The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1876-01-11
LITTLE DICKY MISCHIEF.
BY A. D. WALKER.


eIothes-closet, she exclaimed: "The
mischief is in here" This frightened
Dicky, for he really thought it meant
that there was some monster in the
closet that might devour him bodily.
From that. day we have called him
aDicky Mischief and you will see he
deserves the appellation.
Mr.. N, his father, keeps fowls,
and Dicky seems to think he must help
care for them. One day he heard his
father say: 81 can't keep that brown
hen on the nest, and / am really afraid
her eggs will spoil" eff you can't
Keep her on the nest, some one else
un,' said Dicky to himself, as he
started for the barn. Here he watched
bis opportunity, and when the unsus-
pecting hen came and set upon her
eggs he seized stone which he had
ready and placed it ON her back, saying,
ahe did 80: "Now I guess you'll sit"
and 30 she did sit till papa found her
dead on the following morning. This
was quite a surprise to our little boy,
who had not thought of hurting the
poor creature. Shortly after this his
mamma found him driving all of the
fowls through the alley into the street.
aWhy, Dicky, what are you doing?'
she asked in surprise. II am going to
sell all Of the chickens. There's boy
out here going to give me four cents
apiece for them" This answer was
gwen with tone and manner which
showed that the child thought it would
bea splendid bargain to make, and he
was much astonished when mamma
forbade the sale.
One bright winters day, when the
snow lay thick upon the ground, Dicky
was in the garden amusing himself with
bis sled, when his sister, two years
younger, came running out and begged
for ride. The little girl had not
stopped for a hat or bonnet, and her
brother, seeing her bare head, and
Wishing to show his wisdom, said:
"You'n get sun-struck, Bessie; you'd
better 60 in the house; Pm sure you'll
get sunstruck.'
As procession of men in uniform
once went by the house Dicky slipped
slyly out Of the gate and joined the
crowd Of boys who were following the
train. This Dicky knew was wrong,
and he did not find the path of DISC
bedience quite as pleasant as he expect
ed. Mamma had forbidden him to go
in the street without permission, for
she knew that boys grow in wickedness
fstwhen they roam the streets at will.
They walked a long way, and Dicky
grew very tired and warm, for it was a
summer day. He was just thinking Of
retracihg his steps when he discovered
that he was in front of his aunts house.
"Pl go in and make a visit now"
said he. So he stepped up the stoop
and rang the door-ben vigorously. Out
came Bridget in surprise, as such q ring
seemed to demand speedy answer.
When. however, she saw the little, red
faced boy she slammed the door, which
shut with q loud bang, and threatened to
exterminate the whole race Of boys il
they did not stop making her answer
the bell for nothing. Bridget knows
ran away, thought the little culprit,
surprised in turn. He was quite q
fayorite with the usually good-natured
Irish girl, and he expected her to
greet him with'a kiss and warm words
Of welcome. But the truth was Bird.
get had only given a hurried glance,
md never thought Of taking him fol
the neat, pretty looking boy who scme
times came with his mother to visit hi
aunt and eat their good gingerbread
Guilt made Dicky a coward, and hi
went with hesitating steps around t.
tho kitchen-door.
He turned away, feeling go guilty
that he wanted to hide. But before h
reached the gate he caught sight Of hi
'dear aunt, who was wedding in the gar
den. go auntie!" he cried, "I cam
to see you and Bridget wouldn't let M
in.' "Whv, Dicky, did mamma le
you come alone" asked auntie in SUI
prise, for her nephew was only fy
years old and his mamma was yer
careful Of him. Eyes, of course sh
did; and | can stay all night if yo
have room to keep me-" "How di
You get SO dusty, child 7" asked aunty
"Oh, followed the soldiers that's til
reason Iguess." Aunty took the bo
INTO the house, where he was washe