The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1880-01-07
The Lightning Ring.
BY LESLIE THORN Z.

$50 do II said Lille her sister.
While little Janey stood by, with tightly
folded hands, wishing she was not so awk-
ward and bashful, and could speak as bright
and readily as Lille and Tessie She too,
was fond Of old Aunt Hester, who had come
TO spend the winter with their mamma
Aunt Hester, who gave them such beautiful
scraps Of silk and ribbon. for their patch
work, suggested such nice games and plays
for rainy weather, and told them such inter
esting stories about fairies, and elves, and
crooked old witches with diamonds hidden IN
the handles of their walking sticks,
and hair that turned to writhing
serpentsl But Janey was quiet little girl,
and while she was thinking what it would
be n &c TO say, Tessie and Lille got ahead of
he and said the very things!
Tessie ran out in the garden and picked
little bouquet of pansies and sweet migno
nette for Aunt Hester Lille brought her
glass of clear cold water, fresh from the
spring Janey sat down to hem handker-
chief for her, and in the midst of their in
dustry, two of their little schOOlmates came
to spend the Saturday afternoon with them.
''Oh, girlsl" said Tosse, wouldn't you like
TO see the lightning ring?"
"What is the lightning ring" demanded
Sarah and Susan Peters.
Its a little ring, with beautiful crimson
stone in it Just like teeneY drop of blood
And It's shaped ike gold serpent, all coy
cred with scales-and it belonged to little
cousin Of Aunt Hester, who was struck by
lightning and killed one summer day when
she vas playing under the trees And her
mamma gave the ring to Aunt Hester-and
she Keeps it in paper box, in red cotton
wool, smelling of roses. And they call it
the lightning ring-and it just fits my mid
die finger, and, OH don't l wish auniy would
give it to mel"
$50 90 L. cried Lille.
so do l." whispered Janey, almost afraid
of the sound of her own voice
Lille went in for the ring, but Aunt Hes
ter said she was tired, and could not go up
stairs just then. But she gave them pretty
Chinese puzzle in pink and white ivory, and
some gold paper to cut dolls dresses out Of
About a week afterwards, Aunt Hester
called out of her window Ia the little girls.
Children" said she, Il want you to come
upstairs and help me little while"
Tessie was very busy transplanting some
little Seeding pinks into her aower-bed.
Lille" said she, 'yon go!'
.'Oh, can't, said Lille I'm Just put
ting Dolly's clothes on the grass for bleach,
ike Mamie, the vasherwoman. Go, your
self, Tessie.'
Bat Jancy scrambled to her feet at once
What Is il, Aunt Hester?" said she "I'll
come"
II want all three of YOU, said Aunt Hes
ter.
Tessie threw down the troyvel with pout
Lille gave the dolls clothes basket a poke
with her fOot-and they all three came up
to their aunt's room.
Aunt Hester sat there, with three balls of
blue stocking yarn in her lap.
Now sit down, little girls" said Aunt
Hester smiling, and pointing to the sofa,
and each of YOU wind off one Of these balls
of blue yarn upon these reels
What for?" said Jessie Grossly.
Because want it DONE said Aunt Hes
ter. "Isn't that reason enOugh?"
But it will take US all the afternoon" said
Tessie
VERY likely said Aunt Hester.
Couldn't we do it just as well on some
rainy day" said Lille, "when there is no
sunshine to bleach dolls clothes, nor butter
hies nor bees?'
But Aunt Hester shook her head
Now is the accepted time said -he
sravely.
Janey sat cheerfully down and com
menced her task
1T won't take US long girls,' said She
And we can be repeating our Sunday
school hymns while we are doing it, You
know Miss Peake said we didn't know them
perfectly last Sunday"
"I-don't-want tor pOuted Tessie.
'Nor H. said Lille.
"I'll wind EN- all three for you Aunt Hes
Ter" said Janey. 1T won't be very long
job"
"Well, little girls said Aunt Hester, cit
must be as you choose. | shall not compel
YOU r. assist me, if you do not feel like it,"
Tessle hesitated moment, but at last she
remembered her pinks and unfinished flower
bed, and slowly walked out of the reom.
Lille promptly followed. But Janey drew
her foOt-st oil close up to Aunt Hester's
chair.
Now. aunty," said she, twill you tell me
over again the story of the old Indian squaw
who sold pincushions, and carried her baby
on her babk strapped into a basket, when
you were a little girl?"
So Aunt Hester began the Indian story,
which always made little Janey open wide
her eve and mouth, no matter how often il
was repeated, and Janey wound diligently
away. much gratifed to see how fast one ball
decreased in size, while the other grew fat
ter and fatter.
eAunt Hester said she, I'D as soon
wind ne ether two, when ! have finished
this If you would like"
"No, my child" said Aunt Hester, patting
her head Il shall be quite satisfied with
one ball. But what an industrious little
Janey you srel'
II ike to work for you. Aunt Hester"
said Janey. smiling and blHshing.
"Why"
because love you" said fancy.
"I0u never told me SO BEFORE"
Because Tessie and Lille can talk so
much better than ! can-and because L felt
ashamed, explained Janey.
"You are a dear, good little girl, said
Aunt Hester And then she told Janey an
other delightful story about her days at
boarding-school and how the girls once