Wilmington daily commercial., 1875-01-09

wing out. No one would know" And Jack began
t)tap on the pastry crust.
| NOW, after 1t was baked, Betty had carefully
removed the top to put in little more season
ing, and as carefully replaced it, but it was loose
under Jacks hand.
GLORY t. he exclaimed under his breath.
Tommy, the top lifts of like lid. Here. III
| lift 1t on the floor, and we II lust get wing"
So on the floor they sat, two as hungry BOYS as
you ever saw, with the delicious chicken pie be.
fore them. Que wing did not satisfy Bone af-
| Ler bone they drew out covered with soft, rich
fiakes OF meat, legs, wings, they devoured them
all with gusto, even to the unwieldy breast
bone, which was Jacks last effort
I've had about enough" he said. "Have
you, Tommy
Yes" said Tommy in trembling delight at
his own audacity.
" Now let's put the bones back-we've picked
them clean. Tommy, help me on with the lid
There that looks as good new. We're safe
Till dinner time Tommy, and il Betty looks very
eross o, w' tomorrow, why we can run away
- We can run away ~ echoed Tommy.
I'm not afraid, ale you Tommy" asked
jack " I'm not AFRAID T.
"I'm not afraid" said Tommy but for all
that, he was growing cowardly very fast.
Out of the pantry they stole again carefully
closing the door, and up the stairs they went on
tptoe, and through the halls. No one woke up,
no one heard them, and they reached their own
bed i'll safety. There they lay and whispered a
while, Till at last the weary little eyelids shut
Next morning the sky clear, and every
body seemed unusually good natured. Even
Betty vouchsafed some jam tart asa compensa-
ton to the boys who went to bed supperless.
Mamma had them come into her room, and there
they staid for some time, happy and quiet, with
new box OF paints, and plenty of pictures to
practice fine art on.
Suddenly there was sound of carriage wheels
rolling mp to the door and stopping. Jack and
Tommy ran to the window, and there they saw,
getting out Of the carriage door, their great
splendid Uncle Ned and Cousin Dick and pretty
Cousin Alice. with blue eyes and golden curls
This was Il surprise indeed, and the boys were
wild with excitement but mammals smiling
face showed that she at least knew what was 60
ing to happen. Down went Jack and Tommy.
pel-mell and rushed up to Uncle Ned, who
shook hands heartily, and then Dick and Fanny
came up, laughing, while Aunt Emily hustled
about getting off their wrappings and everybody
was talking all at once.
What merry time they had Dick was the
oldest OF all, and very polite, but he liked frol
ic, too and AS for little Fanny she smiling
in a shy sort of way, behind her curls, all the
time. Jack and Tommy looked at her as if she
was little doll, dressed up in pretty new
clothes and must not be touched and by-and-
by she made them wonder still more, when she
went to the piano, and played and sang sweet
May carol.
1t is true that now and thon dark foreboding
crept over Jacks mind, and he had vague idea
of escaping just before dinner time ; but that
seemed a long way off yet, and they were having
such fine sport, it seemed pity to loose any OF
it. Little Tommy was 30 full of Joy and excite
ment, that he quite forgot there was such
thing as chcken-pie in the world.
Come, said Dick, ''let's play the Grand
Mufti, and | will be Mufti !"
80 yes " cried Tommy and Fanny.
But Jack WAS Father slow in coming forward.
He was thinking to himself:
1--WE great mind to go and tell mamma, and
she will not let them have it for dinner and she
won't let anybody know"
But at that very moment the dinner-bell rang,
and in came the grown folks, and it was
too late Jack became stoical.
The knives and forks clattered, and the glasses
rang the good dinner was served to all, and
their keen appetites were doing it ample Justice.
Aunt Emily sat at the end of the table, In
mammals place, and the moment arrived when
she said, IN a clear voice:
betty, you may change the plates, and bring
in the chicken-pie."
look of such utter disraay came over
Tommys round face, that Jack had to tread on
his toes under the table, and wink at him to be
Oh guard. Perhaps after all, it would be charged
to the rats. Jack hoped it would at least till
dinner was over, and after that he ment to tell
the whole story to his mamma alone.
90 l think you will find this pie excellent.
brother, said Jacks papa. 81 never saw
finer chickens in the market"
Betty brought it in with an air of pride Aunt
Emily received it on the table before her, and
there was moment of silence she raised
her knife and cut into the crust. The crust
gave way-farly "caved in, Dick said, after
wards.
There was only heap of well picked bones
Uncle and cousin started Tommy turned red,
and Dick turned white
"Why, what's the matter?" said papa. And
he wiped his spectacles and bent forward.
It's all gone" said Aunt Emily, family.
there's not shred of meat left on the
bones I"
Uncle Ned roard but Betty, who was lowering
near the door, in blaze of wrath, stepped
quickly forward, and seizng Jack began to
shake him soundly.
It's him, sir It's him-the thief of the
world ~ she exclaimed, loudly.
stop, Betty said papa. "Be quiet-wait
little. Let me learn how this happened"
So, bit by bit. the story all came out and in
shame and confusion Jack and Tommy raised
their eyes but they met only kindly glances
The adventure was too comical to be scolded.
Only papa said
"Well, boys, we'll tell your mother all about
it, and what she says, we must do >
But of course the mother forgave her contrite
little people, and Aunt Emily treated the whole
party to nuts and raisins, and when the sun
went down, it said goodnight to no happier
hearts. But long after, when Tommy told the
story, he said
al tell you what-we boys never meddled
with to morrow chicken-pie again !"