Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1881-04-01
then leetle fowls?'' inquired Miss Chime

S-NS-A ASOSAS
J I'd. ~
why, got 'em over to Charley Max
wires hannerv, over n Bolton Centre
Me n and another feller''
''Did he give 'em to YEP" queried Miss
Lavalette, rather severely.
"No, sir! they're bought'n paid for, and
got 'em cause l killed yours playin' With
| it,
Tom, dashed out of the door to esca g
thanks; the three old ladies looked at each
other.
beats all ~ said Miss Betsey.
Chimera put her head out of the window
and screamed to the retreating youngster.
''Tom! Tom! come back minute;
there's box up in the chamber for ye,
| come by express
Tom turned back with a shout, and
went up to his bedroom three stairs at a
time. He had already conveyed screw
driver and Ratchet up there which he
found in the harm, and it took but a mo-
ment to open the box Of treasures.
He whistled loud and long as he saw the
layers of fireworks.
Then he went down stairs with a bound
and slide to tell 81 of the arrival.
1t was quickly arranged that 81 should
come up at night, and get into Toms
window by the shed roof, to inspect these
I treasures, for both the boys we'll knew 81
was not an object Of favor with the old
ladies.
So about ten O'Clock, after they had
handled over and admired the preposter-
GUS provision which Tom IS father had
{ made, they began to ask themselves where
they should be secreted.
''Put 'em out on the roof!'' said 81.
"What if it should rain?" queried Tom
my.
| "Why, you've got two boxes, haven't
ye? Anyway you can put the rockets In
yer trunk, they don't go there, / ex pect,
an set the rest of 'em out with t'other
| box atop, SOS to keep dry
They had both forgotten that Miss Chi
mera's window was next to Tommy's, and
Miss Betsey's just below, though the fat
roof of the dining room and kitchen, which
| had been put on the old house, was only
| below Tom chamber.
| The two boys lifted the box out softly.
and Tom went back for the other box to
cover it. ST whispered after him, '.Fetch
a light, there's suthin' makes it tottle."
But as Tom held the tallow dip outside,
sudden wind banged the shutter to,
knocked the light out of his hand into the
| fireworks, and then catacysm began!
Sis only idea was to run; but as be
slipped down the trellis to the ground, a
Roman candle dropped one led star into
his curly head, and it blazed.
Head first he went into the tab of water
under the spout with wild yell of pain
and terror, while Tom stared aghast at
| the fizz'ng wheels. and the popping can
| dies sending their many colored stars
about the premises like meteoric shower.
Within the house Miss Chimera was the
first to be aroused.
She boosted that she always slept with
bed and shreked to Lavalette.
''Oh the mercy Lefty. wake up The
world rs a-comin' to an end. Oh land oh
oh what shall we do 20
Miss Lefty. the quiet one of the house,
ran for her water pitcher. If it was the
general confagration, she meant to do her
little best toward putting it out Pool!
Miss Botsey, crying and groaning, called
in vain on her sisters while Tommy, half
scared out of his wits, sto,d at his window
listening to the sharp explosions, watching
the gay stars, and never thinking of dan
ger till Miss Lefty rushed by him with
her pitcher and blanket i: she had used
her senses, and discovered that theatre
was on that shed roof, and she acted
accordingly.
Tom. aroused to the situation, went to
herald. Luckily the roof was timed, and
they managed to float what few candles
we're left in the box, and then smother
them with the blanket; but in helping
her, Tommy burned both hands sorely.
paying this price for his secret interview
with 81.
cit was that boy ?" said Chimera, as
Miss Lefty came back to her room.
well, yes. Twas fire works in that
box an he'd gone an struggled 81 Plum
mer in to see 'em, an betwixt 'em. they
up an dropped the candle into 'em But
Thomas is burnt some, and / heerd 81 a.
screechin' and a-squawkin' Gown below
I've done up Thomas hand in sody, but
sha'nt hunt none for 81 Plummer
nought's never in danger ~
care ye sure tits all out ?'' asked Miss
Betsey. half way up the stair.
Eyes, certin sure. You 20 to bed, Bet
sey. We can take him to do in the morn
in"
ave can send him hum !" snapped Chi
mera. -
But when Tommy came down in the
morning, pale with pain, the old ladies'
hearts relsnted, especially as bis first
words sounded penitent to their expecting
ears.
'sI'm sorry Isn't it mean to lose all
my fireworks, and burn me too ?''
The old ladies looked at each 9th er.-
Could they believe their ears ? Miss La
valette recovered herself first, and improv-
ed the occasion.
you're a-payin' for your tricks agin
this time, young man. Eff you'd have said
out open that them was fireworks. we'd
ma put 'em into the oven, and they'd have
KEEP safe; but you must have that limb, 81
Plummer, come into the winder to inspect
'em, and We know, Thomas. we don It want
him around!''
Tommy hung his head. He had paid
dear for his whistle, and ST never dared to
show his singed head and blistered ears
within sight of Miss Perkins house again.
But though Tommy did not quite get