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

our mouths know what the hands doeth.
Then we will be safe"
So the subject was dropped as their
only safeguard.
Never did half dozen girls enjoy
sunset more than did that mischievous
group, waiting for the world around
them to sink into slumber.
At last the time drew near for them
to represent the ghosts of the departed.
Silence and darkness-the twin daugh
ters of night-were lowering over the
school, when Sharp Scissors slipped out
of bed, and glided like a white, faint
moonbeam from bed to bed, till she had
summoned before her all the ghosts to be.
Then silently, cautiously busy fingers,
by means of damp blue matches, drew
on their respective ghost sheets, six
fiery faces.
Then wrapping their ghosly emblems
around them, they glided in a manner
that they supposed would do credit to
ghosts in general, to the other end of the
dormitory, and stationed themselves
around the bed occupied by Shanghai
Jane.
Two stood at the foot with one arm
stretched upward, two at the side with
both arms pointing upward, while the
two at the head leaned over the sleeping
girl, with a hideous, fiery grin ready to
greet her upon awaking.
Sharp Scissors gave the sleeper such
fine, small pinch with her tapering
fingers, that she awoke with start.
The apparitions before her pointing
upward, frightened all Shanghai James
wits away
She thought they had come to carry
her off,
Screaming. out:
'sI won't goI won't go!" her long
arms and longer legs flew out, and kicked
in every direction.
The unearthly yells poured out of her
throat, were too much for every placid
sleeper, not only in the dormitery but in
the whole building
So when the surprised and startled
Miss Holdon opened the door to see
what was the matter she found the dor
mitory in the utmost confusion.
From some of the little beds, small,
white upright figures were staring wildly
around.
One or two were standing on theil
beds, jumping up and down, and crying
out in frightened tones:
"Oh, dear! dear! oh, dear"'
Some were flying from one end of the
room to the other, calling out:
Fire! firep'
Shanghai Jane, trembling all over, anG
shrieking, soon brought Miss Holden tt
her side.
Miss Holden spent a long time il
| hafa
and then, when Jane was calmer, learned
that "crowds of creatures with fir,
faces, had been trying to carry her off.
Suspecting either tricks on the part o
the girls, or that Jane had been dream
ing, Miss Holden began an investigation
She then saw that six beds were unoc
cupied, and in very severe tones calle'
out:
"The young ladies who are still GU
of their beds will return to them at once,
stepping lightly forward as she spoke
"Oh, my toel" clicked out Shar
Scissors, almost close to Miss Holden
ear.
Looking down, she saw protrudin
from under the side of James bed tn
slender hand of Sharp Scissors trying t
squeeze the pain out of her foot, tha
had been stepped on.
Paying no attention to her, Miss Ho
den remarked still more severely:
Young ladies, did you hear p
Instantly six sorry-looking spirits sue
denly crept out from under six occupie
beds, and with less dignity than sham
crept back into their respective place
, " I will see you in the morning, youn
ladies'" remarked Miss Holden, wit
severe reproof in her tones, as she LEI
the room.
Just as fervently as the girls ha
longed for the sun to set the night b,
fore, they longed for it to stay set, an
never get light any more.
The sun has always been an early rise
:: and he could not think Of changing h
4 habits to put off the deserved punishmel
Il of six naughty girls, and SO he ro
promptly in the morning, in the brigh
est, best of spirits after his refreshir
u slumber.
The girls rose too, feeling anythi1
but refreshed.
: Amongst the first things Sharp Scisso
y clicked out, was:
go, girls, am unhinged. I feel
T. stupid and streaked."
|, If you are unhinged, Miss Holdl
q will adjust the screws, and you'll be &
g right again." said one voice in mo-
% comforting tones.
When the time came to visit Miss H,
'e den's room, each of the six girls he
their breath at the door a moment, al
y is then, trying to put on a brave face, e
a tered.
a They listened to such kind, mother
IL talk on the dangers of playing tricl
that when they left tears filled the
er eyes, and good resolutions never to
of anything like it tagain," filled their hear
'e Then Miss Holden had private CO
as versation with Shanghai Jane, and SON
how Jane never seemed the same to t
y girls after that day.
y She seemed to have dropped off t
as habit of listening, as one drops off
IS old stained dress that isn't fit to wear.
"Was she frightened out of it?' t
RS girls often thought.
ly Jane could have told them: "Nt
Id was talked out of it,"
Miss Holden had made her real
N how unlovable it made her, and how
es too, such habit became little girls W
were growing into the dignity Of maide
% hood.
er Jane ever afterwards said, when Sal
IL came running to her with something
er tell:
Never mind, Sallie. Your ears W
M ache carrying SO much, after while
you let them catch up anything now
lv And so no more news fell into Salli
j ears.
u Marrying an Editor.
ID Yes, Pm Mrs. Snow, an editors wi
- 1 we'll remember the day when Mr.. Sn
asked me to become his wife. I conf