The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1881-04-13
An Awful Scene
By MIMMY BROWN.

An Awful Scene
By MIMMY BROWN.
IHarper's Young People.j
have the same old story to tell. My con-
duct has been such again-at any rate, that's
what father says; and I've had to go up
stairs with him, and 1 needn't explain what
that means 1t seems very hard, for I'd
tried to do my very best, and I'd heard Sue
say, ''That boy hasn't misbehaved for two
DAYS; good gracious, wonder what can be
the matter with himl" There's a fatality
about it, I'm sure. Poor fatherl l must
give him an awful lot of trouble, and know
he's had to get two new bamboo canes this
winter, Just because I've done so wrong,
though / never meant to do it.
1t happened on account of coasting.
We've got magnificent hill. The road
runs straight down the middle of it, and all
you have to do is to keep on the road.
There's fence on one side, and it you run
into it something has got to break. John
Krugor, who is a stupid sort of q fellow, ran
into it last week head hrsty and smashed
three pickets, and everybody said it was
a mercy he hit with his head, or he might
have broken some of his bones and hurt
himself. There isn't any fence on the other
side, but if you run off the road on that side,
you'll go down the side of hill sleeper than
the roof of the Episcopal Church, and about
a mile long, with a brook full of stones
down at the bottom
The other night Mr.. Travers said-But l
forgot to say that Mr.. Martin is back again,
and coming to our house worse than ever.
He was there. and Mr.. Travers and Sue, all
sitting in the parlor where 1 was behaving,
and trying TO make things pleasant, when
Mr.. Travers said, "It's a bright moonlight
night, let's all go out and coast" Sue said,
30 that would be lovely; Jimmy, get your
sled" / didn't encourage them, and told
father so, but he wouldn't admit that Mr..
Travers or Sue or Mr.. Martin or anybody
could do anything wrong. What said was,
al don't want to go coasting. It's cold and
/ don't feel very well, and think we ought
all to go to bed earl y so we can wake up real
sweet and good-tempered." But Sue just
said, "Don't you preach, Jimmy; if you're
lazy Just say so, and Mr.. Travers will take US
out" Then Mr.. Martin he must put in and
say, perhaps the boys afraid, don't tease
him; he ought to be in bed, anyhow" Now
wasn't going to stand this, and SO l said,
"COme on. l wanted to GO all the time, but
thought it would be best for old people to
stay at home, and that's why didn't en-
courage you" So 1 got out nay double
ripper, and we all went out on the hill and
started down.
/ sat in front to steer, and Sue sat right
behind me, and Mr.. Travers sat behind her
to hold her on, and Mr.. Martin sat behind
him We went splendidly, only the dry
snow flew so that 1 couldn't see anything,
and that's why we got off the road ana on to
the side hill before knew it.
The hill was Just one glare of ice, and the
- he faa fha Lodi cfo tod
away like hurricane. | had Just time to
hear Mr.. Martin say, "Boy, mind what
you're about or I'll get off, when she struck
sOmething-I don't know what-and every
body was pitched into the air, and began
sliding on the ice without anything to help
them except me. l caught on bare piece
of rock, and stopped myself could see
Sue sitting up straight, ana sliding like
a streak of lightning, and crying, Jim
my, father. Charles, Mr.. Martin, q my, help
me-" Mr.. TraEers was on his stomach,
about a rcd behind her, and gaining little,
on her, and Mr. Martin was on his back,
coming down head first, and beating them
both. All of a sudden he began to go to
pieces. Part of him would slide off ore
way, and then another part would try its
luck by itself. can tell you it was an aw-
full and suzreptitious sight. They all reached
the bottom after awhile, and when / saw
they were not killed, / tried it myself and
landed all right. Sue was sitting still, and
mourning and saying, "My goodness gra-
cious shall never be able to walk again
Ny comb is broken and that boy isn't fit 20
iive.' Mr.. Travers wasn't hurt very much,
and he fixed himself all right with some
pins 1 gave him, and his handkerchief.
But his overcOat looked as if he had stolen
It from e searecrow. When he had COM
forted Sue bttle land / must say some
people are perfectly sickening the way they
go ON, he and 1 collected Mr.. Martin-all
except his teeth-and helped put him to-
gether, only l got his leg on wrong side first,
and then 1 helped him home.
This was why my father said that my
conduct was such, that his friend Martin
didn't seem to be able to come into his
house without being insulted and injured by
me. l never insulted him. 1t isn't my
fault if be can't slide down hill without
coming apart. However, I've had my last
suffering ON account of him. The next
time he comes apart where l am, shall
not wait to be punished for it, but shall
start straight for the North Pole, and If
discover + the lBrstish Government will
pay me MORN million dollars, Pm able
to sit down this morning, but my pirits
are crushed, and i never shall enjoy LIE
anV more