Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1888-04-27
NO. IT,.

as the nearest approach 10 Eskimo costume
and Jimmy's two beloved muskrat skins
were strapped about his body with twine.
carrying their shoes they tiptoed up the
squeaky back stairs, through Patrick's
chamber aud the entry, through Uncle
Wills room, out into the broad front hall
covered with icy oi-cloth, and otherwise
known as Davis strait, finally arriving
in the desolate polar regions Of the spare
chamber. How ghostly the tall white cur
tanned bed looked and what horrors might
lurk in the yawning blackness of that clos
ct
But Janet bravely lighted an inch of can
die, and Lucy held it while the others built
an Eskimo hut with chairs and the snowy
quilts and blankets that lay in generous
piles Then they hoored it with pillows for
elder down, blew out the candle, crawled
in through the small entrance, and hugRed
one another with delight.
Jimmy thought it would be well TO re-
fresh themselves after their hard work.
and Lucys cookies formed a frugal lunch
A conversation appropriate 10 theysituation,
if somewhat stilted, followed-all about the
days hunt and the beauty of the aurora
and the white bears over there. Even Lu-
cy was not 10 be outdone, and cried ooh.
Just see that hipptypotamus over there :"
in her book Of animals
But this was rather hard work. Jimmy
considered it time for another meal, so the
chipped beef was divided and eaten. Then
Janet told the sad story OF Sir John Frank
lin and his devoted wife When she finish
ed her eyes were wet and so were Jimmy's
and he thought they might as well begin
on that popcorn.
why Jimmy, our provisions won't last " ,
Janet demonstrated. "Some shipwrecked
people have had only three grains of corn
TO eat in a day.
But Jimmy had no desire to emulate their
example, and Janet yielded, on condition
that an hour should pass before further ra-
tions were served. Jimmy offered to meas.
ure the time. Sixty seconds make a min
ute. When have counted 90 SOS it will
be an hour he reckoned. Silence fell and
Jimmy counted for dear life, shutting up a
finger at every go. 'If you two could on
ly help" he said. That was long hour
but Janets candy and chestnuts made
amends for it. Then a rather mournful 81
lence followed, broken by Lucy, who want
ed "a drink o. water Jimmy carelesslv
remarked that they we're going to have
griddle cakes and maple sugar for tea lat
home" and they nibbled an acorn apiece,
but no one called for another.
Janet foresaw famine and mutiny in her
little band of followers and fertile IN ex-
Pedlents, began "Our minister's cat is an
artful cat" 1t took quite time to get to
Our minister's cat is a zigzag cat, and
then Jimmy took his gun on his shoulder
and went out to shoot a walrus Soon the
girls peered out after him. Oh what could
be that horrible something covered with
cleaning lines of fire, under the old chest
Lucy shrieked her loudest, and Janet's
heart stood still for a second, though she
soon recovered herself
Hush, Lucy it's only Jimmy He has
marked his face with wet matches"
Jimmy crawled back, highly delighted
with the sensation he had produced.
But alas for the exploring expedition
Their mothers voice came from below.
Children Janet ~ Janet had considered
what to do in case Of fire or burglars. She
had taken various precautions against be
ing found, even stuffing the keyhole with
cotton and wiping away with her handker-
chief some tell-tale Footprints in the hall,
but this was an emergency that had not oc-
CURED to her, and it found her quite un-
prepared
Again the call came She had never dis
regarded that call and she could not now.
Though the breaking up of this darling
plan was bitter disappointment, she an
swered meekly, Eyes, ma am"
Where are you Come down immedi-
ately"
Yes, ma'am, and the Arctic expedition
took its melancholy way down the front
stairs. In bright daylight, with all the ro-
nance taken out of their play, it was hard
work to explain the why end how of their
being in the spare chamber closet. 1t was
especially hard, as teasing Uncle Will was
there, laughing till he cried, as little by lit
tie the story came out. Even tired Mrs.
Sheldon laughed, and as the other members
of the family came in to hear Uncle Wills
version of the Janet Expedition" the
children slipped quietly away to the wood
pile in the yard, with its wet logs fresh
from the woods.
The fragrance of the pine and hemlock
sprays was balm to their wounded spirits
and they cheerfully began to make chains
of the yellow pine needles Only Janet
thought ="
1T was rather foolish. never will"
Just then slide of snow from the wet
shed roof struck the wood pile
why that was an avalanche" she
thought; and in Just two minutes she was
deep in plan for Alpine climbing on the
wood pile.