The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-09-04

THE TWO WISHES.

The "hearty" was little girl, the only
inmate of the room. She was a pretty
little creature, with eyes of the color OF
violets and hair like spun gold; and her
dear mouth and lovely smile won every
heart. She went hopping to meet him
on a little crutch, for she was very lame,
Her brother Jack gave her a hug and a
kiss, and asked "Hasn't mother got
home vet? How have YOU got along these
six weeks without me, Lizzie|
''Mother will soon be here, for she was
going to be let off early this afternoon.
And, Oh. Jack, we are to have Il regular
feast You know Mr.. Bates, at the St
Charles Hotel? Well, he said, it she
would 90 there with a basket, she could
buy lots of nice things that were left
over, and they would be very cheap. So
we are going to celebrate your arrival
with a grand dinner"
"You don't say so?" said Jack. "That
sounds good to Jolly tar, who is as hun
gry as a shark"
Jack Lovejoy had been employed on
Yacht all summer, and the owner, Mr..
Hawes, had been off on a six-wceks'
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 displaying a
pea-iacket 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, that's only tan.
Just wait till you sec my arms" And
he rolled up his sleeves and showed two
well-blackened wrists.
"Oh, dear" cried Lizzie. What can
you do for them. Mother will be so
sorry!'
"Sorry." cried Jack. II think it's jol-
ly. | sat with bare arms lots Of times
before the tan would come Oh. At first
they only blistered, and then the skin
would peel Of. But at last the black
got burnt in, and | tell you they are
beauties"
''its too bad. SAID Llzze. "Dld MT.
Hawes make you DO t%
"Ot course not. He don't know any
thing about it. But tell me how you
got on without me. How has Jerry
tourishedT'
Lizzie had for her only pet scarlet
geranium, which was her pride and de-
light Jack would persist in calling it
GERRY" though she did not like it.
Look for yourself" And Lizzie point
ed to the six large red blossoms, that did
credit to her care
"How comes on the Nentilator family?'
And Jack leaned out of the window to
take look at the chimneys.
Lizzie's lameness kept her indoors SO
much she had to draw very largely upon
her imagination for amusement. The
rusty old ventilators, that were in sight
from the attic window, afforded no end
of fun Many merry hour had she and
Jack passed watching the crazy old
things. Now one was whispering some
gossip into his neighbor's ear, when whiz!
presto! round it would whirl, with a
hoarse creak, aud the children would say
they had quareled. No two looked
alike, and they had so much expression
they grew to be almost real people to Liz
le and seemed like old friends.
"Oh, dearn' replied Lizzie. owe had
very high wind week ago, and how
they did groan and squeak! Old Mrs. V.
was nearly killed, and her little girl hasn't
stood up strai ght since"
II should think so, said Jack. "Mother
v has got an awful list in her bonnet,
and they'll have to take reef in little
VS. feather. It, tipped over backward.
But who is this fine new fellow? When
did he arriyc?
ooh. two OF three weeks ago. We
haven't called upon him yet; he look SC
stuck up, with that whirligig thing or
his head, | don't believe he's half SC
nice as the old rusty bonnets, that loob
so sociable. But we must begin to SCI
the table, for mother will soon be in, anC
then We'll have dinner"
'Tll show you how to set table,
cried Jack, Il always did it on boart
the yacht"
Lizzie gave him the cloth, and hi
tapped it on in trice, while she lo0ket
on, very much amused
"BraiI her up there. We must have
every thing taut, you know" He pu
the plates on bottom side up and stucl
the end Of the knives and forks undel
the edges. hepepper pot and salt-cellaI
ne put in tumbers. There we are now
all ship-shape" And he sat down wei
pleased with his work.
"Why," said Lizzie, you haven't put
on half the things"
There's enough. Don't you see, she
might give lurch, and then where
would you be, with everything sent fly
ing%
Lizzie laughed and said to herself
"Jack is putting on airs, with ali thi
new saior-talk. ] must take him dow
a little" "Ohl yes. / forgot. But yo1
see earthquakes haven't been very com
mon with us this summer put on al
the dishes we want"
Jack felt snubbed but he laughed, an,
told Lizzie she was nice little thing, i
she did make fun of him.
'Littlep' cried she. "Just see how Pv
grown. My crutch is getting too short
! shall have to have new one"
Japk'S heart gave a thrnh One da