The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1879-06-21
THE TWO WISHES.
ny MRS. D. c. LERRIN.

With a run and a jump, a boy darted W
the stairs ofan old house, and burst open the
door of an attic, exclaiming: "Ahoy, my
hearty How goes it?"
The "hearty" was little girl, the only
inmate of the room. She was pretty little
creature, with eyes the color of violets and
hair like spun gold; and her dear mouth
and lovely smile won every heart. She
wept hopping to meet him on little crutch
for she was very lame. Her brother Jack
gave her hug and kiss, and asked "Has-
MT mother got home yet? Howhave you got
along these six weeks without me, Lizzie p
"Mother will soon be here, for she was
going to be let off early this afternoon,
And, oh Jack, we are to have a regular
feastl You know Mr.. Bates, at the st.
Charles Hotel? Well, he said, if she would
go there with basket, she could buy lots ol
nice things that were left over, and they
would be very cheap. So we are going to
celebrate your arrival with grand dinner"
"You don't say so?" said Jack. "That
sounds good to jolly tar, who is as hungry
as a shark"
Jack Lovejoy had been employed on a
yacht all Summer, and the owner, Mr.,
Hawes, had been off on six weeks cruise
Poor little lame Lizzie had passed many
long days trying to amuse herself without
her lively companion.
"But, jack" said his sister, "what makes
you look so funnY?'
cts my new jacket, guess" said Jack
turning around and displayinga pea; jacket
very much too large for him.
" No it's not that. It's the color of your
face; and your hands, too. What makes
them so black"
"Why," said Jack, thats only tan. Just
wait till you see my arms |" And he rolled
up his sleeves and showed two well-black-
ened wrists.
"Oh, dear" cried Lizzie. "What can you
do for them. Mother will be so sorryW
"SorryI" cried Jack. I" think it's jolly.
| sat with bare arms lots of times before the
tan would come on. At first they only
blistered, and then the skin would peel off,
But at last the black got burnt in, and l tell
you they are beauties -
ats too bad ?" said Lizzie. "Dd Mr.
Hawes make you do t?"
"of course, not. He don't know anything
about it. But tell how you have got on
without me. How has Jerry Aourished?"
Lizzie had for her only pet a scarlet ger
anium, which was her pride and delight
"Jack would persist in calling it jerry
though she did not like it.
"Look for yourself" And Lizzie pointed
to the six large red blossoms, that did credit
to her care.
How comes on the Ventilator family"
And Jack leaned out of the window, to take
a look at the chimneys.
Lizzie's lameness kept her indoors so much
she had to draw very largely upon her I'M
agination for amusement. The rusty old
ventilators, that were in sight from the attic
window, afforded no end of fun. Many a
merry hour had she and Jack passed watch
ing the crazy old things. Now one was
whispering some gossip into it's neghbor's
ear, when whiz presto round it would
whirl, with hoarse creak, and the children
would say they had quarreled. No two
looked alike, and they had SC much express
sion they grew to be almost real people to
Lizzie, and seemed like old friends.
ooh, dear I" replied Lizzie. awe had n
very high wind a week ago, and how they
did groan and squeak! Old Mrs. ", was
nearly killed, and her little girl hasn't stood
up straight since"
al should think So" said Jack. "Mother
V, has got an awful list in her bonnet, and
they'll have to take a reef IN little VS.
feather. It's tipped over backward. But
who's this fine new fellow? When did he
arrive?"
"Ohl two or three weeks ago. We have
MT called on him yeti he Looks so stuck up,
with that whirling thing on his head. |
don't believe he's half so nice as the rusty
old bonnets, that look so sociable. But we
must begin to set the table, for mother will
soon be in, and then well have dinner"
"Ill show you how TO set table," cried
Jack. 81 always did it on board the yacht"
Lizzie gave him the cloth, and he Tapped
il on in tree, while she looked on, very
much amused.
Brazil her up there. We must have
everything taut, you know" He put the
plates on, bottom side up and stuck the ends
of the knives and forks under the edges,
The pepper-pot and salt cellar he put in
tumblers. "There we are now, all ship
shape" Aud he sat down well pleased with
his work.
"why," said Lizzie, "yOu havnt put on
half the things"
"There's enough. Don't you see, she
might give a lurch, and then where would
you be, with everything sent fying?"
Lizzie laughed aud said to herself "Jack
is putting on airs, with all this new sailor
talk. / must take him down a little" "Oh!
yes. l forgot But you see earthquakes
havn't been very common with US this
Summer put on all the dishes We want"
Jack felt snubbed but he laughed, and
told Lizzie she was a nice little thing, if she
did make fun Of him.