Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1885-01-22
A "HORRlD" THING.

How tho Boys Jack Lantern Saved
| Railroad Train.
"There, boys!" said Aunt Prue, lay
ing her knife upon the table and step
ping back, sit is finished now. How
do you like it?'
| "It's regular beauty" said Dan
with his head on one side and botf
hands in his trowsers pockets, favor
lite attitude with him when especially
pleased '.Aunt Prue, you're as
brick"
"Thank you, Dan!'' said Aunt Prue,
with smile. I'm glad you like it
And you, Jack?"
I'm pleased all through said
Jack, impulsively, ''And I love you a
heap, Aunt Prue.''
e'For the land sake, Prue Downey!
what have you been doing?". asked a
a voice in the doorway, as tired-look-
ing woman came into the little kitchen
and sat the empty clothes-basket on the
floor. 81 should think you would be
tired enough to rest after the big wash
ing we've done to-day. What is that
dorrld thng!"
''Dan says it's regular beauty
| laughed Prue, her clear, sweet voice
filing the little room with merry music.
"A beauty!' exclaimed the boy
mother. ''It's perfectly frightfulr'
please, mamma began Dan.
cant we go 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 Pruep''
Zone would think you had some
thing fine to hear you go on about it, !"
said Mrs. Martin, peevishly.
They have so few enjoyments, you
know, sister," said Prue, softly, land
they'll never have another childhood.
1t seems to me that we ought to
brighten this one up all we can. It
takes SO very little to make the dear
boys happy"
s'Can we go, mother?' interrupted
Dan.
sI'n see,'' said Mrs. Martin, YEARLY.
'tThat means yes. Oh, goody!'
cried Jack, turning 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.
Whats it's name, Aunt Prue?''
cit is called a jack-o'-lantern.'
''That's right down mean," said Dan,
disapprovingly. 'sAin't there any Dam
o'-lanterns, toop"
Aunt Prue laughed, and the tired
mother was compelled to join in the
fun. This was 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
ing the precious k-o'-lantern. with
its square eyes and crescent-shaped
mouth filed with sharp, irregular
teeth. A wedge-shaped hole served for
nose, and, with the faring candle in
side, it presented a 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 trowsers a lit
tie higher and wade in.
What's that roaring, Jack?' asked
Dan, when their merry chatter had
ceased for moment, and the space
was filed with rumbling, rushing
sound.
Its the Creek cried Jack, max
ing 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.
/" We can't ever wade across it.
"Well," said Dan, who didn't mean
to have his pleasure spoiled by such an
Insignificant circumstance, 1--WE can go
across on the railroad bridge-can' t
we?'
Course we can't said Jack, stoutly.
Who cares if it is most a mile furtherp'
The boys turned away from the noisy
creek, which, as Jack said. twas 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
considerably, and there would be long
walk on the track before the boys
would reach the bridge.
ssMother d be frightened to death if
she knew that we were on the track,
said Dan.
..Guess we can take care of our
selves!' replied Jack. ''Hark! hear
thu train a-cominp now. It's lucky we
amt on the bridge
..It's coming from behind u.s. said
Dan. .Let's get up on this big stump,
close by the track, and show the folks
our lantern"
s.He would not call it a jack-o'-lan-
tern. 1t seemed like giving the biggest
share to his brother.
s.Ill bet dollar their eyes Il 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