The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-04-06

lessons on the banks of the creek. The
shores looked as if they had been cut
out by "a big lingering iron," Hattie
said; and nearly every irregularity was
dlgnified as cape or bay, isthmus or
harbor.
1t did not matter in the least that
Baffin's Bay was in close neighborhood
to Florida, or that West Point with its
small brick fort. which had fortunately
escaped destruction, was just opposite
Cape Horn. Even little Sue could de-
fine all the "natural divisions of land"
as the geography says. @.1H
Charley had hoped to get rid of the
girls after a time; but, as is generally
the case, they wouldn't be got rid of.
AS the morning passed by Sue became
| hungry and went in to Norah for a
doughnut, but Hattie suspected that
some project was on foot, and remained
on the field. The sun shone very warm,
and Charley could see that the ice was
melting; if he waited to tire Hattie out
it might be too late. So as a stroke of
policy he took her into partnership.
thereby cutting off the possibility of her
running to tell. '
LEU > nave I'LL lCe-uOe, 11dUUle!F
Real, do you mean, to get on?"
Yes, of course"
"Oh, I'd be afraid"
'Pooh! didn't those folks 90 hun
dreds of miles on one?''
Yes, but it was bigger than any of
these
80 is the ocean bigger than the
river; it wasn't any bigger for the
ocean,"
"How far would we go?''
"Oh, we could stop most anywhere;
I'd take that pole there and could push
in to land any time
sc 1t runs too fast, don't it?'
"No, not for long piece. Well do
it; will you go, WHIP"
No. Will was too cautious; he would
rather stay on land.
oven have to take Sue," said Hat
tie, and Charley saw the need of that
Immediately. Sue always had the last
bit of news she had heard or the last
sight she had seen right on the end of
her tongue, and, no matter what the
consequence was, it always would slip
right off on the first occasion. That
fact decided Hattie that she herself had
better go to the house for Arethusa,
Sues baby, whom she insisted should be
added to the party.
1t proved quite a difficult matter to
find suitable cake of ice in place
where it could be launched. But at
last the boys selected one on the banks
of the Ebay of Biscay' as the best
fitted to their purpose; and, after much
prying and pushing, it was put in posi-
ton just at the edge of the water, on
the sloping bank, where it was thought
the girls had better get on.
"What do you want of those things?"
asked Charley, as Hattie came forward
to embark with door-mat and an i'm
mense old muff of her grandmother
The old muff had seen considerable of
the world since the day when grand
mother went to the city with purse
full of Mexican dollars to buy it, and
rode home again, forty miles in
sleigh, half hidden behind it. But the
mutf and the money and the style of
travelling had all gone out of fashion
long since, and now it did duty as a
foot-warmer when the girls went sleigh
ing, and served as a drum majors hat
when Charley's home guard paraded.
On this occasion it was the only thing
toward an Arctic outfit that Hattie in
her haste could find The door-mat
she spread upon the ice for cushion
and she and Susie seated themselves
upon it. Aren't you coming?n she
asked as Charley made no move to
step on.
Who'd push you off? VIII and
will float you and then I'll get on at
Cape Cod there before you get out
into the stream. Now hold on to Sue
in case she gets scarf if it tips little. -
1t did tip a little"; not much indeed,
but sufficiently to soak the cushion and
the children's dresses pretty thorough
ly. Sue screamed and nearly threw
Arethusa overheard, and Hattie in her
effort to keep herself and her little Sis
ter on their seat forgot her furs, and
grandmas muff unnoticed slipped into
the water and was not seen again till it
was picked out of the brush below,
some days afterward. .I
But Charley tipped more decidedly
than theice-tloe; for, as it suddenly gave
way and slid into deeper water, he lost
his footing and followed it as far as his
length would go; and by the time he
was on his feet again it had rounded
"Cape Cod and, caught by the current,
was rapidly slipping down the creek.
1t was not Sue alone who was scared
now She, poor little body, sobbed and
chung to Hattie, who, though white as
sheet at finding her strange craft
without pilot, now spinning round as
some whirlpool caught it, and again
rushing with speed on its way, still had
presence of mind to hold on to Sue and
sit quietly. r..
Charley did the screaming as he ran
along the bank. Whom to call he did
not know; his father he had not seen
since he drove away with his mother
after breakfast. So he kept along shore
as near the girls as possible, while viii
hurried for help. ...... -.....
just at that moment, in full conf
dence that the children "wouldn't get
into anything" Mr.. Rae was COM
fortably talking town news in the
postoffice, as he waited for the return
ing train. And just at that moment
the train whistled and came in sight,
and Mrs. Rae, looking toward the house
for the usual salute of handkerchiefs