The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-06-03

gone wrong, somehow. III carry one OF the
ioayes over to Ma; she'll know
sNo, don't!n said Lizy, crimsoning with
modification, "she will think am a born
fool"
But at that instant cheerful voice was heard
in the other room, and Mrs. Sims walked in,
as large as life. She showed her broad red
face at the door.
give come for that churnin' of cream, Lizzy.
But what in the world have you and July been
up to. Such batch of bread as thatD
"What is the matter with it MAJ" Julia
broke in.
Mrs Sims broke loaf, with great effort
and tasted of it. Child she exclaimed,
"you scalded the emptin's y
To be sure; shouldn't 2" said Lizzy, look
ing very sheepish
mot a bit of it Why, why! this ERE bread
is of no account The pigs must have it, every
loaf Don't take on hard about it, I'll send
you some for to-day, and tomorrow I'll just
drop in, TO set you right in the mixing. Where's
your cream"
din the pantry, believe" answered Liuy,
family. The farmers wife shook her head
1t ought to have been in the cellar It's
of no account at all y she added, nodding her
head over it. ats spilled Pity! Well, young
ones is young ones, she soliloquized turning it
out and proceeding to scald the jar "There's
twelve pound O. butter gone to waste, Miss !!
take better care next time
With the assistance which had been prom
Used, Lizzy got through several days comiorta-
bly,. She was sufficiently ashamed of her first
failures to give good attention to all that was
said to her, or done before her She prepared
her simple meals regularly and in good order.
Lizzy will make capital housekeeper, after
all said her father, proudly, patting her head.
"We will send word to mother, that she can
stay month";
@Oh!" sighed Lizzy involuntarily.
That goes to your heart, sis" said John,
mischievously Don't you want to hire help,
now am first rate at frying pork steak"
Frying pork steak" repeated Lizzy,
with very matronly air 1t was not a steak
at all, that you fried, if you please, sir I'll
give you a months notice, when | want to hire
YOU'D
That afternoon, Julia came in, to invite her
to go "thimble- berrying" She shook her
head, reluctantly, at first. 81 can't; but
wish could. Pye been cooped up whole
week !" and she sighed
"Oh Just come along; il cant 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.n
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 60
with US Give her a 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 a string of them upon grass
blade, when she should return. The day was
cool though bright Her kitchen fire had not
yet died away and she carelessly 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 a berrying excursion. They went far
| out of sight Of their homes. At last, Lizzy
warned by her former experience, started up
resolutely.
al must go home!7 she said; al feel uneasy
about Kitty
" / shall not go yet my pail is not half full
said Julia; 81 stay while"
al would if | dared to- But Pm house
keeper now Oh, dear! next week, though
'front.' be happy girl them"
Swinging her sun-bonnet by its strings she
slowly skipped backwards conversing with hei
friend until she reached 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 sight struck her eye "Fire ~ she
shrieked throwing her arms wildly over her
head, and darling like an arrow down the hill
t" Kitty oh Kitty"
The flames were bursting from the kitchen
door, and coiling up the red side of the house
Lixzy ran like one mad through the gate, and
into the front room, filed with sitting smoke.
kitty ~ she screamed. No Kitty was there.
She opened the door leading to the kitchen,
distractedly, but great sufocating 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.
A hand was laid on Lizzy's shoulder, just rs
she was going to rush into this perilous place
not knowing what she did. Ii was that Of
Julia's father, who had seen the flames from
the field where he was moving, and had hast
ened to the house Turning to appeal to him
Lizzy caught the eye Of her father, who, white
and 'breathless, just then rushed in.
"Water! Help! Oh, my child Where is
your sister ~
Liuy wrung her hands in helpless agony.
"Speak tehere Is KITTY ~ demanded her
father, selling her arm with a look that berefl
her of power to speak. She gasped, snd fell
down senseless at his feet He waited for moth.
ing more, but rushed into the burning room.
Lixzy 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-fnll 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 fngei
in her mouth, and tears running down both
cheeks, was clnging to her mothers travelling
dress
"Kittyln she screamed family, and fell
back, winter than before Her mother leaned
over her. Lizzy opened her eyes, and burs
of tears came to her relief Oh! bat hour
Il was not one to be forgotten through the
years of an endless life
II seemed that little Kitty frightened by the
| roar of the kindling flames, had gone out, bon.
netless, to look for sister Lizzy7 She had
strayed down the road for half mile, when
she saw a wagon in the distance. IL stopped
when it came to her and her mother, spring
ing out caught her up in dismay and astonish-
mept. Her troubled words" Oh, ma the
house is a-fre!0 were enough to bring her
mother and the driver IN thu sy.ot in an ss,,,,,,
Of haste.
Two rooms of their home were left In one
of these the family knelt that night, while the
father, in choked voice, thanked God for his
great mercy in the preservation of life. Not
q word OF reproach was ever spoken to Lizzy,
| by father, mother, or brother They saw that
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