American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1875-08-07
Our Boys and girls.
DICKS SPIRITUAL HELP.
BY KATE w. HAMILTON.

teachers and one pupil-Pansy's only wax
daughter, the Lady Melinda Muggins-
had just come to grief. The Lady Me
linda had for some days been suffering
fOr-not ff0na-a stitch in her side, and
Miss Nudge, in vigorous effort to shake
her into knowledge of her geography
lesson, had produced a violent hemorrhage
of sawdust that made it necessary for the
poor lady to be put TO bed at once. So
two worthy teachers were out of situa-
ton. They were more fortunate than
many people who are out of employment,
however, for just as they began to con-
slider what they had better do next hand
the worse for late contact with green
paint, a hand with a piece of gingerbread
in it, but still it beckoned
"Come out here" said Dicks voice, re-
peating 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 council had
been called.
See here, all you; know something"
said Dick, by way of opening the subject
Dick generally knew something, or
thought he did, which is not always ex-
actly the same thing. az want a se-ance."
"What aunts9 What do you want TO see
em for? questioned Nudge, with wide
open eyes; for Dick did not understand
French and pronounced the word as he
had seen it spelled.
"Pshaw! 1 don't mean that; mean
spiritual se-ance; don't you knows"
But Nudge did not understand, and the
others looked considerably bewildered.
81 know that's the name of it, cause 1
saw it in paper" pursued Dick, posi-
lively. az 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. heard Miss Roxbury
telling Aunt Prue 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 ike-like smash!
1 expect we could do it, tOo!''
Il s'pose-maybe-I'd be afraid"
said Nudge, hesitatingly.
Afraid? Hol that's just like girl! l
wouldn't be bit afraid, !" exclaimed Dick,
scornfully, and Max and Teddy echoed
the sentiment so valorously that Nudge
was quite abashed and remarked apologet-
ically:
"Well, didn't say should be, 1 only
said maybe 1 might be--p'r'aps.
But what do you want to have see
see-your- uncle, or whatever you call it,
fOr?" asked Max.
Why, to find out if we can do it, and
well, you see," said Dick, hesitating, and
then growing confidential, eff we could
get 'em to move a 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 1t, and draw our sleds
uphill 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 work for us and We needn't do any
thing ourselves but just have good times.p
1t was an inviting prospect, and the
brilliant plan was adopted at once. They
decided to try the experiment that very
evening.
because evenings seems mOre-mOre
you know" explained Teddy,
not very lucidly.
Pansy suggested the attic as good place
to meet.
I'VE all can be by ourselves there, and
nobody will come, or hear us, or any
thing" she said.
So the whole party went up to the attic
10 view the place and make their prepare
ions. There was large finished cham
Der that had often served them for play |
room, and among its odd furnishing OF
sofas, old chairs, boxes and
barrels they found shabby little table,
u
Of the room. 1t was cripple, having lost
)ne leg in some former service, and in |
,lined to tip over at the lightest touch.
Dick volunteer ed to make it all right, |
however, and running downstairs he re-
urned with a stick, hammer and nails. |
It required deal of holding and ham,
nering before the new leg would be fast
ened on, and even then it was rather
Ocse and unsteady, after the manner of
artificial limbs But Pansy hid its awk-
under an old sheet terreted out
was so delighted with its appearance in
white that she limited a strong desire to
change the proposed circle into tea
party.
The others were not inclined to give up
heir grand scheme for anything so COM
nonpIace, and poor little Nudge yielded
o the majority, though with some linger-
ng misgivings.
q hope the spirits won't ever try to
lelp me any when I'm all alone, - she said
"Cause maybe 1 wouldn't be
1 wouldn't! but guess I'm
/ pretty good deal bashful when amt
quainted.'
The next thing was to provide seats.
The attic furnished but two, so there were
hree chairs to be struggled upstairs with
)ut attracting observation from Aunt Prue
,r Hester, and Dick secured an old lamp
with which to illuminate the scene.
1t was the most fortunate thing in the
world, the children thought, that Miss
Roxbury dropped in directly after tea to
spend the evening with Aunt Prue, be-
.ause that left them at liberty to carry out
heir plan with little danger of Interrupt
ion.
"Of course it isn't wrong or anything
f anybody did see us, but then they might
hink it queer, and laugh and all that"
Dick, by way OF satisfying the
general conscience.
They waited until the two ladies were
busy with chatting and
and then they stole softly past
he sitting-ro door and began to mount
he stairs. Did anybody ever tip-toe care
ully upstairs without having every step
rack and creak in a most marvellous way?
These stairs behaved after the usual
ashton, and the children grew SO excited
md mirthful over their efforts that their
progress was a constant succession of tit
ering and hushing, and they arrived in
he attic in condition so nearly uproari-
Jus that it was long time before they
ould settle into anything like gravity
gain.
They seated themselves around the table
md placed their hands upon it; but Max
ooked at Nudge and Nudge giggled in
family. Then Pansy shook her head re-
at the boys, and Teddy imme-
lately drew his face into such an expires
ion of woful solemnity that Pansy
aughed outright
1--WE do look so funny with our hands
Ill stretched out if we were trying to
,lay tune and didn't know how" she
aid apOlOgetically.