Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1874-02-26


ed hen, and peeped through the bars
Of Mrs. Hewett's fence, and wondered
If there was birds nest in the top of
the tall tree. BY and-by she saw Joe
Lewis, he was standing in the middle
of the street, kicking the dust with
his copper-toed shoes.
"Hi, Dick !" he called out.
Hill" replied the little Tom boy.
You're lato!" said Joe.
81 amt said she, with a little tire.
NOR of horror in her voice to be 'slate'
was aprime offence in her teachers
eyes.
"You are, thought replied Joe :;
"So'm l, but l amt a-going in, to get
lickin,' I'm going to play hockey !;
but you daresn't? you're too much of a
galw
"Oh, coward !" said Dick scornfullv,
"to stay in the middle Of the street !"
"Iain't so much of coward as YOU
are; said he, "for darest play hook
ey, and you daresn't."
"Poh !" said foolish Dick l amt
afraid"
just then they saw lot of men and
boys running down cross street
about block away.
"Wnere all zem boys going?' de-
manded Dick.
Joe deeming peace TO be firmly es.
tablished, now came up on to the side
walk; Joe was eight and had yery
frowsy head. an tell you what /
think, Dick" he answered, II think
they're going to fire; and let us 60
too! I've never been to fire all nv
life."
"Nor /, said Dick.
SO they took hold Of hands, and
started Off down the street at such n
pace, that big boy, sitting down in
the shade of a fence at the corner of
the street. said, "Phewl race horse I"
When they got to the corner of the
street, the men and boys were a long
way ahead, but they were not to be
daunted, and kept on in hot pursuit :;
away they went, keeping hold of hands,
50 as TO run faster, up one street,
down another, and across a third,
dodging under the heads of the horses,
and running into such dangers as
would have made their mothers hearts
turn sick with terror if they could
have seen them.
And after all, the crowd melted
away. and they couldn't tell where the
fire was, or if there had been any and
they were so warm, that they had to
SIT down on two or three shop door
sllis to rest; and to their surprise,
found that the shop-keepers didn't like
1t, and told them to go away, or they
''would put head on them"
"What street is this, Joe?' asked
Dick she began TO suspect tina: she
was long way from her quiet home.
Il don't know" replied Joe, ''I'll
ask this man."
He did ask him, bat the man walked
on without answering; then he asked
another. and then another, but nobody
paid any attention TO him, and poor
little Joe, though he ,Uds boy, and
eight years Old, and 50 very brave
about playing hockey" began to crv.
Don't" said Dick, who felt not the
least fear. "Iil ask somebody, my
self"
She walked up to very grand lady,
and looking up with her bright. brave
eyes, she said.
Would you please be SO kind as to
tell me what street this is!
The lady stopped and smiled some
how the very grand look went out of
her face as she bent her head and look
ed down into the little Tom-bey's face.
"This is kearney street, dear she
said ,'are you here all alone!"
"Oh, no, mum Joe is here, too
we've both ruined away and played
hookev'
The lady looked astonished. AS well
she might, at this frank confession, and
began to ask Dick her name, and
where she lived finally she took out
her purse and her two street-car tick
cts. You 90 down to this next
street. she said, land get into the car,
and tell the conductor where you lnc
and he'll let you out at the nearest
street, and then you will be all right;
you and the little boy can find your
way then, guess"
THANK you, marin I'm very much
obliged" answered Dick, politely I;
whereupon the lady laughed, and pat
ted her cheek, and walked on.
"Come, joe" said the little girl,
''don't cry babies cry; I've got some
car tickets, and we're going home,
now."
This news seemed to cheer up poor
Joe, for he wiped his eyes on the
sleeve of his jacket, and took hold of
Dicks hand as though he had perfect
confidence in her ability to take him
home.
All would have gone well, now, and
the two runaways might have reached
home before dark, but, as they walked
along, looking in all the shop windows
as they went, they happened to brush
up against tall, well-dressed China
man perhaps he was rich merchant,
for his clothes were very handsome.
Dick did not notice his clothes, how.
ever, she only noticed his long queue
hanging down behind; the spirit Of
mischief never failed within her; she
caught hold of it, like little Tom-boy
as she was, and gave it sharp pull.
She did not wait to see what he
thought or said, but dashed across the
street through an alley and down an
other street, before Joe quite realized
that she was gone.
He did realize, however, that the
Chinaman was very angry. for he
caught hold Of the collar of his jacket
and gave him sound drubbing, in
spite of his sObbing prOtestation that
it wasn't him.
As soon as he could see for tears, he
looked around for Dick, but she was
nowhere to be seen, being three or