Middletown transcript., 1875-03-20

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 as new. We're safe till
dinner time Tommy. and if Betty looks
very cross Tomorrow, why We can run
away"
1--WE can run away" echoed Tom
nv. I'm not afraid. are you Tom
nv? ?" asked Jack. "I'm not afraid =
"I'm not afraid" said Tommy; but
for all that, he was growing cewardly
very fast
Out of the pantry they stole again,
carefully closing hsSdoor, 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 in safety There they lay and
whispered a while, till at last the weary
little eyelids shut fast, and Jack and
Tommy were asleep.
Next morning the sky was clear. and
everybody seemed unusually good
natured Even Betty vouchsafsd some
jam tart as compensation 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. 81
Suddenly there was sound of car
risge wheels rolling up to the door and
stopping. Jack and Tommy ran to
the window. and there they saw. get
ting 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
a surprise indeed, and the boys were
wild with excitement but mammals
smiling face showed that she at least
knew what was going to happen. Down
went Jack and Tommy, pell-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 of 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 frolic, too; and as for
little Fanny she was smiling in 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 y-carol.
1t is true that now and then a 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
lose any of it. Little Tommy was SO
full Of joy and excitement. that he
quite forgot there was such thing as
chicken-pie in the world.
"Come," said Dick. "let's play the
Grand Mufti, and I will be Mufti! !'
20 yes!" cried Tommy and Fanny.
But Jack was rather slow in coming
forward. He was thinking to himself
1--we great mind to 60 and tell
mamma, and she will not let them have
it for dinner, and she won't let any
body 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 clattsred, 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 ar
rived when she said, in a clear veice
betty, you may change the plates.
and bring in the chicken-pie."
A look Of such utter dismay came
over Tommy's round face, that Jack
had to tread on his toes under the ta-
BILE, and wink at him to be on guard.
Perhaps after all, it would be charged
to the rats Jack hoped it would, a,
least till dinner was over and after that
he meant to tell the whole story to bis
mamma alone.
Il think you will find this pie ex-
cellent, brother" said Jacks papa q
never saw finer chickens in the market. y
Betty brought it in with an air o.
pride; Aunt Emily received it on the
table before her, and there was a mo.
msnt of silence as she raised her knife
and cut into the crust. The crust gave
way-fairly "caved in," Dick said, af.
terwards
There was only heap Of well picked
bones! Uncle and cousin started
Tommy turned red. and Jack turned
white.
UWhv vhat'a tho matter 2" aaif