Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-08-11

boughs over me, and, though l was chilled with the night air, soon fell asleep.
 When woke again could see the wan- ing moon through the opening. shall never forget how beautiful 1t looked sailing through the dark violet sky. I was op- pressed with 8 sense of loneliness and be- numbed with cold, but felt no fear. No thought of panther, ghost or serpent crossed my mind. drew the leaves and branches closer round me and fell asleep, murnur- ings 'Y laid me down and slept; walked; |; for the Lord sustained me-"
 That text hung over the head of my mothers bed I cried little at first, think ing of her lying warm and comfortable, with never & thought that l was shivering alone on the mountain.
 When woke again it was quite day, but the sky was thickly overcast with clouds. I sprang up with some of my old defiant manner, but the birch tree near had a sub du1ng effect on me. I was forced to admit that Jane Plunley had been afraid, had grovelled in the most abject terror, terror of nothing, too. I was accustomed, when my school-mates refused to join some mad cap scheme of mine, to taunt them: 70, yoV are afraid you'll get scart!" I had been afraid should be frightened, mortifying as the thought was.
 When looked around, concluded that had wandered quite over the crest of the mountain and was far down the eastern slope. My wisest course seemed to be to go down to the clearing and ascertain my loca- tion. A few minutes walk brought me in sight of the road with several houses; the river and low land seemed hidden behind a little ridge. was familiar with the aspect of the eastern slope, but looked in vain for msv Fnx. lSor I n9 ooh farm in regular succession, but none of them corresponded with what saw before me.
 Somewhat surprised, I decided to go to the nearest house and seek information.
 "I'm not obliged to ask them who lives there, but can ask the nearest way to MT. Plumley's.''
 With this thought started toward little brown house whose chimney, crowned with 8 curling smoke, announced that the occu- pants were up. Presently saw man with 8 basket; he went to one corner Of the gar den and began to throw something into a little sty there. Apparently he was feeding some baby pigs. was within four or five yards of him when, with great start, I recognized him as MT. Howard, our neigh bor! Irubbed my eyes vigorously, for the scales were dropping from them by the dozen.
 was at the very door of the house which knew better than any other except my own home. Within twenty-five rods was the school-house, the playground, the cairn rock, the balm of Gflead tree. So firm had been in my belief that 1 was on the eas side that had looked for half hour on a landscape which was as familiar as the feat ures of my mothers face, and had not known 1t.
 Fortunately, my footsteps on the sward fa ho1 ms to recover myself before was seen. When Mir. Howard turned he called, cheerily:
 'Good morning, Jane; you are out carly A sob came with my reply. "Why, what's the mattera Any your folks sick9" I did not answer Then. noticing my trail through the dewy grass he asked ''Where'd you come front"
 "OH'n the mountain" (sob). "Been there all pight'' (sob)- 'I'm most froze."
 My sensesl Poor child, no wonder. Here come into the house." hung back little for his kindly words had increased my sobs to genuine boo-hoo.
 "Come, there's a good fire. Why in tho world didn't John Plumley raise the neigh bors and hunt you up" He thought I was at MT. Story's." TheI explained why I was not missed.
 'Gere, wifei wife!" he called, as he opened the door, "here's Jane Plumley; she lay on Skitohawaug last night, and I'll be hanged if don't b'lieve she was afraid shs should get scart fur once. Want you Janet"
 "Xea," said, still crying, softly.
 "She's almost froze, wife. Le' mo star up the Ire and do you whack up cup O l coffee for hero
 sPoor ohild!" said Mrs. Howard, almos oryAng herself "Of course she shall have coffee and biscuits, too, if you don't burr thena to charcoal. Don't you put in another | stick. Seth Howard. I'll kill the fatted cal iGycu say so, but you sha'n't burn the house down" "
 | She brought warm water and bathed my face whioh was bruised and blood-stainet from my frequent contact with the trees thu n1ght before. Then I shared their generou breakfast, while Mrs. Howard piled my plate with every good thing which he pantry or cellar afforded.
 "Poor thing, to think of you being out ol that mountain amongst the bears and rat alesnakes all night I shouldn't 'a' slept wink if had known it.'
 "Pshaw, sallyl I'll warrant they didn' trouble Jane; and you didn't see old Muck lsroy either, did you, Jane"
 "No, sir" I replied, emphatically. Ol Muckleroy was prominent ghost sevent years before, and tradition had preserved hi fame. You see, I knew positively that di mot sec him, though I did think of him a one time.
 That is the end of my story. After break 9astI went home. Of course no one ha sseo missed me, but equally of course tn tru&h had to come out. I suffered no harr
 rom my adventure-perhapsit it did me good AZ least the girls thought so, for was no 50 apt after that to taunt them for thei senseless fear of nothing. had had m own experience.-Luthera Whitney.i". VsHth Companion
 "A New Sleep-Produ1G.>
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