New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1882-12-20

WAS q uLClo Sle8m OF NgnG. fOr an IN
slant ! stood wondering what it could
be, and then took another step, reach
ing my hand to grasp the ball.
The board tilted under my foot. I
felt myself slipping into the horror Of
darkness! heard Lou scream, and I
clutched despairingly ut the rough stone
beside mo. In that way I steadied my
self, and then / shut my eyes till got
confidence enough to step cautiously
backward and recover, my footing on
the first plank. It was such nrelief
when felt Lou Hampstead catch hold
of my dress behind
''I'll hold on and pull, Maidie!'' she
said, in a terror-strcken voice; but by
that time it was easy w0rk:to crawl past
the chairs back to the stair-top again.
''But the ball is lost forever nowv' I
said, ruefully. for even as slipped, I
had heard it bound off among the
stones.
'.Never mind" said Lou, comforting
".
..But do mind,'' | replied, ..for
shall have to tell grandmother, and that
will make her think about Uncle Giles.
and she'll cry. Anyway, though, I
won't tell her till after dinner,' ] nd,
ded.
Lou smoothed my dress and hair, and
then we went down stairs. Nobody
had missed us, and Aunt Ann was Just
setting the chairs around the table.
Dinners about ready to take up,
girls she said, land. Maidie, there's
your father and mother coming now"
The chicken-pie, the biscuits and but
ter and jelly, were already on the table,
and we ran to the kitchen to see Aunt
Ann take up the turkey and grandmoth-
er dish the vegetables.
The turnips are mashed and the on
ions are seasoned y said grandmother.
'Tm just going to take up the potatoes.
For mercy's sake, Ann! what's thisp''
Il don't KNOW" said Aunt Ann; sit
isn't q potato!''
We pressed closer.
ooh! oh! it's the wooden, ballw /
cried. '.1t's the wooden ball! lost it
down behind the chimney, and it fell in
in the potato-pot!''
I looked up and there was aslittle
open space where the chimney stones
above projected unevenly against the
boards of the kitchen wall. And that
was where the light had crept through.
Grandmother said afterwards that she
left the lid off the potatoes just mo-
ment while she went to the dresser to
get some salt to throw in, so they would
boil white. And that must have just as
the ball fell.
But at the time of the discovery, all
she said was, ..Giles' ball! Poor boy!
where is he now?'' in q trembling voice.
| was sure she was going to cry, and
! felt SO bad ran out past mother, who
was taking her bonnet off, through the
door and down to the gate. And I lean
ed against it and cried myself, for what
with the terror and excitement and re-
action of the whole thing, I was all un-
nerved. I did not hear quick step
that came up the road, nor see the tail
young man in blue who approached me,
till I felt his hand on my shoulder, and
looked up to meet his bright eyes shin
ing down upon my fearful ones.
aren't you my little niece?'' he ask
ed, gaily.
20 Uncle Giles! k,aeeu you wasn't
drowned!' exclaimed; and then he
lifted me on his shoulder aud took me
to the house in triumph.
Then my dear, precious grandmoth-
er had no need to shed any more tears,
except for pure happiness, and the day
was day Of thanksgiving indeed
Mury L. Bolles Branch, n, Touth's COM
paaaion.