South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1876-08-25
K0mney Hampshire County West Va, August 25, 1876

Don't you think there's ANYTHING
IN the world but woodchuckss" demand
Cd Rob. evasively.
And Stella ventured to ask no more
The night, anxiously waited for b,
Rob and Ned Josselyn, came at last but
1t seemed TO Rob that Stella never ,c2uk
90 TO bel. She went a. eigh. o'clock
usually, but tonight she had very en-
tertaining story.book to read. and seem
ed % be entirely oblivious of time. II
was story with ghost in it; Rob de
rived some consolation from that
thought. Stella would get very nervous
over it-she always did--and the scare
they had planned for her would be all
the more effectual. The clock struck
nine, and mamma said:
why, Stella, do you know what time
it is9 You and Bob ought both to be
in bed
And Stella closed her book. and went
directly, and Rob pretended TO go too ;
but he only went up stairs, aud closed,
the door OF his room so that it could be
heard, and then slipped down the back
stairs, and out OF the back door very
softly.
! Ned Josselyn was waiting for him.
and scolded because lie had waited SO
long. lie had the Jack % lantern ali
I lighted, and fastened on to the end Of n
long pole. Such frightrul grinniug
face as it looked nov the candle inside
was lighted
"Shc has only just gone up stairs, and
we shall have TO wait till she puts her
! light out" said Rob. I'm awful glad
it's warm night, because she'll have
her window wide open, aud we can stick
it right in, | expect she'll hollow
enough 10 make everybody in the house
run mp there hus we can run. and they'l L
think she imagined it, because she read
ghost story. She'll tell them it was
I'm awful looking ficc--shc never saw q
Jack-o lantern, know"
And the two little rascals chuclllcd
with delight over the fright they were
going TO give poor little Stella
They stole softly round under stella =
window, but the light was sill burning
there.
1t takes giris forever to do anything,
and then Stella says prayers forty hours
long, ! suppose said Ned contempLu-
ousiy.
Dl" aJ last darkness rciIned.
They stuck the frightful pumpkin face
on the end the long pole, in at Stclla's
open window.
There was shrek Of terror from
poor Stella, aud then-Rob could never
understand just how it could have hap
pened-a sudden breeze blew the flame
Of tie candle out through the mouth
1t caught the lace curtains OF thu win
dow, AMI in IN instant they were 81. ia
a blaze,
Rob sereanc loa Ter than Stella then.
He started to give the alarm. bat Ned
Jossclyn held him back.
they ii iind ont that il was you, ~
You'll II catch :" he said Run round
to the back door, and get zap TO your
room, and pretend that YOU haven't been
ont OF it ut all ~
But Rob, am happy to say, was not
bad enough for that He bad forgotten
everything except that his sisters life
was in danger lie broke away from
Ned Jossclyn, ana ran into the house
screaming Fire Fire at the top Of
his voice.
But tho whole household was aroused.
and at the door Of Stcila's room before
he reached it, The door was fastened
and though there was a smell Of smoke
nobody seemed quite to understand what
the matter WAS
Burst open the door O burst open
the door cried Rob. The room is all
OH fire -
They burst it open, and smoke and
flame came pouring out Rob rushed in
through it ali, calling Stclla's name
tran,icaliy. She had fallen across the
bed and lay there inscnsible.
Rob's father had followed close be.
hind him, and he lifted the little motion.
less figure, am! rushed bacl, with IL,
through the suiIocating smoke. and the
iiames that threatened at every instant
to iasten upon them. Rob cJnld only
follow, wringing his hands. and bcsccch.
ING Stella to forgive him, and to speak
TO him once moro.
lie Thought that she was dead but
they carried her into neighbours house,
and she soon revived.
Bnt alas their home the pretty
country house that they all thought 80
much Of--was burned TO the grOundi
You may lie sure that IL was a lesson
that Rob never forgot lie never play.
ed another trick upon Stella. he never
deserved 90 he called mischicyous again.
Is for Ned Josscyn, he is in The re.
form school now.
tV'On the 9Th Of July Charles Moore,
butcher Of this place died, after being
2 sufferer for years with various com.
plants, but chiefly with innammatory
rheumatism. Ills last sickness was oc
some six or eight weeks Duration. and
IN consequence OF certain peculiaritics
developed 10y II n post norton cxamina.
ton was held by DR.. \. NJ. Hayden
The result revealed what physicians