Daily American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1852, 1852-05-15

lli saIu Her IaCner, proudly, pattlng her head.
"We will send word to mother that she can
stay a month";
OH" sighed Lizzy, involuntarily
That goes to your heart sis, Z said John,
mischieyously. "Don't you want to hire help,
now am first rate at frying pork steak"
Frying a pork steak !" repeated Lizzy,
with very matronly air. at was not a steak
at all that you fried, if you please, sir I'll
you"
That afternoon, Julia came in, to invite her
to go misunderstanding She shook her
head, reluctantly, at first II can't; but
wish ! could. Pve been cooped up whole
week !" and she sighed.
"Oh just come along itcant do any harm
1t lacks two whole hours of tea-time, and we
shan't be gone over an hour. Your folks won't
be at home.'
But papa would be so angry, if he did find
/ it out he told me not to leave the house alone'
"Well, what need is there of leaving the
house alone /! Here's Kitty, she needn't go
with u.s. Give her cake, and coax her to
stay in the sitting-room. It's only little way;
come !"
All Lizzy knew it was wrong But she
listened to temptation, and she yielded at last
She made compromise with herself, by say
ing that she really needed the berries for sup
per; and bribed Kitty to stay contentedly by
promising her string of them upon a grass
! blade, when she should return. The day was
cool, though bright. Her kitchen fire had not
yet died away, and she carelessy left the door
OF that room open behind her.
Lizzy and Julia rambled much farther than
they had intended, as girls are very likely to
do in berrying excursion. They went far
out of sight of their homes At last, Lizzy,
warned by her former experience, started up
resolutely.
al mist go home" she said ~ feel uneasy
about Kitty"
~ ,l, shall not 60 yet my pail is not half full"
/" would if I dared to- But Pm house
keeper now. Oh dear next week, though;
lcont be happy girl them"
Swinging her sun-bonnet by its strings, she
slowly skipped backwards, conversing with her
friend until she reached a corner of the wood
land, and then turned toward home. A hill
still lay between her and the house. Lizzy ran
up the grassy side.
What a sight struck her eye "Fire ia she
shrieked throwing her arms wildly over her
head, and darting like an arrow down the hill.
" Kitty oh Kitty !"
The flames were bursting from the kitchen
door, and coiling up the red side of the house. :
Lizzy ran like one mad through the gate, and
into the front room, filed with sitting smoke.
" Kitty!2 she screamed No Kitty was there.
She opened the door leading to the kitchen,
distractedly, but great suffocatng waves of
smoke rolled in upon her; and the flames, gath
ering strength from the draught Of air, roared
like hungry lions The room was mass of
fire.
hand was laid on Lizzy' shoulder, just as
she was going to rush into this perilous place,
| Grnr hot oh Tt hot pf
Julias father, who had seen the flames from
the field where he was moving, and had hast
encd to the house Turning to appeal to him,
Lzzy caught the eye of her father who white
and breathless Just then rushed in.
"Water Help! Oh, my child Where is
your sister -
Lizzy wrung her hands in helpless agony.
Speak Where rs KiHgt" demanded her
father, scizing her arm, with look that bereft
her of power to speak. She gasped, and fell
down senseless at his feet. He waited for moth
ing more, but rushed into the burning room.
Li2zy knew nothing more, until opening
her eyes she saw her mothers face bending be-
tween her and the blue sky, and felt hot tears
blistering her forehead She was lying on the
grass but lifted herself up instantly The men
were pouring bucket after bucket-full Of water
upon the fire. which was covering and already
half extinguished. But Lizzy did not see this.
She did not even see her father who with
singed hair and blistered face and arms still
worked most wildly on the roof One thing
only she saw-the little sister, who with finger
in her mouth. and tears running down both
checks was clinging to her mothers travelling
dress
Kitty" she screamed family, and fell
back, winter than before Her mother leaned
over her. Lizzy opened her eyes, and a burst
Of tears came to her relief Oh! that hour
1t was not one to be forgotten through the
years Of an endless life!
1t seemed that little Kitty, frightened by the
roar Of the kindling flames, had gone out, bon
netless, to look for sister Lizzy" She had
strayed down the road for half mile, when
she saw wagon in the distance 1t stopped
when it came to her and her mother, spring
ing out, caught her up in dismay and astonsh-
ment Her troubled words" Oh, ma the
house is a-frel" were enough to bring her
mother and the driver to the spot in an agony
of haste.
Two rooms of their home were left. In one
Of these the family knelt that night, while the
father. in n choked voice, thanked God for his
great mercy, in the preservation of life. Not
word of reproach was ever spoken to Lizzy,
by father mother, or brother. They saw that
she suffered the pangs of an accusing heart,
and they kindly tried to draw her from the
sad remembrance But it was months before
Lizzy would smile again
And did she ever keep house" after that
Yes it has been more than one year since
Limy-Lizzy Talcott with new name-took
into her hands the keeping of her otcn house.
She is charming housekeeper, as you would
agree with me in saying if once you were to
sit down in her cool country parlor, at her
daintily-spread snowy white table. Happy as
a lark the live-long day, she calls no home duty
tirnSnInnn Rnt this dor nlndo,.r NIL cloud