Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1881-02-05
& FEBRUARY 5, 1881. NO. 20

erisd Zephaniah, lis shock head coming o
yer tie top rail Of the fence, and he aeeming
to hang there by his chin.
% Nah, we'fe goin' TO die" answesed
Rachel dismallv.
"WAa, for?' lie asked. NOT seeing KS
least use in l..
We've killed ourselves" returned Ra-
chel mintly. She must talk while breath
remained; so she gave her brother the facts
Of the case. HIS faee, during the story,
showed disgust at their present wiltcd con
dit;on, mingled with admiration for their
daring exploit.
Phu, Rachel, wouldn't dic--you cant
see EN- bile maple sap next year"
"Hcv can we helpit?' gaspcd blue-eycd
Margery
"Oh, I'll stiFtn you upw and Nah sud
denly unlocked himself from the top rail
and disappeared. They tlouelthe had gone
to iell Of them, and did ret eate, itt they
were so weak and miserable.
Ten minutes later lie came stubbingalong
over ihe ploughcd ground toward them with
one hand carefully shut over the other. lIc
dumped himself down By their side.
Now" said be, well take every biz cf
his herr and it'll cure usw
They lelt little better, and SO curious 10
know what this here WAS tha; they forgot
to s,k Nah where te lclt unwel. They
looked eagerly into hi. hand ard smiled
With their little noses. lie, toe, had te,n
into mischief; fer in Lisroi oyer-clcan paw
Va. all the white sugar it coald hold, and
into that he L4d poured Ct least gill Of
paregoric.
stick in your fingers and lick 'er of"
said Rachers worthy brother li'sgcod."
Grandfather Winchester might Tot have
given this very remedy; but uue it wa,
that before they had licked Their fingers
many times, they were better able in iec1'c
sit up aud walk little why
81 shall never sin any more" said Rachel
"Nor J." said Margery. 1T must be
dreadful wicked TO taAe.pill4 wkcnyoa cont
need en-"
"Awgulw said Niah, With flushing ap-
p.ical on Of Lis tongue to his small palm
"Aeful-but We needed this paiegorc"
DO yoa thias, asked Rachel, eve have
got to tel grandfather Of this9
"No," sa.d Nah promptly.
81 shall tell ii it is right - said Rachel
armly. Il amt going to sin any more"
Marecry mused. Thm she remarked;
"The pills didn't stay stcaled long. We
can't give om back don. feel Is If
needed any uoFc furnishing to make me sor-
ry."
That's So, said Rachol. "Wc'yc Lad
our own punishiug"
They each forgot ihat Niah had sinned
and 40. suffered; while he Was hardened
enough not to think OF hiiaself at all.
When the afternoon crept out under the
shadows Of the evening the little Scotch
girl went home with sick headache and
WAS put to bed. Rachel returned tiFcd
out" she said and meekly crcpt 70 her
couch Two hour, earlier than usual. Niah
VA. i notable example Of rcamp who cs
caped correction. lie icll asleep over bis
supper in consequence OF the drug, and
slept all night Tie sweet sleep o. innocence
Grandpa missed lis pills ia time, but went
10 ais grave in ignorance Of tie manner
Of their taking off,
Rachel and Zephaniah moro than once
through a long life remembered that day.
Scotch Aargery grew up and grew old too;
but her eyes were noycrle.s blue than when
sne came from Scotland, aud she ii was who
tod til. story to her grandchildren, with
those same eyes twinkiing with fun.
This is all, children, wien ] have added
nora and bit Of advice, which just this
once bcg you not 10 skip.
Aorat: b. sure your sin will End YOU out
a. ), did these little Puritans. Indeed, IL
nearly turned them wrong side out
Adrice: Whatever YOU do--do it thor.
oIshiy.