The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1885-09-26
SLEEPING IN a TENT.

SLEEPING IN a TENT.
Not hit Afraid-Freddie and Harry's Ad-
venture with = "Lion."
''Plcase, mamma, dear! please let
us!"
'sNow, mamma please to dor
Two eager voices begged and coaxed
and argCed and plead and leased, but
still mamma would not consent, and at
last Harry and Fred had to go mp to
bed in Their own little room, instead OF
sleeping out in the tent, as they wanted
to do. 1t was such a pretty tent and
such nice, cool place to sleep in on
this hot night
II don't see why mamma won't let
us. growled Harry.
LESS we might get the whooping-
cough" suggested little Fred.
''Oh, nonsense! It's just because
she's nervous heard grandpa tell
her so once, and now know what he
meant
''She says we might get scared
s'But we WON'T tell you, Fred"
said Harry, his eyes sparkling with
mischief. IF we just slept out there
once, she'd let us all the time. cause
then she'd know it wouldn't make Us
sick"
'.But she told us not to-"
''Oh, well, you know she wouldn't
really care If she found we didn't get
cold, or Rheumatism. or ammonia, and
weren't speck frightened"
''But she said we mustn't"
''Oh. you're sfraid!''
II amt
"Yes. you are. don't want you to
60 with me, anyway. I'd have more
fun by myself. Goodbye, 'fraid catr'
II amt 'fraid cat and I'm going
to sleep in the tent if you dol" cried
Freddie. sturdily. 'Only-I-guess
you'd better take your pop gun, Harry"
So Harry armed himself with his
pop-gun, and the two boys stole down
stairs Freddie did hope his mother
would hear them, and come out to sea
where they were going, but she d.dE't.
How dark it was outside The moon
had gone behind . cloud, and some
how the clouds looked dim and sleepy.
Harry kept saying the tent was so
pleasant and cool and comfortable. and
he Just wished somebody would dare to
disturb them, so he could shoot him
down dead with his pop-gun. But dear
me, how dark it was inside
Freddie was nearly frightened out of
his wits, but he had been playing hard
all day, so he Just curled himself up
and said: "You kill-anything-down
dead--that and was of to the land
of Nod before he could finish.
what did he mean?" thought Har-
~. There isn't anything that could
hurt us really and truly. There amt
any ghosts. and guess lions don't live
anywhere near here"
Hewasn't afraid. oh no, indeed! but
somehow he couldn't get to sleep and
kept sitting up and listening to the
queer noises and wondering whether
mamma had gone to bed, and handling
bis pop-gun.
What was that? Surely he heard
something creeping. creeping, creeping
softly over the grass
they had fastened the tent back on
both sides to let the cool air come in,
and At one Of these openings appeared
q big black head.
It was lion!
q Harry was so terrified that he could
not even scream. His heart went pit-a-
pat. and his hands grew cold as ice.
and he never once thought Of his pop
gun.
Then the lion uttered low growl!
Freddie! Freddier' cried Harr,.
WHAT what?" gasped Freddie,
waking from sound sleep in a great
fright
run! Run! There's lion after u.s.
And in moment the two boys were
rushing ac-o:s the garden scream ag at
the top of their voices, with the horrible
creature close behind them.
Mamma heard the cries and came
running out to meet the two naughty
'.Why. what is the mat
ter?" she asked, breathlessly. there
have you been? What has frigli ened
you? Why. surely you can't be afraid
Of Car.or'
Then these two brave, brave boys
looked at the lion again and saw that
Il was Carlo. dear. kind, gentle oil Car
10. the big Newfoundland
Harry burst into tears, and threw his
arms around his mother.
'.0t, please forgive u.s.. he so bed.
and mamma just kissed them bot ard
did not ask any questions, or say anoth-
or word shout the lion. She under
stood what Harry meant, just tl,c way
mammals always do. -Bertta Hatson. in
Youtb's Companion.