Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1885-02-13
A THING.

Railroad Train.
"Thcre, boys!" said Aunt Prue, lay
ing her knife upon the table and step
ping back, cit is finished now. How
do you like it,"
"1t's a regular beauty" said Dan,
with his head on one side and both
hands in his trowsess pockets, a favor
lite attitude with him when especially
pleased. "Aunt Prue, you're "a
brick"
"Thank you, DAM" said Aunt Prue,
with a smile. "Im glad you like it.
And you, Jack?"
I'm pleased all through" said
Jack, impulsively, "And 1 love you a
heap. Aunt Prue."
"For the land sake, Prue Downey!
what have you been doing?" asked a
a voice in the doorway. as a 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
horrid thing?"
"Dan says it's a regular beauty"
laughed Prue, her clear, sweet voice
filing the little room with merry music.
ga beauty!" exclaimed the boys
mother. 'It's perfectly frightful!'
"Pleasc, mamma" began Dan,
'can't we 60 over N show it to Tommy
Jones?:"
,"After night" suggested Jack, "when
off big, then-won't it, Aunt Prue?"
"One would think you had some
thing fine to hear you 60 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 n up all we can. 1t
takes so very little to make the dear
boys happy
"Can we go, mother?" interrupted
Dan.
TN see," said Mrs. Martin, YEARLY.
"That means yes. Oh, goody!n
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.
whats it's name, Aunt Prue"
"It is called a jack-o'-lantern."
CHATS light down mean," said Dan,
disapprovingly. CANT 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 oblSlning 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 seer trudginp
along the road, taking turns in carry.
ing the precious jack-o'-lantern. with
its square eyes and crescent-shaped
mouth filled with sharp, irregular
teeth. A wedge-shaped hole served for
o nose, and, with the tlaring 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 lhey
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 a moment, and the snoce
was filled with a rumbling, rushing
sound.
cts the creek" cried Jack, max
ing a 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,
we can't ever wade across it,
"Well," said Dan, who didn't mean
TO nave his pleasure spoiled by such an
insignificant circumstance, ''we can 90
we?" 0"A '
Course we cant" said Jack. stout,v
Who cares if it is most a mile furthcrp;
lhe boys turned away from the noisy
Geek, which, as Jack said. twas The
biggest kline of a river" At least Il
was the noisiest kind of a one. Thov
soon came to the railroad track,
The creek at this place wound about
considerably, and there would be - lon"
walk Oh the track before the bows
would reach the bridge. 'o''
Mother q be frightened to death if
said Dan. LAWN
"Guess we can take care of our-
Selves" replied Jack. .HMrk! hea,
the train a-coming now. It's lucky wa
amt on the bridge" We
Its coming from behind u.s. said
Ian. Lets get up on this big st,,mn'
crosse by the track, and show the folks
"Ae would not call it a jack-o,-,,n,