The Press., 1891-08-13
w. C. T. U. DEPARTMENT. (Mrs. Kate Tannant Woods, in Union Signai.)
 Little New England Maid.


 with his young mistress, adding: II tell you she's a cute one. I don't think she knows the meaning of fear, and when she come right plump out, and said she would like to see the devil,' it kind of set the creeps goin' all over me. That girl can't think or act like common girls. l wish you'd heard her goin' on about the sky and the brooks an things; she can talk almost as good as parson.
 ''She oughtn't to go down there and work for them folks," said Hi; granny says tain't good for growin' girls to do much."
 ''She likes it," replied John; you just ought to see her a fyin' round like a parched pea, an she will keep it up, too, until they get some help, for heard her teasin' her pa, and he promised she might. I hope to goodness old Burchmore will treat her right; he's pretty ugly when he gets full of cider; and she would open her he does sometimes"
 "Td like to look on if he did," said Hi, with boyish chuckle. Do you remem- Der the time that she flashed out on me for hurtin' a kitten? never felt so mean in my life."
 John Dixon was fast asleep long before his young roommate had ceased talking Had he been less sleepy the events record ed in this chapter might never have occur red, for Hi, in a burst of confidence, laid bare plans for an escapade so ridiculOusly boyish, and so fraught with danger to others, that his friend and counselor would surely have prevented it, had he remained awake. Hi considered silence to mean consent, and long after his usual hour for slumber he turned over and pull ed the homespun blanket about his head, laughing as he did so over the sport to come.
 If people would observe colts, kittens, and sportive young animals closely, they would doubtless become less incharitable to the faults and follies of youth. Hi gave his elders serious trouble by his nu- merous pranks, and yet a kinder lad nev- CT lived.
 The next morning John Dixon called the boy as usual, and then went about his own duties. Bessie drove her sister down to the Burchmores and left her there promising to walk down to meet her if the evening was fair.
 ''It would be so nice for us three; an( papa will come, know, for he loves { moonlight stroll, and you must walk slow ly, Bess, dear, so we can meet at the ho1 low chestnut and will coax papa to sa. some of those queer poems he knows that makes you feel as if 'spooks' wer, all about you"
 But you do not believe in spooks ant such nonsense, pet"
 "No, of course not," answered the girl decisively, "and that is why like to hea about them; thele is all the fun of mak ing believe. Now don't let papa get ol his seven league boots or you will get t, the old chestnut first; and want to si there alone bit, and think; the night i so lovely for thinking, and I just hop there will be whip -poor-will, don't you There is something spookish about whip poor-wills, and they must have such good time going about while people ar asleep. If could come back to earth at ter am dead, think should like to b a whip -poOr-will or an owl; an owl is little the best, because it is wisdom bird" tH..
 Thus Maida rattled on, until she, part ed with her sister at the door of tn Burchmore house.
 Bessie drove back, smiling, as she wen over the droll speeches of her sister, an not little proud of her devotion to a sic woman who was in sore need of help. When she reached home, Hiram cam t to take out the pony, and asked in ma , ter -of-fact tone, Eff he might drive dow
 at night to fetch Miss Maida home?"
 "No," said Bessie, kindly, ...the weatl CT is fine and the moon will be up, so W
 have decided to walk down to meet her
 Hi turned away with grin upon h 2 roguish young face. Everything scene
 to work just as he desired. rt4-r
 For the first time in his life at the farl
 John Dixon found it necessary that ds
 to give the boy severe scolding. H
 careless indifference and heedlessne
 made him especially trying to homes
 ploddiiig John. =<1@s.. ' -+. "I should like to go over the hill . granny's, if might, and be back early
 the morning." said the lad, as he went
 wards the house for supper.
 "Go where you like," said John, testil
 land if you can't do better than you ha'
 to-day, you are of no more use than
 bump on a chunk. /"
 . "You might burn the chunk" said u Q boy, with a saucy wink. s.,.-'t . 'You'll come to burning fast enough
 added one of the workmen, who stot
 near.
 s "Hi" did not reply, but made liz 5 meal, and was soon trudging over u - meadow vito bundle under his arr B whistling in his sharpest key,"The Gam !, bells are coming, o ho! o ho!" r All day Maida worked diligently, al !. the BurchmoTe home was once more ne Q and tidy within. Whatever carelessne Z was permitted outside, none appeared | yond the doors, for Mrs. Burchmore W ! hard-working, industrious woman. q declare for it," said she, as Mai
 brought in tray with some well-broil e chicken and dainty brown toast on il '- "Miss Maidy, you are the spryest girl ever did see; you can just turn your ha to anything. You would make a gra wife for poor man." "I shall never marry when grow uI
 said Maida, as she patted the pillows ' hind the uatient'S hack. URessie VI