Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1880-07-30

"what does it matter? Only just lit
tie stib,' so-and mother would have
scolded SO hard, and I took so little,
too, and I couldn't just help it and, be-
sides," she thought, Tightening up lit
tie, II wasn't in the sugar-bowl no way,
for there was some in paper"
But the rebellious little sprite in her
breast was not to be cheated that way.
ALI that afternoon, wherever she went,
"Now, Hattie, for shame r. kept whis-
pering and singing deep in her heart.
It wouldn't be left behind. and poor
mamma got no kiss from those rosy lips
as she had been used to, for her little
girl was afraid to approach her, that lit
tie something did whisper so loud. She
tried to play, but it didn't seem like play
any more, and dolly, always 30 pretty
before, was just hateful now. So she
kept her room the rest of the afternoon.
Night came at last, and gladly did Hat
tie welcome it, and soon curly little
head was laid upon the pillow, and the
bright blue eyes were closed in sleep.
She had not slept long before a noise
awakened her, and, listening closely,
she heard confused whispering in the
room about her. With fluttering
heart she peeped cautiously out from
under the coverlid. Her window was
open, and, to her dismay, she saw, re-
vealed by the bright moonlight shining
through it, o troop Of hideous little
gnomes gathered around her bed.
Black, loathsome-looking creatures,
with great, long noses. fang-like teeth
and little fiery eyes. With shudder Of
terror she quickly buried her head be-
meath the cover, trembling with fright.
But they had seen her, and, with a
hooking laugh, they sprang forward
and seized her. She would have cried
out for help, but she could not her
tongue seemed glued to the roof of her
mouth. Giving her to some others who
were awaiting outside Of the window,
the gnomes flew away with her Oh the
wings of the wind.
On, on, over forests and plains and
streams, far away from her home, they
bore her, never stopping in their mad
flight. At last they came to a cold,
bleak region, where there were no trees,
nor flowers, nor green grass; where the
sun was always hid in thick black
clouds, and where nothing but heavy
rocks and wastes of sand stretched far
as the eye could see. Away in the cen
ter of this desert was q high throne, and
on it sat the King Of all the gnomes.
Around him were millions of dark, cruel
little gnomes, all armed with savage
darts and cruel bows. Near the throne
was a bare pinnacle of rock, covered
with blood and tears, and lying around
its base were scores of men, women and
children, all pierced, bleeding, dying
and dead, who, taken prisoners by the
gnomes, had been bound to this rock,
and put to death for the amusement Of
their heartless captors.
Poor Hattiel All alone, far from
human help and at the mercy Of these
heartless creatures
AT sight Of her all the gnomes set up
9 cry Of savage joy, and crowded about
the trembling child, thirsting for her
blood. Fastening her upon that bloody
rock, they awaited impatiently their
King to pronounce the sentence of
death upon her. With breaking hesrt
Hattie begged him most piteously to
spare her, but in vain; all mortals who
fellinto his hands must die, and he ordered
bis gnomes to prepare. Instantly gath
erlng in frowning ranks about her, with
drawn bows and poised darts, the sav
age creatures awaited impatiently his
order to fire.
The command was Just upon his lips,
when a. being of dazzling brightness
sprung up in their midst. She was ar
rayed in robe of spotless white, her
countenance beamed with celestial love-
liness, while upon her brows rested a
halo of heavenly purity. :.
At sight of her the gnomes uttered
wild shrek of hatred, and showered
clouds Of darts upon her, but they
bounded back from her robes harmlessly
s "a gee sSe a e. aee and 4amSe
ing her hand kindly upon her head,
bent fondly over her.
"Be not afraid, my child" she whis-
pered, " though I have not the power to
rescue you from these cruel creatures,
I have put it beyond their power to in
jure you. My name is Innocence, and
l have put my armor upon You which
no dart, however sharp and swift, can
pierce. Bear up bravely, for, unless
under my armor you cherish some secret
sin, you are invlnerable.' Saying
which she vanished. !. j.. g., :,
"Unless under my armor you cherish
some secret sin y Oh, that little eth"
nowi ~ ..., ,.'f '<; & p.
j.. No sooner had Innocence vanished
than the little gnomes, fenzied with
bafHed vengeance, turned again upon
Hattie, and, at the command Of their
King, sent a cloud Of darts, poisoned
with. malice, hatred, envy, falsehood
and deceit full at her heart with all their
might. il But, to their chagrin, not one
dart pierced her, all falling to her feet
harmlessly as feathers. Bafded, enraged
at their defeat, the gnomes showered
another volley Of darts upon, her, but
they struck her only to rebound upon
her wouid-be slayers with. destructive
force. Again and again did they en-
deavor to destroy her, but it was in
vain, and, raving with baf1ed hatred,
they stood nonplussed and Inundated
before her. IT, :tfs@ 80 -:
u. But at length one little fellow, more
shrewd than the others, i approached
her, and, with ruthless aim, sent dart
right into her mouth It pierced the
tghIy-closed lips, tore through the
pearly teeth, and imbcdded itself deep
into the devoted little tongue.
ts, Avid .cry.of anguish burst from
Hattie, and the red blood oozed in d
torrent from her lips. Her one yulner-
able point was found, and she must per
ishi In vain she strove to tear the datt
= L.,