Northern Ohio journal. [volume] (Painesville, Ohio) 1872-1896, 1873-07-12

was of no use, of course, and after a
time | stopped crying and tried to get
out. But that was of no use either, for
the doors were locked, and L could not
raise one of the windows, even after
had climbed up to them with a great
deal of difficully.'
Z" You poor little thing cried Lima:
"Wern't you frightened?"
" Rather" replied grandma; but |
never was very timid, and l remember
| felt as if I must be pretty safe in the
church, because it was Gods house.
Nothing could hurt me 1 knew my fear
was that / should starve before any one
would find out where / was. Patience
and Rolfe thought that 1 was safe With
Sue Rogers, and nobody else would
think of looking for me. The church
wouldn't be opened until Sunday, which
was four days off, and, meantime, oh!
how hungry I was! l slept that night
in our pew; once or twice l woke up
and cried, but then l said my prayers
and went to sleep again. In the morn-
ing felt more cheerful, but | did want
| my breakfast more than L ever wanted
that meal before. II thought of break
ing window and elm bing out, but it
was so far down to the ground that L
was afraid. L pressed my face against
the glass and looked out. Old Mr.. Rud-
4
down at the foot of the hill, and re-
flected with sorrow that he was deaf as
| a post. and never could hear even if [
could scream loud enough to have the
sound reach there.
"'I shall starve!' | sobbed. 'and
| there won't be anything but my bones
left next Sunday
The sun had mounted high. and /
| was curled up onthe window sill mourn
inv han, f,ta xx-1,n I l,nc L.;
| tie. How quickly 1 wiped away my
tears and gazed ont of the window you
can guess; and when l saw walking
along the road tall boy, with bundle
| on his shoulder, | was almost frantic. l
screamed and beat the window and rat
tied the sash until he looked up at the
church in great surprise, and, seeing
me, ran quickly to my relief. Through
| the glass l told him my troubles, aud
he climbed up, and with difficulty push
ed up the window and came inside. He
was a stranger, but l felt like hugging
him when he put back my hair, calling
me poor little church mouse, and said
how glad he was he happened to be
passing by that morning. He was look
ing for work amOng the farmers, and l
at once said my father should hire him.
and he should be my brother, instead of
Rolfe, who had left me so carelessly.
Well, that is nearly the end of my
adventure said grandma; "the kind
boy let me carefully down from the
window by my shawl; sprang down
himself, and carried me home i'm his
arms. There was great surprise when
he told how he had found me, and was
pitied and petted TO my hearts content.
l had my breakfast, too, and it tasted
better than l can tell you. And that is
the time when l was dreadfully hun
gry.''
g But what became of the boy ?" ask
ed Lima; "did he work for your father,
and did you have him for a brother?''
Yes," said grandma, laughing; CT
cOaNed my father to take him, and we
all liked him extremely. But L never
did make a brother of him, though he
often called me his little church mouse
Jamie sat up on his pillow suddenly.
1T was grandpa! Wasn't it! Oh,
wasn't it? I heard him call you that
name the other day. Did you marry
4 him for that?"
"" Not exactly" said grandmas but
The is the good reason | told you had
for remembering my adventure, and
hope you don't think could have Had
n better. for 1 don't.''