The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1878-05-16
INuIDENTs IN DICKS LIFE.
A Nice Little Story for ChiIdren.


The children had been having a per
feet carnival in the nursery. Without
really meaning to be mischievOus, they
had managed to do a great many wrong
things. Ii had been a day when the
nurse Nora, with all her good niture
had been fairly at her wills end, and
had declared 1.-The witches was in thin
children!" Lofty, in her laudable desire
to help mamma had pulled large ink
bottle upon her own curly pate, satu-
rating hairand Clothes. While mamma
and Nora were busily removing the
marks of this dreadful catastrophe,
adabel, being fired with zeal by the sight
Of 81 m -ch SOAP and water, and being
also by nature a tidy little housewife,
removed all the dolls furniture from
her big baby-hOuse, and scrubbed the
doors from gaTretto kitchen with papa's
nice new toothbrush, using the hard
soap with an unsparing hand. Harry,
coming in later in The day, had added
4 liberal contribution to the days dis
asters, by shooting hole through the
glass door of the bookcase with his pop
gun, and OverturIiug the hOwer-stand
as he backed out Of The room in his dis
may. Altogether both the mistress and
the nurSemuid had a gre feeling OF
relief and rest, when The last gOod-
nights were fsintIy echoed from the
three small beds III tn chamber beyond
the nursery. "a. II E#FH4
Nora lad carefully turned down the
gaslight. 50 that Dick should not chirp
and disturb the little trio of trouble
ONE comforts, " had disposed small
tOEeErack full cr aprons airing, at. a
safe distance from the CRATE, and had
gone down to sit in the kitchen with
Bridget. Mamma hid smooIhgd her
swte3 fuee into its usual serene ex-
nTession. and WIS reading the evening
papers with papa; and fora while every
thing was shfe and quiet.
Now, when Mrs. West had bought
Dick of the bird fancier two years ago.
The man- had repeated -OwE and over
again, Splendid singeFhe is, ma'am;
warranted to sing by daylight or gas
light, Mrs. West did not think much
OF this at the time, but she sccn
found that the lively little fellow would
hop and chirp all night if he saw the
lea t spark of light. Often when one
Of the children was sick at night, Dick
would have 10 be hung in another room
such 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
'lumbcrs he was suddenly walked by a
light. Instantly he WAS on two legs n,
staa1 Of one, and in few seconds WAS
4iirping in a very lively tone. Think
ing that a nocturnal lunch would taste
good, he hoped down to the seed box,
and was busily engaged in ca ing,
Brighter and brighter CLEANED the
light, and presently it attracted our
wise little bird, so that he flew into his
ring and began n soft little song. But
The light that ple:srd LILLE Dick was
far more dazzling than the ordinary
ga light, for a live coal had snapped
from the midst Of the glowing fire, and
IN moment the aprons began to blaze
One of them falling off, lay on Mabel's
little heap Of clothes, and these were
soon on fire; the CHAIR close by con-
tain d Lotly's clio hes, and just beyond
that, through tie open door, was the
foot of II,ary's white bed. The three
precious lives were stepped in sound
childish sIumbpr, while the hearts round
which the little lives were entwined,
were breathing calmly and unc1n ,ciOus-
Iy in papd's and mammals bosoms
Could nothing siye them? Lad they
waved in vain to God to watch over
them that night and keep them from
harmg WOull He look down from
Heaven and see them perish?
No; God dld not Drlng THIS great SOE-
row upon our friends; lie told little
Dick to sing, louder and yet louder.
The children, tireh out with their
play, slept on, and did not hear the
friendly voice; but Mrs. West, down
stairs, started, and held her breath to
listen. why don't you 60 on, my
iear2" SAID her husband HaUki
George, i" said She; "Ithink 1 hear Dick
singing!' "WelI, what il he is sing,