The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-11-03
INCIDENTS In DICKS LIFE.

The children had been having per-
feet carnival in the nursery. Without
really meaning to be mischievous, they
had managed to do great many wrong
things. 1t had been day when the nurse
Norah, with all her good nature, had
been fairly at her wits end and had de-
clared the aoitcheS was in thin chill
dren!" Lofty, in her laudable desire to
help mamma, had pulled large ink bot
tie upon her own curly pate, saturating
hair and clothes. While mamma and
Nora were busy removing the marks of
this dreadful catastrophe, Mabel being
fired with zeal by the sight of so much
soap and water, and being also by nature
a tidy little housewife, removed all the
dolls furniture from her big baby house,
and neatly scrubbed the floors, from gat-
ret to kitchen, with papa's nice new
tooth brush, using the hard soap with an
unsparing hand Harry, coming in laterin
the day, had added a liberal contribution
to the days disaster, by shooting hole
through the glassdoor of the bookcase
with his pop-gun, and overturning the
HoYsr- stand asohay ha22kf6g ether, poth
the mistress and the nursemaid had
great feeling of relief and rest when
the last good-nights were echoed family
from the three small beds in the cham
Der beyond the nursery.
Norah had carefully turned down the
gas-light, so that Dick would not chirp
and disturb the trio of troublesome
comforts" had disposed small towel
rack full of aprons airing, at a safe dis
lance from the CRATE, and had gone down
to sit in the kitchen with Bridget.
Mamma had smoothed her sweet face
into its usual serene expression, and was
reading the evening papers with papa;
and for while everything was safe and
quiet.
Dick of the birdfancier two years ago,
the man had repeated, over and over
again; Splendid singer he is, ma'am
warranted to sing by daylight or gas
lightm Mrs. West did not think much
of this at the time, but she soon found
that the lively little fellow would hop
and chirp all night if he saw the least
spark of light. Often, when one of the
children was sick at night, Dick would
have to be hung in another room, such a
singing would he keep up!
! On this occasion Dick was deep in
dreams, with his bright eyes closed and
his saucy head snugly tucked under his
wing, when, in the midst of his slumbers,
he was suddenly walked by light. In.
stantly he was on tao0 legs instead of one,
and in a few seconds was chipping in a
very lively tone. Thinking that noe
turnal lunch would taste good, he hoped
down to the seed-box, and was busily
engaged in eating. Brighter and brighter
cleaned the light, and presently it at,
tracted our little bird, so that he flew
into his ring, and began soft little song.
But the light that pleased little Dick was
far more dazzling than the ordinary gas
light, for live coal had snapped from
the midst of the glowing fire, and in a
moment the aprons began to blaze! One
of them falling off, lay on Mabers little
heap of clothes, and these were soon on
fire; the chair close by contained Lotty's
clothes, and just beyond that, though the
open door, was the foot of Harry's white
bed. The three precious lives were
stepped in sound, childish slumber
while the hearts around which the little
lives were entwined were beating calm
ly and unconsciously in papa's and nam
mas bosoms. Could nothing save them;
Had they prayed in vain to God to watch
over them that night and keep them from
harm? Would He look down from
heaven and see them perish, without
stretching forth His arm to help?
No; God did not bring this great sor
row upon our friends; He told little Dick
to sing, louder and yet louder.
The children, tired out with their play
slept on, and did not hear the friendly
voice; but Mrs. West, downstairs
started, and held her breath to listen
"Why don't you go on, my dear?" sale
her husband. clark George, said she
II think hear Dick singingw "Well
what if he is singing? Why, he neve
sings unless there is a lightr' "Proba
bly, Norah is up there for some reason
What little woman you are to be ST
easily startled about the children 81
on went the reading, while up stairs tn,
fire had got possession of Harry's bed
clothes, and the smoke began to be yer,
, thick. Little Dick seemed to think some
thing was wrong but sang on bravely
and at last Mrs, West, being afraid h,