The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1868-01-10

nto the silence; but nothing else stirred.
Years after, when ! was soul-sick of
boise and worry | did not forget that
picture Of idyllic quiet, And one day
when ] happened upon a newspaper
With an advertisement setting forth that
he house called the, lowers, with all its
Ippurtenances was to let, seized upon
he thought at once.
We are large, rollicking, fun-lov-
ng family, and we have countless rela-
ions. remembered the long stretch
f front wall, and was sure of bedrooms
lesuate to our bestowment. If ! could
fcurc it, one summer was happily pro-
ided for.
| wrote to the agent, leased the house,
nd the first of June we migrated coun-
Cyward In an incredibly short space
f time we had scattered ourselves all
ver the house, explored to the attic,
hken an inventory of closetsit being
theory of mine that houses are built
fhicily to contain those convenient
partments-and made raid on the
orchards and garden. But there being,
S Charley said, no fruit ripe except a
lew green currants, we did not prose-
! 3ute our investigations any further in
hat direction.
Returning to the house, we renewed
ur adventures within it. There was Il
ow wing, joining the main body of the
house, where the humber parts of the
york could he performed. 1t was
divided into apartments, the largest
nd most remote Of which had once
|een used as kitchen. This was in n
retty dilapidated condition. The plas-
bring was cracked. and in some places
plling from the walls. The huge
cams that crossed the ceiling were
lack with ancient smoke, and tapes
led with cobwebs. There was wide,
zen fireplace with pondcrous crane
nd foot hooks.
"And what's this?" cried Charlie,
,ying hold of rusty iron door. 1t
icldcd to his urgent hand and disclOs-
/ Il yawning entrance to a dark cav.
IN.
"Why, it's the oven, Charlie.'
"Sure enough! Hold your candle
ere, sis" did so.
"Why, the place is large enough tc
,ast an OK WHOLE" Charlie said.
1t was, indeed, and at the further
art lay a pile of rubbish, of what sor
be could only family discern.
"Who knows but there are treasure
id there?" said Charlie, with cnthu
assn. "I've a great mind to creep in
the den and see."
"No indeed, Charlie! With your bes
othes on, too," ! demonstrated.
"Wheww
Charlie looked down at his new gre,
nit in dismay, then cast a longing
ngering glance at the mouth cf tn
ven.
"There are only ashes there | dan
ny, Charlie, and you may not g
mother new suit of clothes when yo
ant them"
"No! It's just possible | mayn't,
nd Charlie turned heroically away.
"Stayr he said. "We must put u
le door first. Help me, Lu."
| stopped with him and lifted on
de of the heavy door.
"Why you needn't try 50 hard, Lu,
aid Charlie, looking at me in surpris
81? / was thinking that l WASH
fitting a Bit" returned, also surprise,
Charlie stared at me.
"Didn't you breathe hard and fas
Ind lift almost the whole weight? ?
hought you were trying to show yol
MUSCLE"
"Nonsense" ] answered, with indi
hation. at was you who brcathed iii
locomotive, and tugged and strainC
with every sinew.'
"Upon my word it wasn't, Luz" 81
Charlie, vehemcntly.
We locked at each other in q sort
confused surprise.
"You look rs if you had seen gho'
Lucilla," cried Charlie, at length.
, | shivered. | felt an unaccountabl
sudden depression.
Come! Let's goawHy ~ ! said ha:
lily.
We turned to 90 out. Charlie pass
first into the next room, and | had ste
ped over the threshold, my hand up,
the door, just ready to close it, when
was wrcnchcd from my hand and slal
med violently upon us.
"My God-what was that ?"
1t was Charlcs's exclamation. Il
Young. red blood had left his face.
was trembling too much to speak, bu
tottcred out pmehOw, and holding
Charles hand made my way into t
light, airy room which we used rs o
, kitchen. Patty, our maid of all wo
:, looked up from the biscuit she "
moulding and exclaimed:
"Why, Miss Lu, your checks are Ii
snow, and it, i'll you'll be,after all Il
, work"
-
| looked at Charlie; he was discreet
silent.
Just then mothers bell rang, and
t ran up stairs to her. Mother was the
:, valid Of our family. She was not {
e own mother, but little delicate v
= man whom my father had taken to
r heart during the last years of his Ii
!, and dying, left on our hands. Th'
: were three children to, the youngcs
. merry morsel of fun. The others w
respectively six and eight. Then
t had a Sophia and May, the twins, j
l sixteen, and Hugh who was twen
c one, and tall, blue-eyed, moustachi'
l. fellow whom we called the colonel.
n was then marching and countermar
ing between the Potomac and ri
:, mond.
: had plenty of things to worry abe
n mothers i'll health, Charles tlightn
l. the problem as TO how the twins "
= to be educated, and whether lit