The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1879-10-09
WRITING A NOVEL.
BY MRS. g. M. ALANsoN.

@Rough and rugged path of liter
ature." had often heard Bill Toodles
say this, but I didn't believe he meant
il.
was thinking In this way when I
entered the sitting-room after returning
from school. True, stood at the foot
of Fame's magnificent ladder; but
wasn't there room at the top?
Toodles had perched on the top
round-was unanimously nominated
for a Senator, while the Eastern pub
fishers paid fabulous prices for his lit
erary productions
I might never become Toodles; but
1 might become great, nevertheless.
"GriffithI" said Aunt Dorcas, break
ing in upon my pleasant musings and
OBTAINING my eager feet from the attic,
where I intended to read for the
twentieth time my letter in the Bugle
"the Finnyville youngsters are going
to take sleigh-ride to Snickerton; a
kind of sociable in the Hollow, I be-
ieve; and you will want some money,
for they are trying to raise funds to
purchase grounds on which to build a
church. Here's 10 cents more for
candy" she added, after giving gener-
ously for the donation.
"Ten cents will buy two Bugle'S
thought ], "and will take all my notices
and sugar -plums I've had since / was "a
little fellow to make up the difference.
In vain, 1 looked for my paper,
then remembered to have slept with it
under my pillow that I might turn to
it frequently; now the bed was nicely
made and the paper gone. s-s-'-'-''.--1
Ting. q ling, ling, ling, Grif Lott, :
shouted half . dozen merry voices, as
the sleigh drove up to the door. A
word or two from Aunt Dorcas, and I
was among the party, as happy as the
happiest.
The sleighing was splendid, quite un-
common for Finnyville, and the
manner the young people joked and
laughed showed they intended to en-
JOY it.
I could not wholly Danish from my
mind my missing Bttgle, but, as
auntie was tipcommonly generous, did
not apprehend trouble, but explain to
me, if you will, the cunning of woman
Why, hadn't sat twenty minutes in
the presence of the Rev. DR.. Sparkler,
of Snickerton, before I saw he under
stood more of that affair tnan myself.
The doctor commented on the worth
less trash styled light literature,
affirmed he could select from a thou
sand its readers, as well as those who
contributed to its columns, winding up
by consigning the whole to the flames
which was the surest and only way to
rid the world of such gigantic evil.
Had DR.. Sparkler stopped here
could have forgiven his errors, but he
then referred to the accidental and
painful death of poor Tommy Turner,
8hoping," he said, at might prove q
salutary lesson" !" just as if Tommy had
been violating some law.
"I was more forcibly impressed, he
said, aafter returning from the pool
boys burial to see Henry Black come
home eager and happy"
"What, my son" said Brother Black
$50 early from school?"
"No, sir" replied the lad, holding VI
two fine fish; "Ive been fishing
haven't been to school to-day"
@That boy will be PRESIDENT" cried
to Brother Black. wonder he die
not equivocate after playing truant, OF
Monday, too"
aTher's the secret, my dear sir," sait
the boys father. Il was boy once
and intend to indulge my boy and gail
his confidence"
"Here, my dear young friends" con
tinued DR.. Sparkler, ais rare them
for volume. Tommy Turner, sent OF
Sabbath morning for water, disobey
ing and going fishing, thereby losing
his life; and the frank, truthful Henr,
Black, though persuaded to play truant
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 hi
mistake. Tommy's mother told him t
bring little bucket of water from tn
creek for bathing purposes, and correctl
supposes he lost his balance and fell il
while Hank Black, as the boys call hin
played euchre with Ned Loller and wo
his new jack-knife. He dare not
seen with the knife at home, as hi
father has forbidden his playing card
away from home, SO he traded it fo
fish, and, after idling the entire da
around low places, rushed home to SUI
prise his parents.
Any one of half understanding migt
have known, too, that such trout neve
were caught in the Muddy bend.
| . After such remarks, I felt little, ,relis
for the games, and as. might be expecte
missed sadly, which incurred a forfeit
here, too, my luck always failed, for
was sure to tumble over every time
was ordered to kiss girl, bringing m
companion laundering down with me.
The confusion was so great that som