Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1881-02-10

"How paipfni ~ must DC 10 Wiioho
anon" whispered Romeo Augustus to
himself. 81 wouldn't care lift was per-
sons--but tlfingsN
For some unknown reason the idea
was ghastly to Romeo Augustus. Now,
my little readers, wit u moment before
you laugh ut him. Hear what this eight
year.old boy did
Once upon time Solomon had COM
posed the following somewhat start
ling proverb: ut is u wise fellow who
wrenches forth the serpent's fang"
Which dark saying, being interpreted
was, "if you are scared of anything, just
trot right up and wrestle with it.'
"For, continued Solomon, in speech
to the other FIVE, CHATS the only way
to grow plucky. # yon hear III odd
noise, don't hide your head like hyena
or an ostrich, whichoverit is, but hunt
it up. Ifyoa happen to see ghost, skip
up and attack it,
Now the words Of Solomon were al
ways priced as gold The boys rever-
enced Solomon, who could repeat the
whole of u latin verb, and was, more
over, "pitcher on the nine.' 80 the
"babes" had made u solemn compact
that If any one of them was ever "scar-
ed,' he wonld step boldly out and
"wrench forth the serpent's fang
Should he be too great q coward so to
do, he should wear huge letter G PIN
ned on his jacket for q fortnight and be
subject to all the taunts which could be
imagined at his expense. No wonder
the boys grew brave. They dared not
be otherwise.
Philemon's special bugbear had been
dark cellar, filed to overtlowing with
shadows. Down into this cellar he had
gone with u beating heart, and had
forced himself to search ont every crack
and Granny, even to the coal-bin. Of
course he fonnd nothing to fear, and now
il was Philmon who was always ready
to go down for apples in the winter even
ings, and that, too, without even can
die, As for Elias, he had stood in mitch
awe of grove over the hilk and was
obliged to spend the greater part OF a
whole month wandering solitary among
the trees before he could snap Aisfingers
ut their shadows. And now Romeo Au-
rnstns turn had come. His poor lfttle
heart was filed with dismay when he
found that he was in mortal fear Of the
clock. He felt sure that he should have
to search the matter to the. very bottom.
For q week he had been trying to bring
; himself up to.the pitch of requisite bold
ness. More than once he had marched
: up to the enemy, and then marched back
> again, vanquished. He dared no,
breathe word to Philemon. The big
letter G was all ready to cling to his
back, and how could he bear snch dis
grace! No sympathy could he expect
(. from any brother. His work must BE-
, done, and done alone.
How loudly the clock called out from
' below! Could it be actually stalking
: upstairs $50 sharply did its tones ring
> in Romeo Augustus wide-open ears:
; Observation-Disclosures.
0 It's eH--0cl0Ck.
Make haste--don't waste
Minutes--in fits
; Offear. Come here
IT'S ten--o clock
ick.tOCk--tick took.
t Romeo Augustus put one bare foot Out
of bed he drew it back he half rose
, and sank on the pillows again. Then
with mighty effort he gave a bound
G and stood shivering in the middle of the
. floor. The house was still. Elias wa
, Sleeping the sleep of the just, neve
: dreaming how he bad terrified his small
!, brother. Out into the entry stole Rome'
f Augustus. The harvest moon threw ;
d broad band of light Oh the stairs
+ Down crept the small bare feet alonI
Il the lower hall into the sitting-roonl
How would everything look in the dim
: ness! Gaunt and tall stood the clocl
in the corner. The outside moon tosset
: a handful Of beams into the elock-m0on'
= face. The clock-moon was so very jolly
/. Did he know that just beneath Wer
/ THINGS two dangling III the air, head
!. less. armlcss, one ''wgthing in agon..
. anon
IS Romeo Augustus almost turned AM
u fled. His breath came IN gasps. HOY
II conId he go forward 7 But he crept on
It His hand is on the clocks brass-bonn'
e door. viii he open it now
T Ticktock--tiek took.
:, Past teu---o clock.
= Turn key--and see
IT Things three--in me.
Past tef-o clock.
v Observation-Disclosures,