Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1891-02-05
"Clarence Archibal Wilmington " said

"Clarence Archibal Wilmington" said
she; II am shocked at YOU" raising her
hands, with an expression of mingled
horror and disgust. 'iCannot you find
any more genteel way than that of en-
pertaining your little lady cousins
What would you think to see me stand
Ing that way?"
Never having considered the question,
| was wholly unprepared to answer, so /
hung my head and was silent.
NO wonder you are ashamed" con-
tinued she. You ought to go and hide
till you can think of some more becom-
ing way OF conducting yourself. Here
blanche, come with me, and let us punish
the naughty boy by leaving him to his
own bad company" continued she, TAX
the reluctant Blanche by the hand and
leading her toward the house.
My cousins, Flora and Stella, were as
prim and staid as two little statues, and
| detested them cordially but Blanche,
being something of little tomboy, was
the one ray of sunshine along my shaded
existence, or the one companionable be-
ing among my host of female relatives.
| felt very lonely and miserable as she
was led away, so | thought | would act
on my good aunt's suggestion and go and
hide myself.
Down at the back of the garden there
was an old gnarled apple-tree, quite easy
to climb, up among the thick foliage of
which, in the hollow of crooked limb,
about nine feet from the ground, | had
constructed, with the aid of some bits of
rope and pawpaw bark, secure and
comfortable seat. To this seat would
often repair, when in sad or pensive
mood, and, closing my eyes, imagine
myself sort of Robinson Crusoe, the
dreaded cannibals of whose island-and
my imaginary island was never without
its cannibals-were all females and very
voraCious.
Mother had read me the tale of Crusoe,
and had monosyllable edition of my
own, which had learned to read with
tolerable ease, and in which took much
delight. This cherished volume was Of
ten my companion when / repaired to
my aerial roost; but on the present oc-
casion | was too much hurt to think of
consoling my feelings by perusing again
the haps and mishaps of my tavorite
hero. | felt that l was quite as much of
a castaway as any Crusoe, and much
more to be commiserated, as my situation
lacked the novelty of adventure to make
it interesting. | would have hailed with
rapture any unseen power that could
have plucked my favorite tree and set it
in the midst of desert island. But
was forced to content myself with shut
ting my eyes and imagining all sorts of
menacing horrors, against which, with
the scantiest material and the greatest
eXertion, had successfully fortified my
position. There was such satisfaction
in this fancied security against fancied
danger that, together with the gentle
swaying motion of my lofty seat, it
lulled my perturbed spirits at last, and |
must have fallen asleep. Whether had
slept minutes or hours | could not have
told, when | became vaguely conscious
of voices near. With rushing sense of
danger came the thought of the canni-
balls. Instinctively threw up my hands
and sprang forward, lost my balance and
fell out of my seat. After falling what
seemed very great distance, though it
was only about five feet, my jacket
caught on little snag and arrested my
downward tendency.
o' Friday, Friday!' l screamed, not
yet fully conscious of my real situation;
but was wide enough awake by the
time Aunt Rachel had unlocked me from
hfo sift-t s, ~ ttn n5U roUgentIe snage
set me On my feet.
| " Aiho ooSo CiAC SIlilu luCuu NY SClCtIu-
ing Friday when he must know it is
Tuesday," said she.
Yes, and what does he mean by
perching himself up in a tree to go to
sleep aud fall out:" asked Aunt Jane,
who accompanied her. "What sort of
an arrangement is it he has built up
there, any way? it looks like veritable
crow s-nest.''
Its manikin's nest where bad boy
goes to hatch mischief" said Aunt
Rachel.
L did not know the meaning of mani
kin, and supposed it meant something
exceedingly wicked.
81 wonder if Esther knows of this.
Boy, does your mother know of that
that whatever you call it that you have
built up there in that tree?" asked Aunt
Jane.
." 1t isn't likely that she does: but |
intend that she shall know of it at once.
want her to see where her precious
chicken is in the habit of roosting, to fall
and break his neck,' said Aunt Rachel.
just then she looked up and saw my
cousin Florence coming.
Florence, dear" said she, g run back
to the house and tell your Aunt Esther
to come down here at once. We've found
tHc CulpIlI. 10 GUlnK lflaU ne should
have us searching all over the place for
him, and his mother half out of her wits
about him, and him sitting up in a tree"
and she emphasized the words as though
sitting in tree were the most deadly Of
fence boy could commit against the
peace of his relatives.
Florence's message soon brought my
mother, who came, followed by four
more aunts, and my two grandmothers,
the three female cousins bringing up the
rear.
" Is my precious boy hurt?'' cried my
mother in an agitated voice as she drew
near.
No, more's the pity" snapped Aunt
Rachel. 81 just wanted you to see that
what-you-may-callit up there in the tree
It's thousand wonders he did not break
his neck when he fell out of it moment
ago. You are no true mother if you don't
have it down from there at once"
This aroused me from the apathy into
which my sudden disaster had thrown
me, for the lofty seat in which l had
passed SO many quietly happy hours,
with my own fantastic thoughts for COM
pany, was very dear to me.
ssnh n,nthar p1o no, ,