The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1878-06-13

du Ilgnb again. why, SlIlcJ III oohOo
of deep disappointment, none of you
say agreed and / thought it would be
such an easy way to tighten the burden
that is hanging like lead ON my con-
science"
"Flora, your conscience is like a
sponge-squeeze it, and it will bring
water" clipped out Sharp Scissors,
"and lust SO sure as Miss Holden gets
hold of it, she'll squeeze it till she
brings water enough from your eyes to
drown us all. There we will stand be-
fore her, feeling as fabby and squirmy
as so many fish out of the water. For
my part, being now in the deep, | say
let's stay there till we can swim to land
without being whipped up by ner
Christening rod of a tongue"
"I say so, too" came in chorus from
the rest.
"Well, girls, promise that you won't
play ghosts, and I'll let my conscience
60 without The squeezing" urged gentle
Flora Ray.
"Ohl" with a laugh, clap of her
hands and an Irish breakdown kind of
dance around the girls, "Pve thought
what we can dop exclaimed Maggie.
"We'll let little Quake-in-her shoes
|
and Ears we thought about making her
midnight visit, but have concluded
not to do so, as it might disturb the
slumbers of-our consciences-then
they will have nothing to tell"
"We must never let them know"
J clicked Sharp Scissors, " that we were
afraid that Shanghai Jane might cackle
loud enough to create vibration in the
| ao ri rY1po of tho old woman who lived in
the shoe"
go, Scissors! when were you ground
lastf asked the laughing voice of
Maggie Stone.
"The last time l was rubbed against a
Stone," clicked Sharp Scissors; and
then her mouth closed as tightly as any
scissors, steel or human, were ever
known to close before.
All the other mouths opened, and let
out such merry laugh, that the
"Well, Maggie" )" with an energetic
click, suppose you goand tell Shanghai
Jane and Ears that we are sorry to
going to be laid, and so the proposed
mischief won't hatch out.'
"Until further brooding," chimed in
merry voice.
"All right" responded Maggie, "but
you have not heard the best of my idea
vet. have not got over a ghostly incli
if we should pay Shanghai Jane a mid
night visit, after that our conscience,
might snore if they liked. 1t woule
e only be fixing things even, for she ha;
e spoiled our fun with little Quake-in-her
e shoes, and we have spoiled her cackling
e and so by our turning and whirling oul
IS fun on her, it will fix Shanghai JAM
8 right, and make things agreeable for u
= too. Don't you see?"
They all saw, and when Maggie said
lie "Come, Sharp Scissors, let us announc
RS our good resolutions to Shanghai Jan
y and Ears" Flora Rays was the onl,
ID troubled face, and her gentle " no, no ?
a was drowned in ringing laugh as tn
Sc two girls left the group to join Shangha
Up Jane and Ears.
$, Shanghai Jane was the tallest girl il
lg school. Perhaps that is the reason sh
re saw everything that was goingon. What
ever she heard too, would rush int
a both ears and 60 pouring out of he
e, mouth. Things she heard always foun
I'd that channel for escape.
iS AS sharp OClSSOfS WOulU say
ne Shanghai Jane scratches for new.
lie and always cackles it out, when she find
it, close to the hen-house door,"
g. Shanghai Jane had very few friend
Id among her schoolmates and when prett
ST. Sallie Turner entered the school, bein
warm hearted, loving little girl, sh
felt sorry for this big lonely girl.
es- Ever since the day when she had pr
| L. T. :
"I am little, l know, Jane, but | ca
Ig- love big, and will love you big if yo
or will let me keep the lonesome ava
p, from you" Sallie had been guardir
ed Jane against the gloomy thoughts tn.
always step into the lives of loneson
in people.
lat These two girls had one same fault
as ears ready to catch up everything the
er heard.
he Shanghai Jane took pleasure in repes
noying her playmates; and wou
lid chuckle to herself if she could bril-
ms punishment down upon them by the t.
lie ready use of her tongue.
be Sallie caught up the words of tho
as around her, and let them out again in
careless, thoughtless way, that was
gu AlCC llOD Cfll lHbCAelOh do d COOI, LIZ
off breeze that blows over the country, al
red whispers among the flowers and trees
md meets.
the Generally Sallie would unburden b
OF "I heard thai" into the willing ears
Shanghai Jane; and so came to
nds called Shanghai James Ears, which W
ere shortly abbreviated to Ears.
an The girls hardly realized what real
innocent little ears they were; else tn
wn would not have made them tingle
cts, often and as sharply as they sometim
hen did.
ned Maggie Stone and Sharp Scisst
OF crossed the hal, and entered into live
sne conversation with Shanghai Jane a
CRY Ears.
III While they were talking Daisy Gre
walked past them, with her shy ey
cast down.
VI "What a girl Daisy Green is
,or clicked out Sharp Scissors. 81 wond
ao ,er. if she thinks we are all bears and a
aas gators, watching our chances to hug |
"a "a to death, or swallow her alive"
mo- A quick, knowing glance flashed fir,
. Shanghai James eyes into Sallie's.
inc Maggie, noticing it, gave herself
too pinch, to "preserve her equilibrium
,ors she afterward told the rest of the c.
ncb spirators.
ED Sharp Scissors noticed it too, a
low clipped out smoothly, as if the " hinge
and were all nicely oiled:
dia- "Do you know, Jane, it made ME f
: IL as if were almost bear, or an ALI
ars tor, or something of the kind WI
INV Daisy passed just now."
hat "Why" questioned Shanghai ia
ick. in mock surprise.
pin Then Sharp Scissors explained, W
With an occasional interruption from Mags
all about the ghosts that had medita
,arp making Daisy midnight visit.
d Of our consclences nave been trying
p to oleeo US 10 ueatn ever SINCE we oecl'