Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1875-08-11
Che family Circle.
Dicks Spiritual Helm.
the tomb.
Boston .4drertis,

Dicks Spiritual Help.
a very select school. consisting of two
teachers and one pupil-Pansy' only wax
daughter, the Lady Melinda Muggins-
had just come to grief. The Lady Melin-
ia had for some days been suffering for
not fronl-:l stitch in her side, and Miss
Nudge, in a vigorous effort to shake her in
to n knowledge of her geography lesson.
had produced a violent hemorrhage of
~awdust that made it necessary for the poor
lady to be put to bed at once. So two
worthy teachers were out of situation
Tney were more fortunate than many peo-
pie who are out of employment, however
for just rs they began to consider what
they had better do next. hand beckoned
at the window-a hand rather the worse
for late contact with green paint, hand
with Il piece Of gingerbread in it, but still
| it beckoncd.
Come out here" said Dicks voice, re-
pcatlng the invitation his hand had given
And Nudge and PanSy accepted at once.
They found Max and Teddy sitting on
the grass, and sat down beside them to
learn the object for which n council had
been called.
See here all of you: l know some
thing said Dick. by way of opening the
subject. Dick generally knew something.
or thought he did, which is not always
exactly the same thing. Il want Sc
ance"
what aunts? what do you want to see
EN- for??" questioned Nudge, with wide
open eyes: for Dick did not understand
French, and pronounced the word as he
had seen it spelled.
"Pshaw, | don't mean that; mean a
spiritual se-ance; don't you know?'
But Nudge did not understand, and the
others looked considerably bewldered.
Il know that's the name of it. cause
saw it in a paper, pursued Dick positive
lv. Il couldn't tell much about it there,
though, it was all mixed up with so many
big words and stuff; but I'd found out all
about it before, and what they do and
everything. l heard Miss Roxbury tell
ing Aunt Prre about it last night You
see the folks sit round the table and put
their hands on it, and keep real still, and
by and by the spirits come and knock,
and move the table around like-like
smash. | expect we could do it, too"
Il spose-may bed be afraid" said
Nudge, hesitatingly.
Afraid. IIo. that's Just like girl, I
wouldn't be Il bit afraid" exclaimed Dick
scornfully, and Max and Teddy echoed the
sentiment so vigorously that Nudge was
Quilted aba>hcd, and remarked APOLOGIZE
callv:
"Well, didn't say l should be, only
said may be | might be-p'r'aps.'
But what do You want to have a see
your-uncle, or whatever You call it,
fOr?" asked Max.
NV by, to find out if we can do it, and |
well. You see, said Dick. hesitating, and
then growing confidential, If we could
get 'em tomove table, they might do lots
of things for us-pile up all that wood
that's out in the Shed, maybe, if we Just
laid our fingers on ii, and draw our sieds
up hill for us in the winter. 1t wouldn't
be bit harder than some things Miss
RoXbury told about, and | shouldn't won
der if we could get so they'd do nearly all
our W ork for us, and we needn't do any
thing ourselves but Just have good times"
1t was an inviting prospect, and the
brilliant plan Was adopted at once. They
decided to try the experiment that very
evening.
''Bccanse evenings seem morc-more
you know" explained Teddy.
not vcly lucidly.
Pansy suggested the attic as a GOOD
place to meet
I'VE can be all by ourselves there. and
nobody will come. or hear us, or anythng,n
she said
SO the whole party went up to the attic
10 view the place and make their prcpa-
rations. There was large. finished cham
Der that had often served them for play
room, and among its odd furnishings of
illapidated sofas, old chairs, boxes, and
barrels, they found a shabby little table,
and the boys lifted it out into the middle
of the room. 1t was cripple, having
lost one leg in some former service, and
inclined to tip over at the lightest touch.
Dick volunteered to make it all right, ,
however, and running down stairs, he re- :
nrned with stick, hammer, and nails
1t required a deal ofhol,iing and hammer :
ng before the new leg would be fastened
IN. and even then it was rather loose and :
after the manner of artificial l.,
lmbs. But PanSy hid its awkwardness .
lndcr an old sheet ferreted out of a box !
If cast-otf articles. and Nudge was so de-
lighted with its appearance in white that )
he limited strong desire to change the -,
'roposcd circle into a tea party. =
he others were not inclined to give up J.
heir grand scheme for anything so com.
nonplace. and poor little Nudge Welded to y
he majority, though with some lingering ,
nisgivings.
II hope the spirits won't ever try to :
elp me when I'm all alone she said, g
neaslly. Cause maybe l wouldn't be -
fraid-'cau>e | wouldn't. but guess I'm
pretty good deal ba>hful when | amt
lualnted.'
The next thing was to provide seats. c.
he attic furnished but two, SO there were a
hree chairs to be Struggled upstairs with Ii
ut attracting observation from Aunt Prue c;
+ Hester. and Dick secured an old lamp o
nth which to illuminate the scene. p
1t was the most fortunate thing in the
-orld, the children thought, that Miss I
oXbury dropped in directly after tea to
pend the evening with Aunt Prue, be- 81
luse that left them at liberty to carry n
ut their plan with little danger of inter-
lption. sc
'Of course it isn't wrong or anythino til
anybody did see us. but then they might III
INK it queer. and laugh. and ali that" 10
>plained Dick, by way of satisfying the W
eneral conscience ca
They waited until the two ladies were II
busy with chatting and GRO re
letting, and then they stole softly past the to
ting-room. and began to mount the nc
'rS. Did anybody ever tip-toe careful hu
upstairs without having every step 81
2ck and ere ak in a most morvalo,s -r5 on