The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1881-01-21

IT was on that fine edge Of night
which goes BY the name Of morning To
those early risers whose day ends at
sunset and begins before cock-crow
that Mrs. Ann Dustin. rising from her
virtuous slumbers. addressed herself to
the task Of fire. making Why Mrs
Dustin should awake At such untimely
hour IL would have been hard 10 ex-
plain. Dustin, her late husband. was
late \" only in conventional sense.
having died years before. II was not
for the sake Of ncighbors. for neighbors
there were none within thrce-quarters
Of mile. There was nothing cheer
ful in the raw November darkness. lit
only by the twinkle Of the distant light
house. Nobody needed. no one waited
for her. Had she chosen 70 lie in bed
till noon. not voice would have been
raised in protest. and truly Heaven
sends nuts 70 those who have no tceth:"
for all this charm OF privilege which
certain lazy people would SO have val
ued was utterly thrown away upon
her. Punctual as the clock. at four in
summer and five ia winter. Anticipate
ing the earliest hint 81 dawn. up rose
Mrs. Dustin, and from that time for
ward the wheels Of her day drove busily
on till sunset. when she went 10 bed,
thus saving fire. candle and the infrac-
tion Of old custom.
She had just got her fire well under
way when knock fell upon the door.
Knocks have character. This vas not
loud. but quick, imperative, as given by
one whose errand mightnot brook delay.
''Come in" said Mrs. Dustin. sur
prised. but calm. Then rccollecting
that the door was still fastened. she
stepped forward, drew the bolt, and
opened.
Three figures stood without. dimly
defined against the darkness Of the
morning.
"Oh. Mrs. DUSTIN said voice,
''may we come in? We are hiding"
On the mainland such statement
might have sounded odd and startling
enough. but 10 Mrs. Dustin. Nantuck-
ct woman born and bred. Il had quite
different significance. She was familiar
with the island custom known as ibid
ing parties when certain number Of
girls and young men. having dance in
contemplation. settle who shall give
and who pay for il BY a preliminary
game Of hide-and-seek Twelve hours (
Of the day. from six % six. are allowed !
the latter 70 discover the lurking-places /.
20 which. before dawn. the former have
betaken themselves. Il is an exciting l
game, As may well be imagined, with 4
whole island 20 range over, the forfeit
an equally pleasant one 70 pay or %
win. spice Of adventure involved; so
Il Is no wonder that II should prove
popular, and girls BE- willing TO shorten
their beauty sleep for the fun Of indulg-
Ing in H. Mrs. Ann had been OF many
D hiding party in her time. and knew
MI about them; 50 with ready wit she
hurried the girls inside. shut the door
lest some flash u light should 20 forth
10 guide the seekers, and proceeded to
discuss ways and means.
Iain't no use your trying TO stow
away In none Of my rooms" she said.
The boys'll be all over them like
lash. 'Tain't the first time they've
come here. Once they caught Mandy
ike behind the Hour barrel In the but
cry: and another time Lucy Smith she
rot IN under the shelf Of my closet. and
set the tea-chest. with my best bunnet
n u, right afore her; but, law! Jack
'pcrry he's As quick's an eel, and he
ind the Chest and the bunnet, and
.'lcy atop Of them. all out on the floor
y ore you could say Scat Hark!
what's thatT' as another knock. hest
ating but vigorous, fellon the door.
Who's thcrcy softly stealing for
ward and slipping the bolt.
ANY girls In there, Miss Dustin !"
We'll, declare. II that foolish old
ustom amt going the rounds yet,