The Russellville Democrat., 1889-05-23
LOUIS MIRACLE.
1t is One That Might Easily Be
Initiated.

Initiated.
Hes the most mischievous boy l
ever saw cried Aunt Euphemia.
And the most troublesome, said
Aunt Marcia.
And the noisiest," sighed grand
mother.
And the most destructive" groaned
Lou, clearing away the debris OF the
accident The handsome majolica
vase which had been her uncle's
Christmas gift lay in fragments upon
the floor. its trailing vines, fragrant
heliotrope and waxen begonias hope
lessly ruined. Lou loved her flowers
extravagantly, putting into their cult
ure all that artistic power which
most girls expend on drawing, paint
ing or embroidery; and the tears filled
her eyes as she gathered up the dis
severed fragments.
II didn't mean to-" Lynn growled,
trying TO insinuate the toe of his boot
into thin place in the carpet
mo, you never mean to, said Aunt
Euphemia, severely, land yet you keep
this house in commotion from morning
till night Isuppose you don't mean
to make hole in that carpet, either,
but / may as well get my darning-
needle and yarn ready. Why can't
you behave like other boys, Lynne"
whats fellow going to do, I'd
like to know? It's don't touch this
and don't meddle with that from
weeks end to weeks end. There's no
place to fish or row; can't have a gun
for fear I'll hurt some one; there amt
no boys to play with, and I'm Just sick
and tired of books. most wish was
dead" and suspicious tremble Of the
voice closed the sentence.
Lou, looking up suddenly, saw the
merry black eyes growing dim and
misty, and relented.
"But since you're still alive" she
laughed, you may as well help clear
away this rubbish. Put these stems in
that pan of sand / can use them
when they have rooted. After we are
through with this I'll play game of
croquet with you"
1T is too bad she added to herself,
as Lynn set to work with ardor and
dispatch; cousin ought to have some
thing to do. Uncle is too busy at the
shop to look after him, and neither OF
our aunties or grandmother have any
patience with children. must set my
wits to work to find something to keep
him busy;" and she remembered with
keen self-reproach how little she had
done in the loug months since Uncle
Fred and Lynn had become members
of the family to make life more toler-
able for either OF the sad hearts bur
dened with sorrow for the loss of wife
and mother.
Five minutes later they we're out on
the croquet ground. The game pro-
crossed rapidly, and soon, with a skill
ful stroke. Lou sent her adversary's ball
spinning away beyond the boundaries
and her own to the stake. Lynn ran
after his elusive property, which he
disinterred from heap OF rubbish,
and came back muttering Grossly to
himself. as he brushed the dust from
his clothes: What a mess of stufm
The croquet ground was on the west
side OF the house. which faced the
north. The corner TO the southwest
formed by the fences encircling the
garden and adjacent field was tho re-
ceptacle for all the household debris.
and was now full to overlooking. As
LOUIS eyes followed the boy in his
search, play she had learned at
school returned to her.
Turn your back, she said, author
itatiyely as her cousin reached her
side, and as he instinctively obeyed
she initiated his example.
"Now, when I say ready turn
quickly as possible and back 10 place,
and let us see in that brief glance
which one can see and name the most
articles in that heap Of rubbish"
Lynn was back in his place in a mo-
ment You begin" he said, breath
lcssly.
"A pile Of brush, two barrels, a
stump OF tree, a broken kettle ~
Lou paused and Lynn screamed with
delight.
You're a bright one" he cried.
"Now just hear me A broken pitcher.
some poles, peach cans, tomato cans,
oyster cans, plaster, an old rake, two
rusty pans, some bricks and stones,
boards, an old straw hat --"
oh, il isn't iairi' interrupted Lou
you've been all over it after your
ball. But you are observant, Lynn.
Who would ever think so many things
could be collected in 50 small a spaceP
and what pity it is TO spoil the incest
corner Of the yard in that wayl o
Lynn, she interrupted herself. I've
got an dear
The boy looked up roguishly, a
saacy answer ON the tip OF his tongue.
mo. It Isn't lonesomcl There are
plenty more OF them, you will find.
But seriously, do you remember that
article on Japanese homes which