The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1878-09-05
little, but she said nothing.

seemed to the frightened girls like thun
| der; something ran and bounced into 9
dark corner. They didn't wait to see
what it was; they sped and tumbled over
each other to get to the landing below
Thusle's lovely blue sash was grasped bv
Sarah's sticky fingers, which had been
greedily and slyly diminishing the peck
etful of candy in the darkness above.
"Well!" gasped Sarah, when at last
they reached the foot of the stairs. 81
don't see what there is 70 be frightened
at''
"What-did you-come for them
choked Thusie, who had scrambled SC
she could hardly breathe, let alone talk
why, l didn't till you all started
snapped Sarah. 'But never mind, here's
splendid place to see!" and she
ensconced herself at once in the best cor
nor of the big, square front window. 1t
was very dirty, being covered with dust
and CRIME, not exactly the place that
careful mothers would have selected fol-
the holiday dresses of their children.
The grand show of the evening now
began. The girls held their breath as
they watched entranced in the dirty old
window, crouching together very uncom-
fo1tably, trying hard to think they were
having nice time. And o.! was 50
warm and sitting
"Phew! How close it is! Do open the
window, Sarah!' gasped little Frasie at
last.
But it wouldn't open.
II wish we had staid out on the green"
walled Tidy.
Suddenly Sarah screamed.
"Why, as sure as you're alive, they're
going round to the side of the church,
girls, with that splendid wheel of liberty
0, hurry, hurry, hurry!' and she began
to scramble down and pick her way over
the rickety landing to the belfry stairs.
Wait!" called out Frasie; but Sarah
sped on. They could scarcely see her
ahead. They had all they could do to
follow her, and Thusie, being last and
catching her dress on rusty nail by the
unlucky hole she had acquired in the
early part of the day, had to stop out
| right and release it, and SO was entirely
separated from the others. Her mates,
supposing her close behind, reached the
front outer door ana were soon scattered
IL various directions among their friends,
and lost in the delightful enjoyments.
Thusie turned, after going down the
stairs, the wrong way. Near the foot
there was closet-a little old musty
place tor odds and ends-a place that
very few knew existed. The door of this
closet stupid Joe had left open when he
fnr
Thusie, in her bewilderment stumbling
along the narrow passage way, turned
into this door and fell headlong over an
old worm eaten stool standing in the
middle of the floor. She struck her fore
head with great violence on the floor be-
yond, and knew no more.
And now the show was over. Every
body was getting ready for home. Old
Joe was Locking the church.
Couldn't any friendly hand rouse little
Thusiel Aunt Fanny, safe at 6 Brother
Johns" supposed her with her mother
on the green. This was why Thusie
wasn't missed by anyone. Couldn't some
thing have whispered to the loving
mother as she sat there in her low rock
ing-chair-kept at home herself from
Uncle Johns by sick little baby Oracle,
grooming soft melodies into the fretful
little ears--of the danger and lonliness
that threatened her little Thusie.
The old church door shut with bang
This it was probably, that fairly reused
Thusie from the swoon out Of which she
was slowly coming.
In those first dreadful moments Thusie
never knew what she did. She CROPPED
her way out at last to the main passage
There was window UP to which she
managed to climb and press her fright
ened little face piteouslv TO the pane
From time to time, as she had CROPPED
her way along. she had called and shout
ed and then paused to listen. She soon
began to realize this was of no use.
"Oh, dear" l don't believe l ever
could have hated Uncle Johns" she
sobbed, Ats just the loveliest place.
And then the bitter tears dropped down
and rolled all over the soiled little cock
ade that had been SO gay and patriotic
In the early morning. Thusie was
child of great common sense. She knew
nothing could actually harm her in the
old church. and darkness had never for
her any of those keen terrors that invest
1t with such horrible dread for other
children; but remorse reproached her
sorely.
She said over all her prayers, even
those of her babyhood. And then she
watched and waited. 1t seemed TO her
hours, but, in reality, it was only late
bedtime through the village; and lights.
one after another, went out, and all were
peacefully setting for the night.
What was that. Surely nothing but
mouse nibbling at the old woodwork.
Again That was no mouse Thusie
would have said she smelt something
burning. only she must have been dream
ing. She pinched herself to keep awake.
But no. there certainly was little flame
of fire shooting up its determined tongue
right there on the very roof of the porch.
Locked up In an old church, with the fire
that had somehow caught from the FIRE
works and been smouldering. until nov
it had broken out. All the people at
home and IN bed,
Thusie knew enough to realize that the
old weather-beaten structure could never
Withstand the test Ii she could only
ring the old bell, But Joe always put up
the ladder and secured il By a hook when
he finished ringing. She ratified the win