The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1884-04-19
LACKEY,S LESSON.


Jackey, and. above all things, don't let
the baby go into the yard for the water
is rising so fast that no one knows what
might happen.
Can we go out as far as the fenceP"
"You mustn' leave the house,
Jackey settled back in his chair with
little sigh of disappointment. He had
heard his parents when they had been
talking of the rapid rise of the river, hut
he had by no means shared his fathers
fears that the waters might engulf their
home. During the year previous, as
nearly as he could remember, the river
had risen nearly as high, and then his
father had feared that they might be
driven out by the flood, but no such
danger had occurred. If his parents
fears had been groundless year before,
why should they not now be. without
foundation? There can't fsyany harm
If we only go to the barn." said Jackey,
with what sounded very like a whine.
al promised Mabel that l would show
her the speckled hens nest
"You can show her that some other
time," said Mrs. Crowell, in tone that
showed she believed no further con-
versation on the subject to be necessary.
"All you have to do is to take care of
Mabel while we are away, and remain
in the house."
Jackey's father and mother were
about to visit sick relative. Nothing
less imperative would have taken them
away from home at time when the
river was rising so rapidly that Mr..
Crowell would have believed his house
to be in real danger of being swept
away, had it not been that during pre-
vious floods the waters had ceased to
rise within a few feet of the house.
Without having really made Jackey
promise to do as they wished, but vet
believing that he had agreed to observe
what they evidently intended should be
command, Mr.. and Mis-. Crowell left
the house, with the intention OF being
away but few hours. and Jackey was
left alone with his little sister Mabel.
From the windows of the sitting-room
the angry-looking waters of the Ohio
River could be seen, as they dashed on,
forced by power sup eri0r to their own,
to seek the lower country, and seeming
ly eager to devour everything; but
Jackey simply looked at them as so
much muddy water. He had seen them
quite as near his home before, and he
could not believe that they were threat
ening him.
at was real mean of mother to tell
me that | muslin leave the house." he
muttered to himself, as he leaned his
chin on the window-sill, far more anx-
ious to see the speckled hens nest than
Mabel could possibly be. There
hain't any sense in saying that the river
could rise high enough 10 come into
the yard, and rs for our moi going into
the barn-why, that's just foolish, that s
what it is.
The more Jackey thought of the mat
ter, the more he thought he was an
abused boy. and the less danger did he
believe was to be apprehended from the
river. He fancied that his parents were
so cruel that they simply wanted to de-
prive him of harmless pleasure. and
this fancy grew into belief so strong
that he came to think he would be
perfectly excusable if ne should disre-
gard anything that had been said to
him.
Its shame that you shouldn't sec
the hens nest" he said to Mabel, who
was having such pleasant time with
her dolls tnat Sne seemed 10 nave no
care for anything else. Mother hadn't
any right to tell me not to 60 out of the
house. and I'm Just going to take you
into the barn, without caring what she
| said"
OF course il IS very plain to be seen
| that it was ia key, not Mabel, who
wanted to lind the speckled hens nest,
and, that being the case, il YVES not long
before he reconciled his conscience to a
total disregard of his mothers words.
Acting rs if he believed that he was
/ working simply for his sisters pleasure,
he led her across the yard into the barn,
thinking as he did SO that his mother
was more than foolish to believe that the
water, which then was at the edge OF
| the fence, could reach them. Once in
the barn, place he would hardly have
| cared to visit if his mother had not for
hidden him to do so, he tried his best to
en- oy himself; but the effort was dis
NAL failure. He found the hens eggs,
| Jumped from the hay.mow, made nest
in the straw, and did everything he
could think of, but without having even
the slightest approach to a good time.
lie managed, however, to have what he
tried to believe aCaS a good time. until