South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1876-08-25
Rob Laughton's Good Time.
BY ELizABETn BIGELow.

his hands. and the air of one who has
something on his mind.
Il don't knox blind swaps, 4" said
Stella, rather primly. She was two
years older than Rob, and. as he said,
thought she must be dreadful nice and
stuck.up because she was n girl"
We'll, didn't expect you did. Girls
never know anything. I'll show you
how. I've got new top. snapped
with Ned Josselyn; now I'll swap with
you for your new one that you wouldn't
show me last night, and You may cover
1t up, all but just the very point, and
, j Ill keep this one covered up-so. Isn't
that fair? It's good fun, too. All the
fellers are doing it,
IL should think it was good fun for
me TO give you my elegant new top for
that old thing Of Ned Josselyn's, that he
has had nobody knows how long,, said
Stella.
"A Teller can't have any fun with you,
anyway; You are such n stingy old
thing. But Ill pay you up, now you
see II L don't! | haven't paid you yet
for telling who smashed the conservato-
~ window; but you just wait -
Stella did look little alarmed. Rob
never threatened without meaning all
he said, and he was the greatest fellow
to play tricks on you, just when YOU
least expected them.
Stella was timid, too, if she was eleven
years old, while Rob was as brave as a
lion.
I'm afraid l can't say that Rob was a
very good boy; and yet he Nlcurt TO be.
lie was only very thoughtless, aud rath.
or mischicvous. If tho kitten hal its
head mut;led in grandpa's silk hanhkcr-
chief, or adorned with Stellas dolls
new bonnet. nobody had any doubt rs to
the author Of the mischief II n loafof
cake or 4 pie disappeared mystcriouslv
from the pantry, there was no need of
inquiry where it was gone If the beau.
tiful statue of perscphonc in the garden
had q Gurnt-cork mustache about her
acknowledgement lips, and Patrick bat.
tered old hat upon her head, every body
knew that Rob had done it Windows
were broken, vases topplcd over. knick.
knacks Of all kinds lay IN ruins round
Robs pathway
Seedlings and punishmcnts did not
seem to have the slightest effect His
afflicted family could only hope that he
would "outgrow" his mischicvous dis.
position.
When he threatened to pay" Stella
he usually meant TO play some trick Oh
hcr-lrightcn her, or mystcriously alb.
stract her pet kitten, not allowing him
TO rcappear for several days, or lock her
into = dark closet, SO far OF that her
screams could not be heard
But a week elapsed after lis last
threat and lie had not played any
tricks; on the contrary, he had been
much quctcr and better behaved than
usual. Stella began to hope that lie had
forgotten his threats against her.
But alas Rob never forgot. lie was
only bidnS his time. lie and Ned JOS.
sclyn had laid their heads together
Ned Jossolyn was agood deal Older than
Rob, and fuller of mischief, if that were
possible. He did not like girls any bet
ter than Rob did, and TO plan tricks To-
play on Stella was his particular delight
On Saturday afternoon they might
have been seen vending their wav to
the pumpkin patch out in the field The
pumpkins were ripe. Seth the hired
man would gather them on Monday
On the next Tuesday the family were TO
90 back 10 the city. Rob would be sep.
aratCd from Ned Iosselyn aud pump.
ltins, and tied down 10 hateful school.
and the few cnioymcnts lie could find in
town
This is our last chance. Ned" he
said, mournfully. It's now or never.
But VIC will have some Jolly fun out Of
it. 1t will bc something 90 tell the fcI.
lers of az home. My jolly, won't she
yell Z"
She meant Stella You eau see that
Rob must have boon very bad boy in.
deed, to enjoy tho prospect Of making
his sister "ycl,"
IL can't bear girls; but. after all.
there's more fun in the world than there
would TIC without 'cm, for bows don't
scare worth "a cent, remarked Ned
JoSsclyn.
II don't suppose they arc all such
scared cats as Stella. She Amt very we'll
suppose that's the reason" said Rob.
reAcCti,Clv
The two boy selected large pumpkin.
and dug the inside out as nicely as pos
sibIc. Then they cut on. a most hide.
Gus face ga it-cves, and nose. and
mouth cutting notchcs all around the
mouth TO resemble tccth
Every boy who reads this knows what
they were doing u for. unless there is
ono 50 unfortunate a- never to hayc
been ln the country at harvest time. and
SO never has made or seen a Jack a..
lantern"
They made hole at the bottom. inst
large enough for n candle ~ 90 IN. and
Ned Jossclyu produced piece of q sper.
m7ccti candle from his pocket. Then
% was done bot or course darkness vas
necessary o. show 20 OF to good effect
They hil 30 carefully away i'm the barn.
AMI went 90 their respective snnpors
full Of delightful anticipations Of Tho
fun thoy were going 90 have
Wv here have YOU and Ned JOssclvp
Lrpu all fhr affsrrr..s, ,.....-..f O..