The Minneapolis observer. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1890-1???, 1890-09-13
HOW SHE RAN AWAY.
A poollsh Act and a Quaint and
Enecsua Punishment.


low seemed short: was 20 busy carry.
ing Ledclothes and pillows and All nee.
essary articles 20 the attic that felt
much astonished 20 hear soands from
below which indicated that evening
was near ~ hand. There were 10 DO
hrs-balls, ! remembered. and I stopped
In the middle Of the attic and drew n
long sigh over the thought that bad
expected TO have such a lovely time
this evening, and now must give my
entire attention 10 running away.
wonder II yon know what iire-balls
are? II must be nearly forty years
since have seen one. Great balls as
large as my head--at least that Is the
picture which memory brings to me Of
them made out Of old-fashio
'candle wieking." and thoroughly wet
With turpentine and other infiammable
SUITS Az night they we're lighted and
TOSSED through the streets from hand to
hand, a. though they were rubber balls.
How did the people who tossed them
escape being burnedy' suspect that
they did not always escape. have a
memory Of certain boys and young men
and some older onos-who went about
sometimes for days after the Fourth
with one or both hands carefully done
up In rags" and being narsed through
the missries which those lovely balls
inflicted. ] suppose II Is very we'll in
decd that they have quite gone out Of
fashion, bat they we're beautiful, and
we're among tise most brilliant memories
Of MY childhood.
had thought In the morning that At
least nothing should prevent me from
seeing those balls: now the question
was, how should ] manage it2 They
would not be visible from tho attic
window Would ! dare TO venture
downstairs. | wondered, after tho fam
lily woro gono out of doors, and trust to
slipping away quietly before IL was
tim0 for them 30 return2
IL was after I had eaten my solitary
supper ~ bread and milk. and was pre-.
pairing 10 make another trip 10 the attic
10 carry my dearl y-hought Rollo book
and few other books AID pictures 10
amuse my lonoly hours. that mother
opened the stair door and called outs
isabella, IL you are ready TO be- a
good girl you may come down in time
70 see the fire-balls. We arc going over
20 Mrs. Frank Inns 10 got good view.
You may come now, II you want to-"
u don't want To. now or ever" said.
but not loua enough Tor her TO hear.
"Nira. Eranklln's" was just across tho
street from our house, but their shade.
trees did not hide the view 50 much as
i ours
In few minutes heard mother and
the girls go out at tbs side door and
cross the lawn. Marcia, as she closed
the door after her asked; Where Is
isabelias Isn't she comingP"
II told her sho might" said my
mother. n think sho will be- along hy
and by"
II think she WON'T" muttered, and
made all haste downstairs This was
my opportunity to SECURE cookies and Jam
and any other neeessaries could and.
trudged back and forth from cellar 10
attic several times with supplies. Net
u bit Of bread did take, or even meat
but pies aud cakes and preserves In
abundance. must have been an as.
tonishing Ounce, wlthal, for do not re.
member having the least doubt as 10
my right 10 take all these things, for
they we're my mothers and, OF course,
she would want me 10 have plenty TO
cat Yet was going 10 run away from
hor.
There was one thing. however. which
ubuhled me; Fny father had positively
forbidden me 10 take lighted lamp to
the attic, or 10 strike q match there.
This being the caAe, how sas Co have
llghts There was the lantorn, hut Ii
vas quite empty and hung ON high
nail In the back Kitchen. II was OF no
use for me 10 think Of filling IL, for that
was another forbidden thing. decided
that there was nothing for me to do but
live IN darkness after the sun went
down. and resolved 10 rise very early,
10 as to have a long enough day to BE-
willing 30 80 60 sleep as soon as twi-
hight fell Poor little slmpletoni am
actually sorry for my Stiffness aud igno-
rance as look back upon Ii all. liow
little suspicion bad as to what long
bright summer day could make of itself
to little girl shut up in loaely attic,
wltA nothing 10 de. and nobody Co speak
To- Not Tor moment did IL eccnr 10
me 4 take the lamp or the matches. or
touch he lantern: had not the slight.
est intention OF disobeying either father
or mo her Vet | WAS about 20 run
away But that yon understand, had
never heen forbidden
II vas qalte dark when at lass had
evurf thing ready for the night de.
ternslued TO venture just few Minutes
/ Of gazing Al the lovely Are balls. which
were nos being Wildly tossed about
could tell from tho shouts. aud from
various noises in the streets. that they
must he even moru fascinating than
usual, decided 10 slip into mothers
room. whose end window opened 10 the
street and would give me the bAss view
ot the family's approach from Mrs
FfAnkitn's OF course | would not STAY
until IL Was time for theta 10 GENE
bone, hes wualA La on the alert
nevertheless. ard run no sssk as beiaE
caught Ip 10 this moment | had nat
ones Eayered in my resolve 10 live
apart from my family hereafter Nut
Always lhare WAS lurking helEsf that
alter lenR years whom I should peFhAns
have = fes gray hairs like mesherS
and he quite wFinkled ard tired lock.
sng. ] would step quietly - soae