The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1882-11-25

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fairy who smelled of tobacco.
why. you darling" said Ann, az
was Just coming to look for Won.
Where have you been? You look rs
scared as cat. and as wild as a witch.
What's the matterP"
Nothing" answered Bessy. al
wish mother would come. What time
is it?''
" Half-past eight" said Lucy, look
ing at the clock shell be along
soon now. Don't fret, and Eli give
you big piece of cake"
Bessy was as fond of cake as other
little girls; so she sat down on the door
step to eat the cake, and listened for
the wheels of the carriage.
AT last they came, and Bessy few
down to meet her parents with delight,
for she felt lonesome and queer
Mamma called Ann to light the big
lamp on the round table; then she looked
at her little girl, sat down, and took her
on her lap, saying:
"Well. what have you been doing,
little onep You look tired and cold.
Have you had your teaP"
How Bessy longed to tell them of the
wonderful good luck in store for them!
But she remembered her promise, and
only answered:
Yes, mamma. am sleepy"
So mamma took candle from the
mautel-piece, and led Bessy to bed, UNI
dressed her, and listened to her little
prayer, and tucked in the quilt; then
she said:
"rll be back for the light afterI have
had my supper. Shut your eyes, like a
good girl, and go to Sleep" .il
As soonas her mother left the room
Bessy slid off of the bed and into the
next room. which was her mothers. to
hunt for two pairs of shoes. After some
fumbling, she found pair of slippers of
her mothers and large pair of boots
of her fathers. She put them in a row
by the door, and then jumped into bed
again. aB
1t was not until after what seemed to
Bessy a long, long time that she heard
her father and mother come out of the
dining-room. Then she heard papa
say:
"Why, what's the matter with the
key? can't turn it, She heard the
key taken out. and papa say again:
"What is this in the keyP 1t looks like
wax"
After little, she heard her father
turn the key and hang it up on the
hook. Pretty soon mamma came into
Bessy's room. Bessy closed her eyes
and pretended to be asleep. She felt
mamma kiss her, and heard her close
the door.
How long she slept she never knew;
but suddenly she started up wide
awake, to find the stars shining down
on her through the window. Every
thing was as still as it could be- Bessy
wondered if the fairies had come vet
She stepped out of bed and across the
room, and put her hand into the big
boots. They were empty; so were her
own little shoes and mammals slippers
"Well, they haven't come yet" she
whispered.
She was about to return. when her at
tertion was attracted by q flash of light
in the hall. Bessy peeped out, think
ing it might be the fairy; but what was
her surprise at seeing two large men,
in stocking feet, coming up the lower
stairs on tiptoe. The one behind car
ried lantern, and was making it flash
backward and forward, up and down,
as the old fairy did in the lane.
w A.'sO NOuiu ChOy NdilI: Sue WOu-
dered,
The first man carried q sack over his
shoulder. and pointed toward the closet
was kept. Then the man with the lam
tern began pushing what looked like an
enormous nail between the lock and the
door, stopping every now and then to
listen.
In few moments the door flew open,
and both went in together. Then Bes-
sy saw them take down the beautiful
silver pitchers, tea-pots, tray and forks
and spoons, and put them into the bag.
They did it so softly that there was not
even the least little chink from them.
Though Bessy was very little girl,
and believed in fairies, she knew these
men had no right to take papa's silver.
So she thought she must tell him. She
ran to the door between their rooms,
and pushed it open little way.
Papa! papan she cried, 1.-TWO big
men are in the house. They have taken
everything in the silver closet. Take a
stick and drive them away"
Up jumped papa, selling a pair of
great pistols, and made a rush fsr the
stairs, with Bessy behind him.
They had not reached the first step
when the two men darted out of the
room below.
But on seeing papa with pistol in
each hand. they dropped the bag and ran
toward the open hall door, and were out
OF sight in moment.
Mamma, awakened by the noise, came
hurrying out to see what was the mat
ter, and found Bessy crying in the cor
ner, and papa rushing through the
h0nSA with nai1. nf tlistnlc Raeo.,pz