The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1884-03-08

''Miriam Green, l am astonishedr'
said Aunt Jane.
"Oh, but, Aunt Jane, couldn't help
itl'' said Miriam, laughing.
But, at the same time, she colored
very red, and hung down her pretty
mead.
There was no denying this offense.
IL was patent to all the world-or, at
least, to all that part Of it who might
happen to be on the edge Of Raven
Woods.
There was Miriam Green up in the
top of the old oak-tree, which reared
its proud crest, an Absalom among its
gold-leaved brethren, her curls all
tangled, her apron filled with treas
ures of dark-green mlstletoe. There
was Aunt Jane, standing in the little,
open Cheering, with hands uplifted,
eyes opened IN the widest of disap
proving glarcs, and sunbonnet fallen
over backward on her shoulders.
"Your frock's all tornl" enumerated
the old lady.
81 can easily u end 1t again.
''And your hair blown into tam
GLE"
"Oh, Aunt Jane, that is uothingl'
pleaded Miriam.
And your bonnet hanging halfway
down the treel' gasped Aunt Jane
growing more indignant as the full
weight and extent of Miriam's enor-
mites dawned upon her mind. "When
you knew | forbade you 10 think of
such thing as climbing treel''
Dear Aunt Jane" began the Of
fender.
But the old lady would listen to no
argument. .
"You were sixteen yesterday" said
she. "You are old enough to know
better. And you shall be made to
know betterl will punish you for this
piece of inexcusable hoydenismp
Miriam's blue eyes grew big.
Surely Aunt Jane couldn't shake
her, or shut her up IN the garret with a
page of Watts Hymns" to learn,
or-worst alternative of all-put hel
e on short allowance Of apple-pie al
dinner.
For pretty Miriam was still child
enough to regard any Of these occur
rences as a serious misfortune, and ont
greatly to be deprecated.
~ fIa oh Nraa yaf in tba aUnnia
of apprehension, the question was de
hnitely determined by Aunt janet
advancing to the foot of the oak-tre'
nd pulling away the ladder that haC
eryed as means to reach the frs
bough, a ragged mass of foliage som,
twenty feet up from the roots. Below
that, the trunk extended down as per
pendicular and free of side growth as |
telegraph pole.
'sTherel' said Aunt Jane "since yol
were so anxious to climb the tree afte
mistletoe, you may remain there AM
think it over at your leisure. vii
come back this evening and rut bacl
the ladder"
Miriam uttered little cry.
''Please, Aunt Jane, don't go off
b.. she appealed, ''I'll never do 80 an
more. Please forgive me, just thi
oncel'
But Aunt Jane was inexorable. Wit
slow majesty, she strobe out Of III
opening and was gone, even Will
Miriam's piteous voice qulvered on th
air.
''Oh, dearl oh, dearl what am I
do?u said Miriam to herself.
couldn't jump down without breakin
my arm, or ankle, or something; an
here / am all alone in this wilde
uess.
There she sat perched on a horizol
tal bough, clinging to the taper-trun
of the tree, and swayed to and fro
the gentle October breezes. 1t hf
been most fascinating position a fe
minutes ago; now it was frlghtful al
perilous in the EXTREMIST degree.
Was it an hour was it temp or pc
sibly only fifteen minutesP Like d
Prisoner of Chllion our poor little ca
tive had lost all power of ealculatil
time. But just AZ the round sun hui
like ball of orange-flame above t
western woods, there was the sound
quick footsteps crashing over fall
twigs and crisp autumn leaves below
sits John Ford coming home frt
hunting" Miriam to herself, w
quick breath. do hope
won't see mel'