Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1876-03-17
Lost In the Dark.
ny MARY c. BARTLETT.

81 know a great deal, and anl four
This was the postscript which Mamie de
sired her mother "to put into" her letter I,
cousin John.
Mamie bad brother who also knew
great deal. He was six.
One evening when the children were go
Ing TO bed, Mamie spied a light In it'll,
house, some distance of, across the prairie
II looked "like a cunning little twinkli ling
star, only yellow"
"Why, mammal she exclaimed earn.
estly; "somebodles have come TO live in
that houser
YES" replied mammL.
"Have some little girls come 10 live in
III"
Eyes; girls aud boys"
81 don't want the boys" replied Mamie,
gravely. 81 want just only the girls.
When are we going to see themf"
"Sometime when Dandy and Bessie are
ready"
81 could walk" said Mamie, with toss
OF her golden curls. 81 could walk Just as
easy"
"Ips too far. Say your prayers now,
dear mother must go down."
Mamie knelt at the side OF the bed and
murmured her little petition. She could
never quite understand how God could see
aud hear her so plainly, when she could
never see Him. She and Jimmie had ma
ny Interesting discussions upon this i'm
portant subject, In which. usually, each
came Off victorious.
She hardly thought Of God at all TO- night,
however. As soon as mamma had gone with
her lamp little voice called softly, "Jim-
mie."
"w-h-a-tH" drawled another voice.
"Are you aslecpf"
"N-o."
house?'
"Yes; cottse we could"
Mamie closed her blue eyes with salts
tied air, and went to sleep.
The next day the children were very
busy. They had many private coDsulta-
tions and 'secret sessions" at which MAN.
ma wondered greatly, but thought it best
not to notice.
At tea-timo papa spoke OF The great Un-
ion Temperance Meeting which was to
take place that evening at the Methodist
church. "I think we ought to CO." said he,
declsively; "both OF u.s."
~ don't see how can," replied NAM
ma. 81 don't like to leave tho children
with Ann. Sho wouldn't get them to bed
before nine o'clock"
Couldn't we put our own selves to bed ?"
asked Mamie, family.
"of course they could" replied papa.
"We'll see who'll have a nickel to. morrow.
Get ready as soon as you eau. mother"
Jimmie aud Mamie looked at each other.
Under such tempting circumstances was it
not better, after all, TO be goodH
They watched the buggy, as Bessie trot.
ted proudly OF with II across the prairie.
Bessie was an especial favorile with the
children, because she seemed to love them
so much.
DO you want nickel very bad, Nam
nieH" asked halErepentant Jimmie.
"No," replied Mamie, ~ got one."
"C Come on, then, while Ann eats her sup
per-"
$50 the two children started oil. Shun-
tbev nIunosd ioio ,t,a ,.lI go. ,.,-,.
thew supnoseJ. n nearar wsv 20 ,.,h., n,har
house"
"We must get ,bcre boe,,e ,hs lovs oo, ~
bed. :" said Jimmie anxiouslv
81 don't want the girls to he gone 10 bed," |
,nswered Mamie lii III,
"Take hold or ms, had ,o,u .v
They tried It. but the treacherous orass
Kept tripping them up.
"If this was all pulled up" said Mamie,
then we could go fast, couldn't wef"
Jimmie made no reply. He was think
ng.
Cant you speak anythingS ?" asked Nam
nie, pettishly.
"Do you see the house yetf ipouired
ler brother. anxiousIv.
"No-yes 1 do; there's n light. The
,irls will Ina gopo IN hed I;n,naio 10.
20 faster."
But they couldn't. They went along si-
emily for some time, until Mamie perceIv.
ID all at once that the friendly daylight was
Ilmost gone.
''Oh, Jimmie" she exelaimed. "it,s all
larkening up"
81 know that"
"Why didn't you tell mef"
"'Cause didn't want to-" replied jim
ME, calmly. "Ill tell you what we'll do"
le added reassuringly; "I'll hold you up
n my arms and you see If you can see our
louse."