Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1879-10-11

was brave enough to own it, winnin
the admiration OF all who knew him."
Dr. Sparkler was an old man, and !
might have looked unseemly for
youth Of my years to have told him n;
mistake. Tommy's mother told him {,
bring little bucket of water from th,
creek for bathing purposes, and correctl,
supposes he lost his balance and fell il,
while Hank Black, as the boys call him
played euchre with Ned Loller and wo,
his new jack-knife. He dare not b,
seen with the knife at home, an hi,
father has forbidden his playing card
away from home, so he traded it fol
fish, and, after idling the entire da,
around low places, rushed home to sur
prise his parents.
Any one Of half understanding nigh
have known, too, that such trout neye,
were caught in the Muddy bend.
After such remarks felt little relish
for the games, and as might be expected
missed sadly, which incurred forfeit
here. too, my luck always failed, for j
was sure to tumble over every time ]
was ordered to kiss girl, bringing nv
companion laundering down with me.
The CONFUSION was 80 great that some
one suggested dancing, and, though !
knew Aunt Dorcas would be displeased,
l joined; but our set provoked the
mirth of the Snickerton Hollow young
folks, and we decided to leave quite
early after raising quite a snug little
sum for the church.
i wondered, when entered the sleigh
for our homeward ride, if the path of
literature was as rough as that sociable.
The wind had changed, or we had,
for the night seemed intensely cold,
and I was obliged to relinquish my
robe to Miss Arathusa Touzle and her
young man, as they got under it entirely
-in consequence of which / received q
terrible cold. Pa Hhl
y Aunt Dorcas insists that it nas dane.
ing, because ache all over, and has
covered me with drafts and poultices.
I do not know what I should have
done if Jack Bronson had not given me
one offBill Toodles' latest novels. Aunt
saw the book and asked what it was. I
replied, "You remember the Deadwood
stage robbery last September?"
"Yes," she replied, catchinga glimpse
of the three suspended victims that
embellished the cover, "and have they
hung them?"
$50 it seems" said I, looking intently
at the gaudy cheat. t,f D
"I wish you would read aloud" said
Aunt Dorcas after Jack had gone; so,
after explaining as well as I could that
the author, to spare the feelings of the
friends of the robbers, had changed the
names, as well as introduced some
characters in order to show mere per-
feet contrast between virtue and vice,
said that the only real stamp, in which the
original might be traced, was by the
title, "The Fatal Brick"
AS aunt had long since known that
this self-same precious brick OF pure
gold had been the means of catching
one Of the desperadoes in our little
town, she only urged me to proceed
without further explanation; nor would
she allow me to return to sleep in the
,garret. "a is.a,t5..,
How she did hurry up the delicious
toast and coffee for breakfast But 1
had not read many pages when we were
interrupted by the entrance of, Deacon
Finny and his little boy Peter.
- It is almost impossible to escribe
little Peter Finny; and, then, it has
been wisely said Z" Judge not that ye
be not Judged" it was quite as hard for
Aunt L orcas and 1 to forego reading
" The Fatal Brick" " ,-,.a
Here, it seems, was another ,brick, ,and
possibly the very one that the builders
rejected. Deacon Finny is not the man
to launch before he prepares the way,
so he commenced stammering about the
increasing prevalence of crime.
"I suppose you have heard, Miss
Holt, that Mr.. Toodles has received the
nomination for Senatcr?" he asked.
Well, it is so, and, though he's on my
ticket, shall be compelled to s-crr;atch
him out" ae,stl
Aunty had not heard il, she said, but
added: II always have heard Mr.
Toodles spoken Of as very worthy citi-
zen."
aOh, he's good enough generally
stammered the deacon, "but you see he
writes novels"
trembled SO that I shook the
draft off from my feet; for l expected
the old hypocrite wonld begin about the
fatal brick.
ave brought Peter, Miss Holt, for
your pupil. You see you are the only
woman who can manage fractious boys"
said the deacon, looking directly at me.
NV fears Of exposure in light litera-
ture fed at the approach OF that scion
Of mischief. Hadn't / seen his pranks
in the primary school for the last three
months? where the teacher, though
skilled in government, could find no
manner of encouragement or punish
ment that could induce the little ecape-
goat = behave. Only Q years old, and
40 stepped in sin as to shame the veriest
tramp Of the townl
Aunty was conversing with Mr..
Finny in regard to Peters Instructions,
when a loud scream from the little imp
called her attention. "Your burned ole
cat bit me, she didp he cried. I'll Kill
her, SO thereP !,
Aunt Dorcas bound up the bleeding
finger. for il YVES evident Maltie had de-
Tended herself. And, after cautioninIg
Peter to be a very good little boy, the
deacon departed. a.
snow finish the story" said she, be
fore another intrusion occurs"
aBut YOU are not going to instruct
a. .1St-o,,Sn oaLad NV blood boiling at