Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1885-06-29
closet, declaiming as Bluebeaad was


''Not for love or money will stay
another night in vel haunted house,
she declared. And in answer to all
explanations she would say nothing
but: 'sthen there's a devil in it and
worse luck to the baste." So Biddy
left. and one more charge was added
to the account against Jack. Nor
were his freaks confined to the night.
As sure as there were visitors of con-
sequence in the house Jacks peculiar
voice would be heard filling up the
pauses of the conversation. He was
becoming sad, bad boy, in disgrace
half the time.
After the day when he made Mrs.
De Quincy a mortal enemy of the
family by repeating the story OF
Cinderella while she was relating her
trouble with her odd stepdaughter,
Mrs. Harrison declared she could not
and would not have him around any
more. Indeed she talked of using
him as kindling- wood but papa Har-
rison thought he -, might do for
some of the springs for the patent,
self acting, six. O clock shower-bath,
he was making.
So Jack was banished to the re-
hottest corner of the lumber-room
where he remained in disgrace until
the children had forgotten his exis-
tence and the patent shower-bath had
been completed without him.
But he was not to remain in OBJ
security forever. One day, not long
before Christmas, Mrs. Harrison had
call from a rag-peddler; and glad
to dispose of some rubbish, and at
the same time add to her Christmas
fund, she led the way to the lumber
room. The rags were weighed and
the peddler was turning to go when
he caught sight of Jack, "Don't you
want to sell that old doll?'' he in
quired with a thought of the children
at his own home.
Mrs Harrison explained what the
doll really was. The rag-man seem
ed interested and offered a dollar for
the ecute continuance. But though
she would gladly be rid of the null
sance, Mrs. Harrison was rendered
mercenary by the coming holidays
and asked five dollars. After some
delay, the peddler acceded and de-
parted in triumph with Jack. Mrs.
Harrison kept her own counsel and
quietly added several gifts to her
| store.
She wondered occasionally whether
the story-teller would create the same
disturbances in his new home, but
she never saw the peddler again and
soon ceased to think of Jack.
One day more than a year after
ward, Addie and Eddie brought home
a gay hand-bi announcing wonder
full show in the public hall.
"The Storytelling Doll. Most
wonderful automaton ever made.
Will relate one hundred stories.
Come one! Come all J.! Admission
25 cents. Children 10 cents"
All this and much more was dis
played in bold type and attractive
STYLE, Mrs. Harrison read the bill and
recognized all of Jacks old favorites,
including several family stories, how
Gertie was rescued from the well
her granddaughter wedding trip or
a canal boat, and other persona
tales. She showed the bill to Mr.
Harrison and confessed her transac
ton with the rag-peddler; but as hi
mind was all absorbed in a new in
vention, the scientific water burning
lamp, he did not seem to care wha
became of his old contrivances.
The whole family, however, wen
one afternoon to see their frien(
Jack, willingly paying their quarter
and dimes for privilege they so lit
tie valued while he was with them
Freshly attired, but the self-sam
solemn-faced Jack, he delivered to
delightful audience his best sc
lections; nor would he vouch-safe
glance of recognition to those wit
sold him into bondage. But as the.
saw him for the very last time tn
whole family admired papa Harri
sons Bright Idea more than ever
and the twins cried to carry hir
home again. @