The Red Cloud chief., 1883-05-18

GRAY clouds dnf,sd arr~s the XIV.
and n chill wind swept over n. hrhl..
and whis,led round ths corner Il tbs
old rcd -hopl-hou~; but the group 81
| Children. clustered aiSou, the door strip.
noticed ncith... 50 interested wsrr they
in some obFc- :hs, they were .samin-
ing.
lit viii b. Jhc greatest fun. alive
exclaimed a hrgr hoy. In n muficr.
"indr.i IL will,' ss,.nted n rosy
eheekr.i girl. whom her companion
called Maggie.
And how she will jump" ~ri~akcd
little Tommy Green. Who had = culd in
his head.
There comes Nellie Lawson" crir.i
two or THREE, a. a swe-i-facsd maiden
emerged from the school-hou>e; "let IL
tell her about III
What arc you all talking and laugh
ing aboui?' asked tn. newcomer;
cant know the joke?'
"O course YOU Can.' said Maggie.
just see thi. rat. that Ben Mott has
caught" AMI the boy with the mufiicr
swung a gray rat round by III. tail.
Nellie gave a hslf-supprrs-cd .crcam.
and then. seeing that the animal wa.
dead. asked; What are you going 3"
do with it?'
WHY. Is the fir, If
April. explained Ben. and We intend
To play a trick ON that shabby Ruth
Baker
.Shc j. dreadfully afraid 81 rats and
mice" continued Maggie. almo,; gives
into a fit. at the sight of one-~p W. arr
going To do this fellow up in , ME. par
Gel. and pu, il in her desk. She will
think il i something Auntie Piper has
sent her by Miss Allis. and it will h.
fun 10 see her scared when she opens IL
don't you think SOP
mo. l don't" responded Nellie.
while her cheeks glowcd. and her eyes
flashed; land think il Is mean la trrai
a poor girl like Ruth ~. She !, smart
ar than n Of us. IL she does wear
patched clothes. and live in = tumble
down old shaniy. and it nigh, do her n
great deal 81 harm
"Nonsen-e," shouted Ben angrily:
for he had n grudgr against Ruth for
going above him in the spelling cisss.
You needn't preach Ia III. Nellie Law
son. and we shan't ask your consent to
the trick
NO. indeed" said most II the
group. who did not care Ia lose their
sport.
And IL YOU give Ruth n hint before
hand, we viii have nothing more To do
with YOU" added Maggie.
I'm no t~ell-talc.' answered Nellie.
with some spirit. a. she turned of down
the road. leaving the miscellaneous
youngsters To prepare this unhind sur
prise for their schoolmatc.
That same afternoon. a. Miss Allis.
the schooltcachcr. was vending her way
toward her boarding place. nj Auniic
Piper's, she was overtakcn by her pet
pupil. Nellie Lawson. who. with her
scarlet hood falling back on her shout
ders. and her fair hair streaming in th.
wind. came running down n side path Ia
meet her. "Oh. Miss Allis. she pant
cd. quite breathlcss. II was so afraid I
might miss You; and | want To ak n
favor"
what is it. Nellie?" inquired the
teacher.
"Only 10 lend me the school-housc
key until tomorrow morning. when !
will be sure and bring it very early"
But what can YOU want of it?'
..It il a secret. Miss Allis; but. truly.
| will do no harm"
The teacher smiled ri the girls ear
n~estness. a she drew the key from hci
pocket. saving: II think l can trust
YOU. Nellie: but don't fail tn be on hand
in good season
.-Oh no. indeed, and thank YOU 80
very much!' and with a kiss. and q
wise shake Of her little head Nellie babe
her teacher goodbye" and started
towards home.
The Widow Ba ker's home was \ mis-
cradle place. the cold air pouring
through the wide cracks in the boards.
and laughing NJ the wee bit 81 fire on
the hearth, that seemed TOD timid. even
to crackle.
This is a poor shelter" grosned
Mrs. Baker: ..but I fear We may even
have less. for not a pcnny's rent have
paid for three months. and farmer Mott
has threatened TO turn US out"
So it was with n sad heart that Ruth
started for school. trying to plan some
means BY which she could earn money.
at least to keep starvation from the
door. The scholars were all in their
places when she entered Opening her
desk. she saw a package in n corner.
and-not~ observing the boys nndying
each other. and the girls gigyiing be-
hind their readers Auniie
Piper had kindly sen, her n turnover.
a. she occasionally did Carefully she
united the string. and unfoided the
paper. Ben Mott stole MP behind. and
peeped over her shoulder. while the
others watched eagerly. They were not
disappointed. for the girl altered a
startled .NOhr' sat down suddenly. and
covered her face with Der hands; bat
they were surprised. when. in place Il
the ppulsive rat. they behed . dainty
lunch. neatly packed in . box and On
top q Melted purse. through which might
- seen the CLEAN Of silver. while on
. slip Of paper were written the two
~ords: "AprilFool-"
This l. some Of Nellie Lawson's
work. know exclaimed Ben-
anyriiy; bat none Of the others echoed
bis tone. as they caught q sight Of
xufh's grateful face. and Nellie said
Softly: YES. / know I have rather
turned the laugh against the school
bat I am sure you Win enjoy my joke
more than the ~ that you planned
even Il you have al been Apnl-goolcd."
and going to- Rath's side. pres.ed her
20 taste tie good things. for I know
By your looks yoa need them" she
whispered 1
Let M take some home TO the
begged the GID. and she ex-
plaiDed. In . lew words. the sad Coz
ditioa of her fsoily-
The wen-led boys and girls Instantly
10 Guido the Other IN bringing from
their own lunchJ6askets. SANDWICHES.
biscuits. pies. cake. etc. 10 heap upoa
Rufh's desk. until there Was much
49, AZ. - ILL > 49, 4