The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1885-01-23

laughed Prue, her clear, sweet voice
filing the little room with merry music.
"a beautyn' exclaimed the bows
mother. 'It's perfectly frightfulr'
''Please, mamma" began Dan,
''can't we go over II 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 go on about it,"
said Mrs. Martin, peeyishly.
'They have so 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 go, mother?" interrupted
Dan.
'.I'l See" said Mrs. Martin, YEARLY.
'That means yes. Oh, goodym
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, Il scare him. said Dan, gleefully.
whats it's name, Aunt Prue?"
cit is called a JACKIE lantern"
"That's right down mean," 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 quickr' 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
ing the precious JACKIE lantern. with
its square eyes and crescentshaped
mouth filled with sharp, irregular
teeth. A wedge-shaped hole served for
a nose, and, with the fiaring candle in
side, it presenteda truly terrific appear
ance.
The road was very muddy on ac-
count Of the recent heavy rains, and
the boys took a short cut across the
fields.
A brook flowed along between the
boys and their destination; but they
utterly ignored bridges and stepping
stones. They could cross at any place
they chose, it only being necessary, for
this purpose, to roll their trousers 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.
"It's the creek" cried Jack, max
ing sudden, impetuous start for the
place where the creek used to be.
Its the biggest kind of a river
now," he called back to Dan, who
reached his side a moment later
eve can't ever wade across il"
"Well," said Dan, who didn't mean
to have his pleasure spoiled by such an
insignificant circumstance, ''we can 90
across on the railroad bridge-can't
we?"
Course we can't 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 a one. They
soon came to the railroad track.
The creek at this place wound about
considerably, and there would be a long
walk ON the track before the boys
would reach the bridge.
"Mother d be frightened to death if
she knew that we were on the track"
said Dan.
Guess we can take care of our
selvesr' replied Jack. "Hark! hear
the train a-coming now. It's lucky we
amt on the bridge"
'It's coming from behind us" said
Dan. 'Iet's get up on this big stump,
close by the track, and show the folks
our lantern"
"He would not call it a JACKIE Ian
oern. 1t seemed like giving the biggest
share to his brother.
'I'll bet dollar their eyes II stick
out when they see it," chuckled Jack.
MAY be they'll think it's ghost"
They had scarcely got themselves in
good position when the night express
came laundering down toward them.
Dan held the JACKIE lantern aloft,
and waved it to and fro, the better to
attract the attention of the people on
the train.
"They're stopping the train cried
Jack, in great surprise. They want
to get better look at it.
Sure enough, the great engine pulled
and wheezed and snorted as though
terribly frightened at the two little
boys and their JACKIE lantern and final
ly came to stop" quite near them.
whats wrong?" exclaimed the con-
ductor, coming up to the boys.
"Nothing, sir, but we thought the
folks would like to see our JACKIE Ian
term" said Jack, proudly. "We'll let |
you take it in for EN- to look at, if you
want to. "
At which generous offer the conductor
was impolite enough to say very harsh |
and disrespectful things of their wonder |
full lantern.
He was Just about to ware his lantern |
as signal for tie eagineerto ''go on
when q shrill little shout was heard |
down the track, and a hatless boy came |
running toward tie train, waving his |
arms in the greatest excitement. !