The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-11-24

scarlet color. The young tluttered about
gayly and were happy, and fond and foolish,
and the old looked on with calm content
Then all went to their comfortable homes
and to rest.
The night crept on-dark, dreadful night;
the moon hid behind black clouds; the owls
went boot toot, and the frogs went kerchuk,
and the beasts roared in the forest and ugly
bats flew about, and the wind whStled in at
cracks and over bleak fields. The ghosts
and COLLINS and wicked things all came out
and walked round and round, and the whole
world seemed groaning and weeping before
the dreadful deed"
'What dreadful deed?' asked Christine in
whisper
Hold your tongue and you'll see said
Charlie very much interested.
Then there came stealing across the coun-
try" Jack went on with intensity, "a band
of men-cruel men with wicked clubs and
great knives-and they came to these peace
full homes where everybody was asleep
''Wath they burglarth?' interrupted Flos-
''Not burglars, but mur-r-r-derers," an
swered Jack, his voice growing deep and
rolling like mutf1ed frums or distant thun-
der.
''Said one to another" growled Jack with
melodramatic looks and starts, Shall we
take them alive or shall we murder 'em
sleepng?"
"-Murder 'em, stab em, strangle 'em, old
and young alike; spare not one was the an
swer from great man brandishing naked
blade So they stole along" he explained,
suiting the action to the word, "stooping
and crouching and whispering and exchang-
ing signs, and then all at once they burst in
to the houses,'' here the story teller grew
loud and wild, his arms flew like wind sails,
his ewes stared horribly. sob, but there
was fierce struggle. Strong fellows walked
from sleep, fought desperately for life;
mothers defended their little ones to the
last: but the murderers slashed right and
left. They strangled and cut off heads;
there were wild cries and flying forms, and
confusion and death and blood-blood every
where,' roared Jack, with awful power, till
every child trembled and Tot began to curl
her under lip.
"Why didn't somebody help the poor
things?' Charlie broke out Indignantly.
"Pd have helped 'em,' added Tom,
eagerly.
s'Why didn't you do it, then?" said Jack,
with stern displeasure.
''Where did it all happen?' said Tom,
stung by the reproof.
''Here-here in this very town."
''Here!' exclaimed the children, SILVER
ing and looking over their shoulders, half
scared, for twilight was falling.
'Yes. here" groaned Jack, "and only
yesterday. Innocent creatures struck down
in the midst of life, mangled and cut to
pieces. Oh, Children" pointing with ter
window there. Hush! Are you afraid of
ghosts? If you are don't look roundabout
look round!"
81 amt afraid of 'em,' said Tom, weakly;
still he didn't look round Flossy shrieked,
Maud shut her eyes, and Tot, WHO couldn't
understand the story, was crying hard in
sympathy, while Jack stood like a dreadful
enchanter in the midst of the trembling
group.
''Send the ghosts away, Cousin jack"
suggested Charlie, very humby.
"Children," spoke Jack, in sepulchral
tones, ''you've been very tormenting to me
to-day, and I've half mind to run off and
leave YOU" Prim Maud clutched at his
coat. ''But on one condition I'll light the
gas and not scare you any more"
''What is it?'
"Will you obey?'
Eyes, Cousin Jack"
''Then cover up your eyes, every one Of
YOU. tight: don't dare look out of a corner.
You, too, Miss Darlington"
All the eyes were duly covered, half in
genuine fright at the story and the twilight
and the ghosts, half in play.
''Now say, every one OF yOu-you too,
Miss Uarrington-.Jack, l love your"
The children yelled in chorus, but Jack
listened for one voice, and that not shrill
one.
''Heads down, eyes shut moment MORE"
he roared. 'sDon't look up for your lives.''
There was little delay, then match was
struck, the gas flashed bright and the chill
dren rubbed their eyes and burst out laugh
ing.
'What people were killed, Cousin Jack?'
they clamored. ''Tell us true, won't YOU"
''There were no people killed"
''What did you mean them"
''The dreadful massacre Of"
"What?''
1.-THE Thanksgiving turkeys"
''But the ghosts"
''Look out Of the window"
Three tough old gobblers were stalking
across the garden in lonely state.
The children screamed with the fun, Tom
boosted, "Ho!I knew it was CANNON all
the time,'' and Jack was dragged in triumph
to the drawing-room in the midst of the
laughing group.
''You look happy, jack remarked Grand
pa, peering benevolently over his spectacles.
1T makes one happy to tell the dear chill
dren pleasant and useful stories,' answered
Jack, like hypocrite.
''Such an excellent, supplemented fellow
is our jack spoke grandpapa, approvingly,
to one of the aunts.
''Thay, Couthn jack" said Flossy, in her
high pitched lisp, ''wath anybody kithing
anybody when we had our eyth covered
up?'
'Nonsense, child" answered jack aloud,
and then, in fierce whisper, ''Hold your
tongue, you monkey"
But lively Nell had quick eyes, and began
to laugh and tease.
''Bless me, Nellie" said Jack, coolly,
''you're late. ''We've been engaged some
time, haven't we, Belle?''
ooh yes, some little time," she asserted,
conscious of literal truth.
''Just three minutes added Jack, in
audbly.
Cousin Nell was quiet, not being inclined
to publish that an engagement standing for
''some time' had escaped her observation;
so the matter came out gradually and grace
fully, after all.