Sharp County record., 1885-02-12
A "REG'LAR BEAUTY"

Railroad Train.
"There, boys" said Aunt Prue, lay
inc her knife upon the table and step
ping back, sit is finished now, How
do you like it?"
Its a reg'lar beauty" said Dan'
with his head on one side and both
hands in his trowsers pockets, favor
ite attitude with him when especially
pleased. "Aunt Prue, you're "a
brick"
THANK you DAM" said Aunt Prue,
with smile. I'm glad you like 1t
And you, Jack?'
"Tm pleased all through said
Jack, lmpulsively, "And l love you
heap, Aunt Prue.' y
"For the land sake, Prue Downey!
what have you been dOing?' asked
a voice in the doorway, as tired-Iook-
inc woman came into the little kitchen
and sat the empty clotheS-basket on the
floor. Il should think you would be
tired enough to rest after the big wash
ing we've done to-day. What is that
hOrrid thing?"
Dan says it's a regular beauty
laughed Prue, her clear, sweet voice
filling the little room with merry music.
"a beauty" exclaimed the boys
mother. "It's perfectly frightful!'
please, mamma" began Dan,
"can't we 90 over n show it to Tommy
Jones?"
"After night" suggested Jack, when
we can put light inside. It'll show
off BIG, then-won't it, Aunt Prue?"
Zone would think you had some
thing fine to hear you 90 on about it, "
said Mrs. Martin, peevishly.
They have 50 few enJoyments, you
know. sister," said Prue, softly, "and
they'll never have another childhood.
1t seems to me that we ought to
brighten this one up all we can. 1t
takes SO very little to make the dear
boys happy" |
:'Can we 90, mother?" interrupted
Dan.
I'll see," said Mrs Martin, YEARLY.
That means yes. Oh, goody"
cried Jack, turning a somersault on the
kitchen floor.
"We'll put it on the gate-pOst, and
then we'll whistle, and Tommy will
come out to see what's going on, and
it'll scare him." said Dan, gleefully.
"What's it's name, Aunt Prue?'
1T is called a jack-o' lantern. "
That's right down mean, y said Dan,
disapprovingly. "Ain't there any Dan
O'-lanterns, toO?'
Aunt Prue laughed, and the tired
mother was compelled to join in the
fun. This was a great help to the boys
They were sure of obtaining their de-
sireS when mother smiled.
Get the candle quick!' said Dan
to Aunt Prue, fearful lest the golden
opportunity might not last.
An hour later, two very happy little
boys might have been seen trudging
along the road, taking turns in carry
inc the precious jack-o' lantern, with
its square eyes and crescent-shaped
mouth filled with sharp, irregular
teeth. A wedge-shaped hole served for
a nose, and, with the flaring candle in
side, it presented truly terrific appear
ance.
The road was very muddy on ac-
count of the recent heavy rains, and
the boys took short cut across the
fields.
A brook flowed along between the
BOYS and their destinations; but they
utterly ignored bridges and stepping
stones. They could cross at any place
thev chose, it only being necessary, for
this purpose, to roll their trowsers a lit
tie higher and wade in.
What's that roaring, Jack?' asked
Dan, when their merry chatter had
ceased for a moment, and the space
was filled with a rumbling, rushing
sound.
Its the creek" cried Jack, max
ing a sudden, impetuous start for the
place where the creek used to be-
Its the biggest kind of river
now," he called back to Dan, who
reached his side moment later
1--WE can't ever wade across it. ."
"Well," said Dan, who didn't mean
to have his pleasure spoiled by such an
insignificant CIrCuTnSulTTCG; SO 8
across on the railroad bridge-can't
we?"
Course we cam" said Jack, stoutly.
Who cares if it is most mile further?"
The boys turned away from the noisy
creek, which, as Jack said. ''was the
biggest kind of river" At least it
was the noisiest kind of one, They
soon came to the railroad track.
The creek at this place wound about