The Minneapolis observer. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1890-1???, 1890-09-13

AtRhE EEfAeth all NHH you 1&AAEF9 hDA&
any little girl not actually an IDIOT
could have such ldi0tic piansg ! can
not remember that 1t even occurred to
mo that the years which we're to make
such changes In me would also touch all
orr family circle. They were TO remain
Just the same. planned how they would
be gathered about the family lamp, and
what each would be doing when should
walk in. These reflections were, %
the whole, pleasanter 70 me than those
within nearer vision. found ! did not
quite like to think how sorry mother
would BIS when she came home that
night ant could not find me anywhere
1 tried TO imagine Just how her face
would look. and then hastily decided
that would think Of that no more. bat
would imagine how Ii would look when,
after missing me all thoss long. long
years, should walk In. There was a
little immediate bitterness in tho
thought that no one seemed 20 miss mo
from the piazza over the way ard CONS
in search OF me. but reflected that
save for the glare Of the nre-balls the
night awas dark. and they probably
thought ! was among tha groups Of chill
dren whose voices | could hear
might venture 70 watch the balls for
little while. so pushed open the dtsoF
Of mothers room.
Shall ever forget the sight that met
my frightened eyes? The room was .
blaze Of light, and the soft white cur
tains not only, but the bed and the iitsle
stand beside IL were in flames. On the
floor just under the window was one Of
those great balls blazing away with ell
Its might. and looking like nothing 30
much as an awful eye Of fire glaring "
me.
What did I do7 hardly know. Yes,
] shut the window on the opposite sids
OF the room; | remember that, becauss
light breeze was blowing, and I knew
IL would fan the flames. | brought the
water pitcher and poured Its contents
on the blazing bed; for the rest, 1
yelled with all the strength OF my
strong young lungs; Fire: fire! fire.
yelled TO such good purpose that In LEES
time than 10 takes mo TO tell II the
room was Allied with people. with voices.
with water. with smoke, With confusion,
and the firs was out
III IL had not been discovered i'm.
mediately," said my father. mot only
the house but the whole street would
have gone; tho wind Is rising rapidly
and the fire.balls would have helped
along; MS IL is, | don't see how we es.
capped. -
How did You happen 70 come into
the room, IsabellaP Whhs were you
doing in the house, any waJ? |
thought you came over TO Mrs Frank
Inns 1t was my sister Mary who
asked the question. Mother had not
Questioned me at all: she stood with
both arms wrapped around me and one
haad smoothing back my hair. She saw
that the fire had frightened me very
much.
burst into tears and sobs, and tried
TO talk az the same time. II didn't go
to Mrs. Franklinis ran away III mean
meant 10. was never coming back
until was gray, and had had some
teeth pulled. was going 10 live In the
attic always, all alone. but don't mean
10, don't want 10; don't want ever TO
20 away from you one minate"
sobhed out this remarkable story in
jerks. with many tears between, and al
Its close barrowed my head into my
mothers breast as though could hide
IL forever from view, and cried as have
never cried since. II seemed to me that
| had almost lost that blessed mother.
"Well. IL ever heard any thing like
that la all my life" Mary said; but
mother smoothed my hair and mur.
INJURED: Poor little girl did she want
" run away from tRotber3"
IL was perhaps nearly an h3ur after
wards that | went 10 the attic for some
needtul things, father going ahead hold
/ Ing the light, close behind With my
hands claApcd in mothers and the re-
mainder of tho family bringing mp tho
rear. How we'll l remember their faces
az they looked around upon my prepar-
atoms for housekeeping. How well
remember the intense shame | tolt II
almost ought to say that you must SLEEP
here tonight. on the bed which you
have made for yourself" said my IA
Their.
chung close 10 mothor. 20. mother
moi" ! almost shricked. ''yoa never
will neyerT'
"No," said my mother. holding ma
close, 1--WE never will; father docs NOT
mean that; but tomorrow I'VE will run
away together Is much as this; We must
live, goa and /, while these things last
on the provision you made for the fa.
tare. You shall try how yoa like SO
much OF running away, bat mother viii
run with you.
tried Ia make Ii seem an unpleasant
thing 70 dc, hut the cake and pies
looked nice, and honestly could not
The next day We tried them. How
like an idiot felt sitting with mJ
mother In the attic, munching stala
cake and preserves. and thinking OF the
good bread and butter and fresh eggt
and new milk which were being eater
downstairs. aud mothers cup Of coffee
Ii was a disagreeabla breakfast, and
the dinner was worse At supper.tlms
| said 10 my mother, with tears in mJ
eyes, couldn't iast run and get you
cup OF teaT't
My mother shook her head 'Of
course NOT" she said; we have run
away"
Two miserable days the cake and pies
and preserves lasted; on the evening Of
the third we went 10 supper, Shall
ever forget how the bread and butter
and warmed-ap potatoes tasteda 'sWa
are never going 10 rua away again.
said my mother, grayely.
I'm sure l never want 10. saidl
''hat father. II | hadn't what would
have become of our house and all oaa
thingss
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