The Portland daily press., 1873-12-24
A Garret Adventure.
BY M. M. d.

''Snow snow! snowp'
So it did. But Ned Brant need not have
been so cross about it. He seemed to think,
as he said the words, that OF all unfortunate,
ill-lsed fellows he was the most to be pitied /;
and of all hateful, malignant things, those
soft, white, downy specks, fitting past the
window, were hatefulest and most malignant
christmas week, tool'' said Ned, bitterly.
So it was and perhaps it ought to have
been ashamed of itself; but it didn't seem to
be.
At this moment great Gathering was
heard at the back door.
''They've come! after all. cried Ned, rush
ing OUT of the room and down the stair, all
his wretchedness gone in an instant. "a
His two sisters were at the door before him,
and the three opened it together.
go, o, howdy-do2 we were afraid you
wouldn't comep' said some voices, and "Hel-
10! where's your scraper?" "Pooh we wern't
going to mind such little snow as this"
cried others, all in chorus q"
Six visitors Think of that Two lived
next door on one side, two lived next door on
the other side, and two lived across the way.
The first pair were named Wilbur and Rob:
the second pair were Herbert and Dickie !; the
third pair were Jamie and Tommy. Wilbur
had on an overcoat and muffler, for he had
a weak chest, Rob had tippe: tied over
his cap, for he was subject to ear-ache. Her
bert had cap and gray overcOat; Jamie
wore Scotch suit; and Tommy wore shor
bobjacket anG long trowsers. tell you this
so that you may know how they appeared.
As for their faces, they were SO rosy and
bright that they ali looked alike when the
door opened. All the visitors were boys, as
any one would have known who heard the
tramping as the parry went up stairs.
I'M f1nv Unve nj nf
talking every step of the way. The home
children Ned, Ruth, and Dot, almost always
took any visitor that came, right to their
mothers room to introduce them, out of re-
spect to her, or at any rate, TO give them the
benefit of her he lrty Show do you do. my
dears?' But this time they went straight
past her door, up, up. to the very garret.
''Ned," his mother had said IN the morn
ing, eff the children come this afternoon to
help you keep the holidays, either play in the
yard or up in the garret, for l shall be quite
busy. Have all the fun you can, but be sure
not to break anything and not to take cold.'
You may wonder why Mrs. Brant did not
say: .'Be sure not to be naughty" But she
would almost as soon have said: s'Be sure
not to cut off your heads" as to have said
that. She knew her children too we'll tC
think they did not wish to be good. As for
telling them snot to take cold,'' that only
meant they must be sure to dress warmly i
they played out of doors. The garret was
never very chilly, because the heat from the
furnace always crept up there whenever il
had a chance.
1t wa S lovely old garret, light, yet mystic
rious, with plenty of stored-away things III il
to make it interesting, and great cleared
space to play in. Just now it was even more
delightful than usual, for in one corner of 4
was very big heap of "potter-baker's clay.
go, what's that? cried the visitors, the
moment they reached the garret door.
"Thats potter-baker's clay," said Ruth
cts splendid for lots Of things. Fathers 20
ng to make some kind of what-you-call-' EN-
out of it,"
Thereupon the six visitors all stood in
row and gazed at the heap, 1t was gray ,dus
ty and lumpy, and looked something like fad
ed-out garden soil.
Whats he going to makeP' said Tommy
81 don't know, exactly" said Ruth, 81
only came yesterday"
'sWas it. Christmas present your pa
pa?' asked little Dickie, innocently.
81 bet it wasn't," replied Ned, with loft
scorn. "He had slippers. What'd your fathe
get?' .ogga slsa 81
"Slippers, too" said Dickie. i.
$50 did my papa" laughed Wilbur.
81 guess all gentlemen gets 'em," sal
Dickie, thoughtfuly, but I'd rather hav
most anything sides them.'
Still the children stood staring at the hea
of clay. .,,.l..s3
s'Lets sit on it, said jamie, with gre;
daring. 81 guess it'll dust off"
A hint was enough. The heap was 500
covered with children, and when they jum]
ed up they found that Jamie was right.
"dusted OFF, admirably.
''Let's make road" cried one of the otl
ers. erts.ngtfte 4.at yn nfFsfr
"All rightp' said Ned, in great glee; out h
looked at Ruth. aud she answered his loo
with eyes; we d best ask Mamma"
Ned was down stairs in twinkling. Mr.
Brant was very busiy fitting dress on ht
''Don't come in, Ned p she called, as Ne
opened the door. "I'm busy with Grandma
what do you want?' 1b 9gts. Is li.sss3a
Can we play with the clay, mother?"
80 yes, suppose so," said the mothe
pinning plait on Grandma's shoulder; 81
what you please with it, only don't throw
about and get itinto each others eyes," s
80 no, ma am" answered Ned, as he rusl
ed toward the garret stairs again, quite d
lighted.
But when he reached the top, he found I
the children with tears in their ewes