The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1889-12-11
THREE BRAVE "MEN.."

Their Little, sister.
"Afraid! Just like agirl! Why, we'll
take care Of you. Nothing can happen
to you with three meniin the house."
So spoke the eldest Of the ''three
men," aged twelve;. and Dick, the, sec
ond, copied his grufs base tones to- ask:
"What is there to be afraid Of. Id like
to know?" :
"Well, there's robbers-andl there's
bears-and there'speckerpickets," Nelly
answered, timidly.
81 just wish the pOckers would come.
I'd fix 'em," said BERTHE. He. was not
much more than a baby, but he hooked
very big, striding up and down with
his battery chest, on" as his, father used
to say. ..
Dick climbed upon a chair and took
down an old sword from Its, nail on the
wall iHal ,uig M
'sThis is what I'll do IL bears or rob-
beers come along" he cried, and BRAN
dished it in such fierce way that Nelly
began to put more trust In her pro-
tectorS rf Ji0gE- %
That's rusty: I'd ra ther have the gun,
said Fred; and taking his fathers rife
from it's corner he shouldered arms,
marched to the door and presented tbs
muzzle to the keyhole. od. 7,.. y.
s.Hi, there, Mister" he shouted to- an
imaginary burglar on the other side OF
the door, mo admittanee here without
leave!" ei-r'l u3yi
What would Major Barrie's state Of
mind have been just then could he have
known that his rifle was in Fred's un-
skillful hands? As it was he felt ITO
uneasiness, believing that Bridget, the
big Irish servant, would take good care
of the children during his absence Of a
day and night.
Biddy was not so trustworthy as he
thought. After the tea dishes were
washed, she went out with some
cousins from Oirland," and left the
four little ones alone. They didn't mind
that at first. The three men had all the
better chance to show their courage.
Sitting around the fireplace, they told
all the stories they had ever heard OF
read of wonderful adventures and hair.
breadth escapes. This was all very well
as long as the least bit of daylight last
ed; but by and by there was nothing but
freight in the room, and you know how
such stories make you feel, told in the
freight. They began to cuddle closer
together and to speak lower; and If
coal fell in the CRATE, or a mouse stirred
under the floor, they would all start and
catch hold of one another.
II wish Biddy would come back,
whispered Nelly at last, with little
SILVER. 90 who'd 9nTDE writ.
"Listen! That must be her now" said
Fred, as they heard the latch of thegatt
click.
''Oh, I'm so glad,", Nelly exclaimed
jumping up and running to the window
The gate was at some distance from the
house, but by the light of the snow
Nelly could see something that made
her scream. ~
'Oh, boys" she cried, lit isn't Biddy
It's man! It's manw and she ran and
chung to Fred.
You should have seen our three Draw
men then. They tumbled, helter-skelter
out Of the room, almost knocking on
another down and screaming wildly
They found their way somehow to tn
closet under the stairs where the fiou
and apple barrels were kept. The appl
barrel was almost full, but Fred scram
bled in and curled himself up 50 tina
nothing could be seen over the TOT
There was more empty space in tn
-four barrel, and Dick climbed in ther
and whisr .red that there was room ft
one more. l'oor little Bert was tryiu