Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1881-01-29

for chance to use it 4? 'My there's
another snowflake, assures the world;
and there's another, and another
swarms of 'em y exclaimed happy Jack
to his small but select audience of Stub
and Jane. They were very amiable, and
frisked and gamboled with as good an
appearance of happy innocence as could
be desired.
"It's getting dark very quickly ; not
four o'clock yet. guess it's going to
be a big fall this time, and-whew {! Stub,
hear the wind !; sounds squally, don't iti'
Stub looked with an air of gravity
through the window, and seemed to be
Of the opinion that it certainly did not
appear. threatening.
"What keeps father SO late, l wonderp
lit keeps on getting dark as fast as this
tue light viii hove to he fixed pretty
soon."
Thick and inst fell the snowHakes bnr-
ryiug, scurryiug down, as II in haste to (
\ 800 which coma NlsN reach Mo eNSSM.
Every now and then violent gust Of
win1 wouM come Mat zompe0 ana root-
VI wSNSNs ~ Ivy ISSSws VWSN sSSM SSNNg
to seme ct the trees, and near at hand
the waveS smged and dashed and tossed
themselves on the shore and against the
rocks.
II know the lamp ought to be lit. Pd
better 60 right away and do it," said
Jack, addressing his companions. A
they raised no objection, Jack started,
materials in hand, and they followed
to see, no doubt, that everything was
done fairly and squarely. Upthe stairs
went the trio, Stub ahead, shutting and
peering into all the dark corners; Jack,
with the lamp and oil in his hand, fol-
lowing YEARLY, and Jane, with o digni-
ty suitable for lady of her years, bring
ing up the rear. Jack knew how to set
to work. He watched his father daily,
and had sometimes been allowed to help
him; so, in q very short time, friendly
glow of light poured through the win
dows of the little tower, and laid bare
the deep, treacherous rocks with blunt
distinctness while they strove vainly to
hide beneath the stormy waves
II suppose we might as well get sup
per now, against father comes," and
Jack laid the cloth neatly and cut the
bread with will. Like few rare and
isolated boys Of his age, being hungry
was Jacks normal condition, relieved at
occasional intervals by being satisfied.
Supper was waiting-father's tea was
boiling and bubbling on the stove
(Jack's limited knowledge of cooking
had not taught him that tea should
never be allowed to boiO. Jacks basin
of broken bread in readiness for the
scalding milk, some dried beef as spe-
cial treat, and plenty Of good bread,
cheese and butter besides. Inside, all
was warm and coy, CHEEKY and home
like; outside, stormy and clustering.
Two hours passed, and still no father.
Jack had made tremendous effort tC
delay eating till he arrived but bit by
bit the broken bread had disappeared,
followed by other selections from the
bill of fare, while Jane Tapped saucer
of milk, and the quondam Friday, for.
getting his cannibalistic tendencies
made hearty repast on dried beef and
pieces of Jacks bread and butter.
"Seven o'clock, and father not home
yet! Well, the light will burn an hour
yet without fixing. Father says it would
burn longer than that, but it's safest te
look at it every four hours, and he's SURE
to be here before it wants looking to-" Sc
Jack got his favorite book from the shelf
and settled down for coy read in his
fathers armchair near the stove. 1t Ger.
tainly was very exciting-where Crusa
and Friday discover the arrival Of the
one.and-twenty savages, and was SC
active all the day, that no wonder his
mind began to stray and his eyes tt
blink and close. Stub had settled him
self near for little quiet meditation
nose between two black, outstretched
forepaws, and gaze fixed on nothing ii
particular; while Jane, having first made
her toilet for the night by careful watch
ing and patting, dozed peacefully behint
the stove. Tired Jack slept, and dream
ed he was Crusr, and had just built 6
beautiful sled, and he and Friday coaste(
down among the cannibals and sent then
flying on all sides; and the old clock
licked, licked, while outdoors the snow
blew in whirls, and a weary man fought
hard against the wind, and sought tt