The Placer herald., 1873-09-13


he, room. Dear me, what quantity OF
them there were when Mamie came 10 the
end. Two great vases full for the sitting
roetn, more for the parlor, and an immense
Snusnber for the kitchen, to save Jenny's
matches. en- lsiiw a3r fg VS. si
81, But there were only fifteen ceats worth
after all, and Mamie began to think it
would take her sll wihter to earn dollar.
She dropped she fifteen cents into her bank
and then rested from her labOrs, with a
story book for company. .,i4sr III eli &
1t was just gr wing dusk when Harry
came home. He did not sing or whistle as
usual, hut threw down his hat and coat in
corner, and said in a despairing tone that he
was the unluckiest fellow on earth. -
t"What's the matter ?" asked mamma.
"Some one has stolen my prize essay, and
| never, never can write it again in tme!'
said poor Harry, almost in tears.
.Why., my boy, how could such a thing
happen?'i c,sl ssr,s. s.asa, .sras =
"Well, mother, it must have been some
one IN the cars. I.sat near the stove and it
was very lot ana I bad to take IF my ov.
ercost and hang il over the back Of the seat.
remember now there was an ill-looking
BOY sitting on The seat behind me and he
must have taken it out of my pocket. ]
put my coat on when we reached the depot,
and never missed the essay till | got to un-
cle's house. It. has made me just about
sick all day, II s,ss-as vr
"Oh,, what wicked, aoicksd, ,cichea
boy" cried Mamie, full Of sympathy.
r. "What could the boy ossibly want of
tP" said mamma, ,houghifullx; care you
quite sure you took it with you, ,Hany?"
"Why, of course i did, mother said
Harry, very positively. 81 worked away
at copying it up to tile last minute, aud just
got it done in time. lHput it in my over
coat pocket, and run most of the way to the
cars, it was so late. . .t......
But his mother still thought he might
have forgotten it, and would not be con-
tented until she had gone to the library and
searched for it herself carefully, all in vain
Harry was moody and depressed. There
was ole day before the time when the es-
says were 10 be handed in, and he had been
more than month writing and rewriting
this and bringing'it TO perfection.
"Couldn't you copy it again from the old
sheets?' suggested his mother.
"Oh, nc, you know could II. mctber,"
said Harry, dreariy 81 altered it ever so
much tue last time wrote it, and put in
new things. No, / never can write it again,
never" l
1t was h, rd Gaze, for II AIRY had in
dulged in such high hopes about bis essay,
and had given great deal of care and
thought TO the writing Of it, Besides his
father had promised him real gold watch
if lie won the prize. He had been almost
sure of it, and now his heart was fairly
broken under his. loss and disappointment.
"Never mind, Harry" said his mother,
kindly; aaall people meet with great many
disappointnens in life, and the only way is
TO keep up good courage and try again.
There will he another prize essay next term,
and then, you can try again for the watch. .
But nothing consoled Harry, who sat in
the deepening darkness with his hands over
his face. - ~,
"Come, Harry, said his mother, few
minutes later, "A want you TO light the
laTgeIamp for me- and set it here on the ta-
bic. Mamie, stop siraning your eyes over
your book at the window" .-...
Harry g5t up 10 obey his mother, but
could pot find match,
Il can't. light it," he said, ".here isn't
match on the shelf. 20
"Ne, but there are plenty of lamplight-
ers, said bis mother. Mamie filled the
vases to-day. Take one of them and light
it at the CRATE, - >. ..H
Harry did 50, and soon had the lamp
burning bright on the table. AS he turned
back to throw. he half.consumed lamplight-
er i,to the. CRATE, something struck his eye
on the. uncurlipg bit of paper. Surely he
had seen that blot before. It was the very
one he bad gr9aned over that morning in
the library when his work was almost DONE
"Why, mother, that's queer" he ex
claimed, 81 got blot just like that on my
essay, this morning, remember it because
it was shaped like pear"
"Is it possible?' ~ said his mother hastily,
struck with a. new idea,. "Take another
lamplighter and unroll it and see what is on
III, -, .,v .4 49,. .+-'..., ai
Harry did SO and started with fresh
am3zement. = -.
..g"How funny" hs said. "Here is one
of my new thoughts that sm sure l never
wrote <ilI this morning"
% 20 Mamie! Mamie" exclaimed mamma
in ,comical dismayy 'you have cut poor
Ha-ry's essay all up into lamplighters" !" ..t
:, 1t was even SO. and Harry fairly hugged
bis sister in the relief of the discovery. il
was so much better than if that dreadful
boy bad taken it. ',a.a
-i "And ] will copy it again this very
night" he declared with renewed energy,
going at once after bis inkstand.
- Mamie was very eager and anxious to
help; so she went 10 work unrolling all the
carefully made lamplighters rs fast as she
co6ld. And mamma heated an iron and
pressed them smoothly out. 1t was ar
good as a game with dissected map to get |
AL fhe sentences in their order again. bnt by |