The Xenia sentinel. [volume] (Xenia [Ohio]) 1863-186?, 1864-12-16

HteA-t h- etAAAAAGL
returned back within its old walls. When
We Peeped in at the open door tae sour
looks Of Luke, the new man, discouraged
US from venturing farther; and we felt,
oh, how keenly, that we had not only los.
our old friend, but that the dear mill with
its thousand fascinadons was closed to US
and its sunshine gone forever
The Summer passed slowly away, and
the luscious red raspbsrries that grew on
the hillside, had ripeDed and were gone.
the roses and honey-suekles in the door
yard bad faded aud the golden Autumn
was close at hand, but still we we're exiles
from the mill. One Or two attempts to vis-
it there had been met with rebufFs from
old sour Luke5as We delighted to call him;
and one day little Kate having unluckily
got in bis way was roughly ordered out
and told to stay away, as no brats were
wanted there. Our complaints at home
were Of no avail-we we're told we were
IN the way-that playing in the mill soil-
ed oWclothes, etc, and so were thrown up
on our own childish resources for relief
from the great wrong under which we la
bored. The memory Of our happy hours
spent there, and thoughts of the kind
hearted friend whose presence had made
sunshine within the dusty walls, haunted
US, and many were our deep laid plans to
punish the cross old man who filed Uncle
Ben's place SO little to our liking. Little
Kate, though usually tirhid as a bird was
bold enough for anything, when led by
her big brother, and determined to make
herthe means OfOurrevenge onsurIy Luke.
1 had heard my mother often speak of his
being firm believer in ghosts and hob
goblins, and though our hearts more than
half failed US, and many times we aban-
doqed the idea, it returned again and again,
aud we resolved to punish Luke By frigbl>.
ening him with real ghost. Katie readi-
ly agreed to all Of my plans, and after one
or two rehearsals il tue play house on the
hill we we're ready to carry them out.
Near the back door of the mill, a little
footbridge spauned the stream, which at
this point was deep and narrow, and over
this bridge Luke used to pass on his way
home after work was done. Just after
dark one warm evening in early Autumn.
We two conspiratOrs stole from the house !
and behind big tree that stood close to
the bridge little Kate was transformed
from a rosy checked child into a very re- ,
spectacle phantom though of small size.
A night dress Of our mothers enveloped
her from head to foot, her golden ourls
with water hung straight down
lbOut her shoulders, and white muslin with
huge round eye holes covered her face. a.
piece Of phosphorus, seriptitiously obtain Q
ID, was ready to be applied at the right Q
lime, and with beating hearts we waited
or our enemy. Soon we heard him locking
he mill door, and with trembling fingers
rubbed the phosphorus over Kate's face
md whispered to her to remember Uncle e
Ben and not to be afraid. Luke had b
AIKEN but two OF three steps on the bridge
Then in the dim igh5, he beheld little
7hite figure, with glowing face and up c
ifted hands standing on the bank near O
heend Of the foot-bridge We had not cal y
ulated on the effect this sight would have
lpon the superstitious old man. With
Dud yell, be started backward and fell, his "
ead coming heavily in contact with one II
f the posts of the bridge, and then roll tt
ed with o tremendous splash into tbs
tream below. To diyest Kate Of her
hostly lendings was my first impulse, and
hen my loud cries soon brought help. The
lcklsss miller was dragged from the =
tream and laid upon the bank, but be- " "
geen the fright, the blow and the guam NJ
tiles of water he swallowed, be was in a G
lost pitiable state. After aseertaining he Il
ras in no danger, stole away to comfort z
" fellow conspirator, who was half dead
.ith fright from the unexpected result Of m
ur mischief, and could hardly be restrain as
from telling the whole thing. She vas OF
uieted at last and with repentant hearts q
e went to bed, but not to sleep much. r
'Oor Luke was kept in bed many days, IA
hich we're days of sore trial to US wicked ba
lthors Of SO much trouble. What idea Pc
e had in regard to the apparation was y y
ever known, for he never spoke Of it, f,-
nd all thought that an unlucky trip Of vi
le foot had caused his fall. On getting
bout again he showed no desire to resume
is duties in the mill, and the post of Of
iller fell into the hands of one, who ~ ~
rough he might notbe to US what Uncle on
en- was, at least did not drive US from our
,orts in the old mill Not many ymonths, ric
oweger, was it our privilege to play there 81
to roam at will on the wild hill side.
he powers that were, had decided must i
. sent away to school and my little blue 1c
,ed playmate had to be given up. How nj
tile did We realize as We kissed one an
her good bye, that with that kiss there
lded an era in our lives, the dearest aud
days of childhood and in p,.
,conce, never to be recalled except in tur
emory. G, IGr
XENIA Dec. 81, 1864. hin
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apI
ONr Of tho toasts drank ut q recent celebra- fro