The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1875-11-05

the light having been cNtinguiShe and
Nanny gone down stairs. that the chill
dren seemed 10 resign themselves to
their fate and quietly 20 to sleep. She
did not know that Nanny stole imme-
diately back and was AZ her post, with
her arm around her paintings, nor how.
a. Miss knnerby's step was heard.
Nanny would throw herself on the
door behind the bed, and the little ones,
taking their first lesson in deception.
would shut their eyes and feign sleep
till she had retreated. satisfied with
them and her " system. =
But one night they failed to hear her
coming, anu she stood moment listen
ing. Nanny was saving. An Jack,
he were in Tub wild de Kings dorter. an
were always a-caSSin' sleeps ewes At
her: but De King, he didn't want Jack
70 hab his dorter. 50 he civ gret ball
an aNed ebery body but Jack. So de
ole bar Che were a gret friend NV jack
de ole bar, he say, i m gwine ter roll
in de ashes. Jack. an den I'll 20 in de
ballroom. an shake myself an make
such dus' dat De King can't hardly
see; an while his eyes Is full o. dus'
you kin run away wild his dorter.' 80
ole Mr.. Bar. he went an laid down in
de chimbly, an got hiSse' full . ashes.
an while dey was a-dancin' he went
and shuk hisse'f. an"
=. Aunt Maria" Miss Ennerby OPEN
ed the door.
No answer. Miss Ennerby advanced:
"Gracei"
Ma'm?" answered the child family
:" Who was that talking?"
No answer. They were truthful chill
dren.
AUNT Maria again called Miss En-
nerby.
:. Marin ~ said Nanny with an I'M
steady voice.
:. Go down this moment"
-Four little hands clutched Nanny
silently, but convulsively, and she re-
piled BY condescending to beg humbly
for permission ID remain. but il was Of
no avail: she was sent downstairs. the
door locked. and two little motherle-s
babies were left 10 cling 20 each other
in an agony Of terror. foolish and wild
and groundless of course. but 50 real 10
them and 30 inexpressibly horrible that
few grown persons ever have an expert
ence approaching il.
The next day Nanny petted and ca
res~ed them even more than usual. and
took them out under the trees, and then
she said TO them. "Nebber mind. chill
lun. Don't you All be skeered tonight,
eos Nanny gwine 10 be right at de
do Nanny gwine To lay down right
close outside he do If Miss Edner locks
it, an # YOU all gifts 'fraid. YOU jes' say
Nanny kind o. easy, an Nanny,
she gwine ter say Meow, meow like
'twere a cat meowin'.''
:. What YOU goin' 10 say meow for.
Nanny asked Nelly.
Cos | kyarnt arnse no oder way,
honey" said Nanny. "Ef | was To
talk human. course Miss Edner would
cotch me- Cord bless ms babies, Now
don't You al be skeered, 'cOs dar amt
muffin 20 be skeered bout. nohow; lie
good Lord j. a-waichin Nv You night
an day. an holdin' Nv YOU in d. holler
Nv His han; an Mammy's gwine ter
roll so bed close side de do an den
she gwine ter lay right down by it an
stay dar tell spang day."
sure enough, the door was again
locked, and Nanny sent downstairs.
Presently there arose little soft. hest
tating, doubling voices, = Nanny.
Nanny"
Meow" came from the hall.
Mammy,-
MEOW, meowir
Then there were little giggles and
whispers. and the next time Nanny
was called they could hardly do il for
laughing: Nanny, Nanny"
Meow meow"
sob, Nanny"
.'Me-OlC -
Nanny was alarmed lest Miss Elmer
By should oveThear them, and this time
gave such an expressive meow that
il produced an unreStrained burst Of
laughter. whereupon Nanny ventured
to whisper, =. Hishe. chillun :" and the
sounds presently subsidized again into
giggles and whispers. Then Nanny
placed her mouth to the crack at the
sill Of the door and whispered again.
:. Go orn to sleep, now, chillun, COS
sumbody might hear YOU. Don't make
me meow no mo-. Nanny amt gwine
away
And Nanny did not 20 away. The
giggling grew faint and the whispers
few, and presently the drowsy lids fell
quietly over the sweet blue eyes, and all
was STILL but Nanny never moved
till mornings cheerful beams dispersed
the shadowy terrors of the night. Only
when il had become ''broad day." and
she knew her babies no longer trembled
only then, chilled and weary, she
gathered up her stiff old limbs and soft
" crept away.
Night after night, "Mammy! Nam
my"
"Meowln answered a voice ut the
sill Of the door.
"Oh, Nanny"