The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1880-02-05
FOR THE Y0BNGF0hKss

= z sas4-
Carries eighth bizthdays;had come at
last, and more than that, all the, little
girls who were to help her keep the
great day had come too, and were now
standing by the shady cedar on the
sunny lawn, waiting for her to decide
what the next game should be.
"I know what we will have" said
good natured Carrie " we will play hide
and seek. There are splendid hiding
places among the trees and bushes in the
garden, and there is plenty of stirring
for you in that game, Jenny"
Now this Jenny was little romp,
often called Jenny for her boyish ways.
ALI the children were pleased with
| this proposal, and first one hid, and then
another, till it came at last Jenny turn.
Now Jenny had determined that her
hiding place should not be easily found,
and she had settled some time before
where it should be.
In a lonely part of the garden stood
summer house-a large room, with
room over it in-which the gardener kept
bulbs and labels, and anything he
wanted out of the way. This room was
seldom used even by him, and it could
only be reached by ladder from the
outside. The ladder was now standing
there, for the gardener had just been
to the loft to fetch some nails, and had
left the ladder, intending to take it away
when he left off work. Into this loft
Jenny got.
By-and-by she heard the children
running up and down the garden look
ing for her. They, peeped into the
bushes, they gazed up the trees, they
hunted every nook and corner of the
garden, but no Jenny could they find.
They were quite tired out atlast, and
seeing the gardener, who was coming to
fetch away the ladder, they asked him
if he had noticed little girl hiding
anywhere.
No, Giles had seen no one. "She
isn't up the ladder, think yef' said the
old man.
"Oh mol she daren't go up there"
said timid Winifred.
"She dare go anywhere" said Carrie.
" Please, Giles, just 60 up and see if she
is in the loft"
"Pll go for ye, Miss Carrie" said he,
though 1 hardly think the little missy
would get SO high
well hidden by the peach net that he
/ buOuRAl Vic lOOm Cupbys 4uClC
naught here" he called to the expec-
tant children at the foot of the ladder.
Meanwhile, Jennie was shaking with
laughter at her cleverness in taking in
the old gardener, and was so amused at
it that it was some minutes before she
remembered he would take away the
off work So, cautiously raising her
| oa1f froro fho nd ho
thick covering of peach net, she got up.
But where was she ? what had happened
All was dark as night, and yet it was a
June afternoon.
Then the truth flashed across her.
The gardener had closed the door of the
loft when he left. and here was she shut
up in a dark room far away from every
onel There was no way of getting out;
the door was fastened outside, and
there was no window.
| Meanwhile, the children had given
up looking for Jenny. They had
shouted to her to come out, they would
look no more; but finding that even
these messages did not bring her, Car
rie ran into the drawing-room where her
mother was writing, and told her.
Mrs. Leigh left the room, and telling
nurse to keep the children amused until
she returned, she went into the garden
to find the little truant. She was how
ever, no more successful than the chill
dren had been. She went to the sum-
mer house; but at that time Jenny was
sobbing on the loft floor, and did not
hear Mrs. Leigh's gentle voice calling
"Jenny! Jennyr' So that chance was
gone.
Mrs. Leigh at last becane really
anxious. Where, thought she, could
the little girl be? Mrs. Leigh could not
! imagine, and tired of useless searching
she made up her mind to visit the vii
lage policeman, and ask his advice in the
matter.
He was enjoying rest in the garden
when Mrs. Leigh arrived, and stated the
| facts to him. s.
The policeman thought moment,
and then, assuming. his professional
voice, said, /" will come and view the
premises, ma'am, and then l shall be
able to decide what is best to be done in
the case" GA
johnson loved cease" and was
ready in few minutes to accompany
Mrs. Leigh to the Hall, taking with him
Boxer, a clever sheep dog.
They reached the garden, and Mrs
Leigh showed him the spot where the
child had started.
1--WE know she went past here" she
said, for one of the children found hel
scarf which she must have dropped al
she ram" 4
"Would you let me have the scarf 8
minute? p asked the policeman respect
fully; and taking the scarf in his hands
| ha I1I PovarD1
The dog came instantly at his masters
scarf, the policeman trailed it along the
ground, saying, " 60 seek Boxerl"
Off ran Boxer with his nose to the
ground, and Mrs. Leigh and the police
man followed. s4
The dog stopped outside the summer
house, but search as they might, nc
Jenny was to be seen there.
1.-The dog must have made mistake,
thought the policeman, as he agair
searched the empty room; "but I nevel
knew it at fault before" Then address
ing Mrs. Leigh, be said, "There is nj
secret cupboard here, is there, ma'am
that the young lady could have crep
intO?'
4 "No, there is no cupboard" said Mrs
; Leigh, sadly, feeling another chanc,
gone now the dog had failed. "We keel
, nothing here. There is the loft above
where.old Giles keeps his nets, but how
could the child get thereT'
1t did not seem possible; but as th'
, dog still remained rooted ITO the sam,
spot the policeman resolved to see wha
there was in the loft; so. fetching lad
der, he climbed up, opened the door, ant
J there on the floor lay Jenny, tired ou
with grief and tea1s, and fast asleep
Mrs. Leigh, who was more thankful thar
words can say, took the little girl from
him and laid her gently on the summer
house seat. Jenny was awake now, and
, seeing the policeman, clung tightly t.
Mrs. Leigh, and implored her not to sent