Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1889-08-01
CASSIE'S FUN.

SASSIES FUN.
1t Consisted in Doing as She Would No
Like to BE Done By-How She Wa
Cured.
jamie gave a little shrek of frigh
and sank in small heap upon thu
grass. Cassie laughed as if she would
never stop. 20 Cassie! what makes
you scare me SOP" gasped jamie.
Its fun. What makes you juml
SOP"
1T frightens me worse every time
you do it. can't help Jumping
The truth is the startled scream and
jump were exactly what Cassie de.
lighted in. AS many times a day as
she found an opportunity she waylaid
this timid sister. sprang out upon her
with a "Boor' or whoop. and then
laughed at her sudden terror. Cassie
had often been rebuked for this.
lit is very hurtful to be so fright
ened," her mother said to her one day.
Little Jane isn't strong and you only
make her more nervous every time you
do it.''
But she's so silly. She never can
learn it's only me. She is always talk
ing about wolves and Indians, as if she
thought there was one around every
corner"
''You give her no time to think.
She is a very trusting little sister, and
you must not impose upon her.
"Ill try not" said Cassie gaily.
''But believe it's good for her. After
little she'll learn to be braver.''
''You wouldn't like her to be lying
in waiting at fence corner if you
were running by. Nor would you like
her to be fattened against a tree, nor
hidden behind bush.''
II wouldn't care. I'm not afraid. p"
but it isn't pleasant. You must do
as you would be done BY"
''Well. mamma, 1 will try-rll try
very hard.
This last conversation had taken
place some weeks before. But now
Cassie had forgotten her mothers
warning, and had gone back to her old
tricks. Any thing she could laugh at
was great temptation to Cassie. OF
late she had frightened jamie at least
once a day.
Little jamie did not get up from the
grass.
Come" said Cassie, pulling at her
arm. You're not afraid yet, are
you?''
my heart beats so dreadfully.
must sit STILL"
Cassie was conscience-s stricken at
once. OJanie! I'm so sorry. Please
don't tell mamma, for she said I must
never scare you again.
mo, won't tell her. But wait till
I get rested. then I'll play"
But jamie did not get rested. She
seemed weak and all the zest had gone
out of their play. Finally she went
into the house and lay on the sofa,
where at length she fell asleep.
Cassie watched her anxiously. She
was greatly distressed. What would
her mother say if she knew she had
latterly disobeyed her so many times.
How hard it was to do right
'.After this I surely will be good "
she resolved, Il surely will"
She was worried until jamie awoke,
and was relieved when she found no
harm except the temporary weakness
had come from her prank. But her
alarm served to make her more con-
siderate after that, for, needless and
fond of a frolic as she was, she was
yet tender-hearted. Throughout that
whole summer she was careful never
to startle jamie again. jamie was very
happy at the change.
'You don't plague me any more, do
you, Cassie?' she said.
Summer passed and the twilights fell
early. Ninny, the nurse. who had
always put the children to bed, had
leave of absence for two weeks. So
Cassie and jamie for almost the first
time in their lives were trusted to go
to bed alone. In their room was a
large closet. Every night when they
went upstairs jamie would anxiously
ask Cassie if she thought any body
could be hidden in there. Cassie was
vexed at her for asking the
same question over so many times.
''Why, no, you little goose; who is
there to hide?' But jamie needed con-
slant reinsurance. How foolish you
are, jamie. Some time I'll hide in there
myself and spring out at you, If you
don't stop asking the same old ques-
tion,'' said Cassie, sharply. I'm sick
of hearing it. .
''Oh, no! don't, sister-please don't"
pleaded jamie.
Cassie really had no idea of doing
what she threatened. But the next
night she found herself up stairs be-
fore jamie. The gas was lighted, but
turned low. A sudden impulse seized
her to carry out her menace. She
stole on tip-toe to the closet door,
opened it softly and stepped inside.
She could hear JAMES voice at the
foot of the stairs. calling out Good
Goodnight" to her father and
mother, and then break into blithe
little song as she assembled.
AS Cassie slipped behind the closet
door her foot trod upon something soft.
Instantly there was a snarling, Kissing
sound, a frenzied rushing back and
forth in the closet, a scratching, a wild
yowl. Cassie had shut the door, and
whatever it was rushed against her
ankles and tore at the sides OF the
room. 1t seemed as if there were half
a dozen things trying to get out. or
trying to rend her into pieces. A cold
SILVER, as If icy water had been dashed