Middletown transcript., 1875-03-20


the bows tried to tell her how it hap
pened-how some wicked boys threw a
kitten in the duck pond, and Tommy
tried to get it, and fell in himself, and
Jack waded after him and broug ht him
out, kitten and ALL Betty did not ap-
preciate the fine points Of the story,
and the budding chivalry-she only
appreciated the mud, which was hard
on the boys. Aunt Emily came down
in panic. and she and Betty went to
work getting the little fellows dry and
clean again. with dire threatenings Of
punishment ahead.
80, if your poor neither knew? ex-
claimed Aunt Emily, almost at her
wits end.
Jacks lips quivered. but he never
spoke. !.
"Look a. here?" cried Betty. tri-
umphantly Nhere's Tommy's pocket
all lined with raisins. and here's GIN
gerbread !'' and she gave him pre-
monitory shake.
"And here's Jacks pocket with lob
ster claws in it," said Aunt Emily IN
despair. Il was going to garnish the
salad with those claws. 0 you naughty
boyp' And she would have boxed his
ears, but he lodged.
WELL" said Betty, they ought to
be put to bed without any supper.
That's what ought to be doneP'
"Sure enough" said Aunt Emily,
who in hor heart was glad to spare
them a whipping; 'they shall 60 to
bed without any supper"
So to bed they were sent-to bed at
five o'clock and 6ne time they had Of
it when they were left alone in their
room. They dressed up tive pillows
and named them respectively Aunt
Emily and Betty, and pummelled them,
and shook them, and scoldsd them, till
their rebellious little hearts were satis-
fed. After that they told stories and
made plans. and finally went to sleep.
why don't Jack and Tommy come
to say goodnight to me?'' asked NAM
ma, as the evening wore on.
"Why, sister," said Aunt Emily.
half apologetically, they fell in the
mud, and ate up the raisins. so | let
them 70 to bed without their suppers. !"
"Poor little ssuls! said mamma,
sorrowfully. And she made up her
mind that, sick or well, her boys should
not be kept from her another day. But
the hours went by, till she, too. was
asleep, and Aunt Emily and all.
It must have been about midnight,
that dark, mysterious, silent hour.
when Tommy slowly awoke to a con-
seriousness of being pulled and pounded.
and shaken.
20 please don't. Betty he cried
as soon as be could speak.
'.Hush Hush y
It was Jacks voice whispering to
him, so Tommy hushed, and Jack be-
gan to unfold his plans.
Tommy, amt you hungry? I'm
awful hungry. Come, let's get up
softly, and creep down stairs, and get
some gingerbread"
They'll catch us!'' said Tommy.
"Hush ne they won't-wsll 60
softly. We ought to have something
to eat, or We shall starve. You don't
want to be dead in the morning. do
you, Tommy?"
"Now said Tommy. decidedly.
"Hush Well, come-it's moonlight.
Put on your stcckings; they don't
make 80 much noise as bare feet. Mayby
we can find some citron.
Thus encouraged, Tommy got softly
out Of bed, and threw his stockings on
his chubby little feet, while Jack made
ready also; and then they started, Jack
leading the way, very softly, through
the upper ball. step a minute. hear;
ing their own hearts beat loud enough
to frighten them. very softly down the
stairs. which cracked as they never did
by day, then softly through the lower
hall, and then with bolder confidence
they pushed on down through tbs
kitchen to the pantry, and there they
stoed, two shivering little objects iH
the moonlight, all excitement with the
adventure.
Here's gingerbread !" whispered
Tommy, seeking the well-knowu jar.
'I'm bungrisr than that" said Jack
II wish l had nice meat bone to pick
I say. Tommy, here's chicken-pie
Don't it smell coed though ?"
"We're going to have that for din
ner tomorrow, said Tommy.
"How good it smells! ! wish
could get bit Of wing out No ont
would ever know" And Jack begar
to tap on the pastry crust.
Now, after it was baked, Betty hat
carefully removed the top to put in |
little more seasoning, and as CAREFUL!
replaced it; but it was loose unde
Jacks hand.
"Glory p he exclaimed under hi
- a.