Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1860-02-03

stood there l could see her little figure
fit noislessly to and fro by the window,
and how I blessed her - blessed her
| from the very bottom Of my heart, for
her sisterly kindness.
At last Janet commenced descending
the ladder, and as she did 80 the moon
crowded in out of sight under q huge
black cloud. The heavens favored US;
our success might be looked upon Jas
fixed. Three steps more on the ladders
rounds and Janet's dainty little feet
would stand upon terra frnaa with my
own. The steps were taken, and she
held for moment fondly the sleeves Of
my blue broadcloth, before We looked
up to the window, both with appraised
hands to catch small bundle Of cloth
ing that Fanny was to throw down. to
US, and besides which We had nothing
to carry with US. sa-s5z
''Be quiet, Fam" whispered Janet,
as she appeared at the window, snd
oised the bundle above our heads. "Be
quiet, Fan, for heavens sake, and drop
it quickly" il ]
But Fanny still stood there, swing
ing backward and forward the huge
bundle, without needing Janet's earn
est entreaty. - . ~
"Do, do throw it; Fanny dear do
have mercy on me What if father
should know of this ? What if he should
be awakened ?" .st sd.
ella, give it to her, Fan !; don't
plague her, she is in hurry!!'' called
voice at that moment from the closed
blinds at the parlor windows, which be-
longed to none other than DR.. Stod-
dard. t. {
"Give her the things and tell the
boys to carry out bag of corn, "a
cheese and some wheat and butter. Ja-
net must have setting out-only be
still about it, Fan" 4
For a moment we were petrifed on
the spot l thought I should fall to the
ground. What should We do - run,
faint, die, evaporate, or 60 mad? While
We stood undecided, two huge matrass,
cs fell at cur feet from the window,
followed at once by sheets, pillow cases,
table, cases, table cloths, and sundry
articles necessary to the setting up Of a
respectable housekeeping establish
ment. All lt- 80
,1ssMother, mother, don't one of these
feather beds belong to Janet?" called
Charlie Stoddard from another part Of
the house. or YEW Egw
yes, yes, and bolster, and a pair
Of nice pillows, too. Garry 'em right
out of the front door, - was the answer.
"Whose horse have you, Jason?''
asked the doctor, pushing up the blind,
"your fathers %
r"Yes," [ stammered.
.tsHumph, didn't you know better
than that? that old grey isn't worth a
button to 60. Why didn't you come
up to my barn and get my black mare?
Sam, Sam, hurry right away straight to
the barn, and harness black Molly for
Jason. If you'll believe it, he was going
to start off with his fathers old horse !!
Be quick, Sam-work lively-they''re
IN a hurry Slime they were off,"
slave you anything with you Janet,
to eat on the road :" put in Mrs. Stodr
dard, pokiug her head out Of the vim
dow c. .-.- 4..rg-. ~. ia s-t..-.l. !.
"No, ma'am," faltered Janet, NOV
ing a step or two from me. ar, -oG
'sWell that's good forethought. And
as I live, there isn't a bit Of cake cook
ed in the house, either! Can you
make some white bread and bacon, and
some brown bread, and cheese do, ia
son? 1t. is all we have" ... 49,, .,--v,
i'Yes, ma'am," said, meekly, step
ping easily as could a little furth
from Janet. a-sa Fl l-e 10:
''Look, father and mother, quick,
now the moons out, and see Jason's new
coat and hat !" called Fan, from the
window, her merry voice trembling with
suppressed laughter, ''isn't that a
splendid one, father just look at
the length Of its tails" ae Qsas .
""Just give me my glasses, wife, =
said the doctor. "ls it new, Jason 2"
eyes, sir, rather new,'' l said, CIV
ing an eager look in the -directioa-ef
the lane. -T,11W C -
"Well," drawled the doctor, cycling
me slyly, "that coat IS handsome
s.And his hat, father!" called the
wicked little Fan. .-z.9
81 Declare" exclaimed the doctor.
"Wife, wife, look here, and see Jason's
coat and hats!!'' 40 .sa5I I'll
q What should I do-stand there till
morning before that incessant fire Of
words Should I run? Should I sneak
off slowly, as Janet was doing Or
what should do? ~a'-e.7#d
"Don't they look nice, mother ?"
asked the doctor, putting one broad,
brown hand over his mouth, doubling
his grey head almost down to his knees.
|"He-haw, he-haw, hi-he-haw, moth
er y . ...s
I couldn't stand it any longer. The
DOCTORS laugh was a signal, it was
echoed from all parts of the house.
Fan cackled from the chamber window,
Sam shouted from the barn Mrs.
Stoddard she-ho-he,' from the kitchen;
while Charlie threw himself in the door
way and screamed like a wild Indian.
I turned around and gave leap in the
garden, Every Stoddard called after