Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1870-01-19
CLEARFIELD PA, WEDNESDAY JANUARY 49, 1870

anu SWettcst Httic Cfcdtufc tbdi c'oi h'eus
as went up to her, and she reached out
her small white hand to me, and said in
low musical voice, $50 this is dear Charlie.
I have heard of him. We will be friends,
won't We p
Twill you tell me stories ?' asked. She
laughed merrily.
''Yes. heaps of them, child
''Did you love Harry?" asked again.
Sire shivered at that and looked implor-
ifgly at Louise.
Charlie, you are unkind," said Louise,
reproachfuly.
''Well, then, won't ask her if she loved
Harry. Ill go off and read my book of
hobgoblins.
: 20 mol don't be vexed, Charlie said
Emily, with great sweetness. Stay by me
and will tell you story So / stopped,
and she told me senseless story of two
girls who went to sho0l. When | saw Il
wasn't going to amount TO anything, | start
cd to leave her.
Il don't like that l said, 81 like witch
stories"
''Ahl" she replied, smiling, perhaps
this will be better" And then she told me
story Of an old witch who had throne
down in the slime of the sea, with string of
bones around her neck, and a toad perched
on each shoulder. And this witch bought
souls and gave people power over hearts in
exchange.
That was good story 7" L said. at the
end.
And now, dear Charlie, go to bed, y
sisters hand and gfded off
Emily very soon learned to be perfectly at
home with us. She seemed to wind her
self around the hearts oY my father and
mother and as for Louise,-Louise would
have walked over burning ploughshares to
do her service. liked her about half the
time and the other half l felt like teasing
her. She would grow SO white and terrified
when sprang out at her from behind cur
tains or doors. More than ever 1 wished
that | had fairy powers, to change myself
into all sorts of shapes tiny flea to hop
into he: etr,a yellow snake to twine myself in
her curls, a mouse to run over her pillow, or a u
elf in her desk to open her letters She was
such an absurd coward But being four
feet high and not fairy, could only find
my wicked pleasure in annoying her by con-
slant surveillance and sudden starts. She
seemed afraid to be angry with me and ncv-
er exposed me. Perhaps her conscience
made her uneasy, tor my deir innocent
hearted Louise never was frightened or ter
ri6ed BY. her dwarf Charles tricks
., slender. willowy Emily, yellow haired
Emily, my brothers darling why were you
not all Louise dreamed you, pure hearted
a ID true, sorrowing and loving? My father
treated her as another daughter and de-
clared she should never leave US my moth
er gradually came to consult her exquisite
taste in all little matters which Louise form,
erly decided. And at last they even insist
ed on her putting off the badge of her fidel
ity to Harry,-her mourning, despite the
sad little shake of her head in remember
ance
She shall not make nun of herself -
exclaimed my father.
My heart will be in mourning all the
time, she whispered to Louise, and Louise
kissed her.
Spring came, and our mother commenced
house cleaning on a grand scale every
room was visited, secured and painted, and
the furniture rearranged. How she made
the servants fly about Every one wished
ii well at an end every one but me; |
found too much fun in it. l rolled over in
mattresses, made nests to curl myself up III
among heaps Of blankets, reveled in hidden
relics brought to light, perched myself on
cupboard shelves, read Gulliver's Travels
undisturbed IN the pantry by jar OF sweet
meats, and L N times near. y tripped up
our portly butler as he was carrying loaded
trays up stairs. When the raid extended
to the sitting rooms, found unanticipated
pleasure. The statuettes of bronze and mar
bic had always looked at each other so un-
moved from their different corners that it
provoked me. ] had read somewhere in
a German story of house where the
China figures of shepherdess and chin
ey-sweep made love to each other when no
one wa. in the room, and finally ran off to.
gethcr. Twas always hoping something of
the kind would happen in our art collection,
and now, when all the casts and Figures
were set down in crowd on the great center
table il really seemed as if they could not
keep silence. At night, when every one
had gone to their rooms, whim seized me
to creep softly down stairs and peep into the
drawing room to see what was going on a.
mong the bronzes and marbles. The moon
light lay across the table, and Clytie un-
changed never breathed OF moved, though
a bronze Pan made mute music on his pipes
before her as motionless as she. Faust did
not kiss Marguerite and Mercury poised
on one toe, did not catch at the chance to sub
stitute the other foot. Altogether the as
semblage was failure. Have the fairies,
then, never yet crossed the ocean from Ger
maDyY
There was low hum of voices in the
kitchen below: so disappointed in nv mira