The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1874-12-25
"Mayn't l 90 ?" spoke up Charlie.


keep awake, and little folks are better
in bed"
Charlie inwardly rebelled at this !;
thought he could keep awake as well as
anybody, and finally persuaded his
younger brothers to have watch meet
ing with him on n small scale. So
away they went 10 the barn imme-
diately after their parents had lett for
church, the latter having charged them
to retire at the usual hour.
A large threshing machine having
been turned upon its side for repairs,
the boys converted it into a pulpit.
Two empty bottles served to hold the
candles purloined from Dinah, and
with a great show of reverence, their
small prayer books were laid beside the
same. Three long, narrow boxes were
ranged side by side for pews, but, con-
trary to general usage, each box con-
tanned a couple of apples" Just to
help keep fellow awake, said Charlie.
The old brindle COW looked round
rather doubtfully at the unusual pro-
ceedings, and a brooding hen in the
loft above kept such n fussing that
wisps of hay were being thrown down
constantly upon the pulpit.
"Never mind Them" said Charlie.
ringleader in the mischief, "they'll
think its Christmas vet. You know God
was born in stable. But, boys, we
must sing. You know father said they
sang and prayed until midnight. We
will keep awake until the hour strikes
on the town clock, and then we will be
off to bed before father and mother
come home. What shall we sing ?"
Robbie, the youngest, suggested
Put me in my little bed"
"Not just yet" said Charlie, "but 1
suppose you'll be wanting us TO prac
tice that before we get through with
such wee fellow as you. Let's begin
with 1 want to be an angel, "and he
opened the book and "lined off the
hymn with considerable pride. Had
Dinah not taken advantage of her mis-
tress' permission TO spend the evening
out, she would surely have thought the
barn tenanted by ghosts, or that the
cattle were celebrating a second Christ
mas. The boys music was neither
strong nor melodious, and at little
distance might easily have been mis-
taken for something else.
But the apples were all eaten, little
heads began to droopand littlevoices to
fail. "Let's move back and lean ou-
heads against the manger," suggested
Willie you know the deacons always
lean back in church"
The advice was quickly followed, and
at half-past IL the snoring was ore de-
gree less musical than the singing had
been. The old hen, getting tired of the
noise and light, settled herself for the
twentieth time on her chicks, and in so
doing threw down two straws. One lit
direct upon candle placed upon the
impromptu pulpit, wavered moment,
took fire, and fell inside small crevice
in the machine. Slowly was the blaze
kindled, straw after straw became
ignited, and when II o'clock chimed on
the neighboring steeple, the machine
itself was on fire, and three little boys
were in imminent danger of being
burned to death. Ten minutes struck,
then the quarter, and Willie moved un-
easily as she heat became greater. Just
then old brindle reached forth her
milky mouth and seized Charlie by the
hair-his head war directly against her
feeding trough--whether accidentally
or not was never known. He jumped
to his feet in q terrible fright. called to
the boys, and, taking hand of each,
rushed from the barn. Their clothes
were scorched in reaching the door, but
they were so sleepy that they did not
fully realize the danger from which
they had escaped until safely within
their own home.
BY this time the people were coming
from church. The boys watch-meet-
ing had nearly burned the barn that
of the old folks saved it. Men went to
work with a will, turned on water, and
at last extinguished the flames.
Mr.. and Mrs. Cramer were too thank
full for the escape of their little boys, to
find much fault with their proceedings.
New Years morning, however, their
father pointed out TO them what might
have been the terrible consequences of
their disobedience, and presented each
with pocket diary.
This will help you, boys, to watch
the coming year through every month
and day. The Bible teaches us to
watch and pray always. Each day you
can record any action you think not just
right, and the next one try to have a
better entity to make. At the end of
the year you will find You have not only
watched the year, but yourselves, and
will be better boys in consequence.
Now, put on your caps, and off to play,
not forgetting this day to make grand,
glorious, good beginning for the year
1875.
smart Boy.
There are great many smart little
bovs in every State. bnt one of the