American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1875-08-07
After all that new leg was verv insecure

Cs
and the table shook so easily that some
one might have done it unconsciously.
In moment it moved again, and the chill
dren looked Questioningly at each other.
That certainly was a dreary, depressing
sort of room, and how mournfully the
wind blew! Nudge glanced apprehensive-
ly toward the door leading to unfinished
parts of the attic, and began to wish Aunt
Prue would call them down stairs.
Suddenly, in the pauses of the wind,
came a sound as of heavy breathing.
II any of you are trying to brighten us
wish you'd just STOP" said Pansy, in a
tone half startled, half petulant
But the boys shook their heads. The
sound grew more and more distinct and
evidently came from somewhere in the
room. The circle of hands dropped from
with wide-open eyes.
Il think I'd like to go downstairs for
a drink of water" faltered Nudge.
"'Pshaw!" exclaimed Dick, turning
round so hastily that he struck his foot
against the table, and in an instant the
weak leg gave way. A mingled growl
and groan sounded from beneath it as it
sprang up in alarm, Teddy's arm struck
the lamp, upset and extinguished it. They
were not left in utter darkness, for pale
moon shone dimly through the skylight,
and by its faint CLEAN they saw a strange
white figure moving slowly to and fro.
ooh! what is thats" whispered Pansy,
with a SILVER.
No one answered. Dick had fearful
suspicion that his experiment had been
entirely too successful. They huddled
closely together, not daring to move or at
tempt an escape with that dreadful some
thing between them and the door. The
minutes seemed like ages. At last the
awful figure moved toward them. Nudge
screamed and attempted to spring into
chair, but in her haste and fright she
missed it and fell heavily to the floor.
Then the others Joined in a wild shrek
that rang through every part of the house.
Doors opened and voices called below,
and it was but moment or two before
Hester appeared, bearing lamp and fol-
lowed by Aunt Prue and Miss Roxbury.
The clear light revealed the trembling,
frightened group in one corner, the
broken table, and old Rover stalking SOL
EMMY through the room with sheet upon
his back. The children understood it all
the instant their eyes rested upon the dog.
He had followed them up stairs late in the
afternoon and had lain down under the
table to sleep. Its sudden overturning
had disturbed his long nap and he had
crept out with the table-cover clinging to
his back. The boys looked exceedingly
foolish when they saw him, and Pansy's
crying changed to burst of hysterical
laughter.
Aunt Prue could not comprehend so
readily.
"Is it fire? Are you all murdered9
What in the world has happened ?" she
asked anxiously.
1t was an absurd story to tell, but it
came out in four parts-Midge being too
much overcome to contribute anything to
the general explanation a terribly mixed
up story, but it was all told at last.
Hester leaned against the wall and sniff
fled contemptuously Miss Roxbury
and scolded by turns, and Aunt Prue
talked fast when she was little indig-
nant.
You were at the bottom of il, Richard,
1 know you wereI' she said, severely
GO It's another of your wild schemes for
getting things done without doing them.
It's time you learned that every one is
placed On the earth to do his own work,
and that no spirit from any world, good
spirit of industry is the spirit you need
most, and if you would call that up we
would have an end of such nonsense as
this''
Dick listened with remarkable meek
ness, for he had been not little fright
ened; the others looked pale yet, and
Nudge was still sobbing over her bumped
head. 1t is probable, after sleeping over
Ihe matter, he came to the conclusion that
Aunt Prue was right, for he went valiantly
to work the next morning at the wood
pile, with Max and Teddy to help him.
After all, they seemed to succeed about as
we'll as they had hoped to do the day be-
fore, for when they laid their hands on a
stick of wood it flew on to the pile in an
Nicholas for august.