomer skirc
and will last for years. A good quality
ot silk and vool flannel may be bad far SO
cents a yard.
Do not provide rubber shields; those
made of quilted cambric are much more
cleanly and better for the rbiKl In every
way.
The dresses should be one yard long
when finished. A deep hem Is the moss
popular finish at the present time, and
Is far more sensible than a ruffle of
embroidery. The little dresses are far
more easily laundered and the extra
expense may be added to the quality of
the material.
Fashion's Foibles.
Red is tlie coming color. There is a
pink shade of red, artistically soft and
pretty. All the tones of purple are seen
in spring goods, and navy blue, gray, pale
green and pale blue In combination with
white predominate in dimities, organdies
and the fashionable foulards.
Black gowns vill be much in favor
this season The old-fasmoned larege
vill be made in colored silks, and gives a
touch of gayety to an otherwise somber
to.let.
The all-wool or silk-and-vool canvaa
vill be much in vogue for early summer
street gowns. They aie voveii in checks
and in various small patterns witb two
colors, such as blue and white and green
and ecru the latter a very stylish com
bination. Bioken checks seem to predominate in
the new spring goods, while cheviots,
Scotch tweeds and smooth-faced cloths
come in hair-line stripes and mixtures of
all Eorts.
A pretty costume seen a day or two ago
on Walnut street was a veritable study in
browns the color matching the wearer's
hair and eyes. A Norfolk jacket of brown
velvet, belted vith a narrow gold chain
girdle, vas vorn over a perfectly plain
skirt of brovn and white-checked tweed.
A small much-detailed collarette, a muff of
sablcanda flat English wnlkinghnttrimmed
with brown pheasants breasts completed,
thisstylish costume.
Iuiiortnniui; Mr. IVaanmnker.
Xo man in public ofrice ever received a
greater number of original letters than
John Wnnarnaker. The following wasfrom
a pomnstcr living in a small town in
South Carolina:
. "I understand that yo'i are a philanthro
pist, as well as a shrewd business man. I
am postmaster here, and want to be reap
pointed. I can't, however, fill the place
unless you send me a pair of pants. The
pair I have on have been holf-soled so
often they can't be re-soled any more.
"In my Intervals of leisimj which la
about all the time I sit in front of the
office on top ot a flour barrel, and when
ladies inquire for mall I treat them vith
the utmost deference, retreating backwards
before there
"There is another man here looking for
the place. He don't know a d n thing,
but he has a good pair of breeches, and if
you can't send me a pair, you can treat
this letter as my resignatiou. and give tho
office to him."
Queen Lll Is "N'ell-tu-Do. i
Grand Chamberlain Julius A. Palmer,
jr., says Ltlinokalanl's inn me from her
Hawaiian property is betwecn$l 3,000 and
$20,000 a j ear.
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