The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-05-06

have known better than to have handed
her the whole roll. You ought to have tax
en- out one or two loZenges and given her'
said her mother. And then she gave her
two cents more. and promised that she
should 20 to the store the next SATURDAY
II II was pleasant
Emma Jane lived all the next week on
that promise. When Friday came she
watched the sky all day. After supper
she went out in the yard and looked at
the sunset. and asked her father II he
thought II would be pleasant tomorrow
There was one long violet cloud in the
west which made her father doubtful,
ana Emma Jane was very anxious.
She looked at the window the minute
she opened her eyes the next morning
and the sun was barring the white cur
tain with gold. 1t was beautiful day
and Emma Jane started forth at oclock
that afternoon, with the last two cents
In her pocket.
Now. mind you don't lose your money
this time" charged her mother; and
don't you open your iozenges or give
any away. or eat any till you get nome;
and mind you, don't stop anywhere. Go
straight there and back"
Emma Jane went to the store and
bought the lozenges. and progressed on
her homeward road with no mishaps
until she reached Hester Adams house
Then Hester came running down her front
walk
'Hullo." said she.
'Huilo." returned Emma Jane.
Where you been?''
Down TO the store"
"W hat for"
Emma Jane held up the roll OF lozenges.
81 Il give you some at school Monday"
said she; mother told me not to open
'e"l till l got home tonight"
'Ill bring an apple for you" returned
Hester, gratefully. Cant you come cut
in the barn and swing, Emma Jane?"
Don't believe ] can. Mother told ne
to come right home"
She won't care II you stay just two
or three minutes. I'll swing you all he
time If you Will. Do come Emma Jane"
There was powerful persuasion in Hes
ter's sweet little voice. and in her big
black eyes moreover. Emma Jane loved
TO swing. She went into Testers barn
and they swung for a good half hour:
then she went home, and her mother was
standing in the door watching for her.
o
81 just stopped at Hester's and swung
two or three minutes" Emma Jane tal-
tered.
Have you got your lozenges?"
Yes, ma'am."
"Wel. you can give them to me"
Emma Jane gave the roll into her
mothers outstretched hand. Her lip
quiyered pitifully
Now said her mother, Il am going
to put these away, and you can't have
them for week, because you didn't
mind me, and stopped when l told you
not to-"
There was never much appeal from
her mothers commands. and Emma Jane
had TO submit. Mother says / can't
have any of those lozenges for a whole
week because l stopped to swing in your
barn" she told Hester Adams at school
the next Monday.
It's too bad. wouldn't have leased
you to, If I'd s'posed your mother'd care"
said Hester ruefully.
well, I'll give you some Of those
Lounges next Saturday. promised En-
ma Jane with a brave air
But Emma Jane was not able 10 keep
her promise after all, for before sat
urday, on Friday night a dreadful thing
happened.
The Rogers family had eaten supper
and the dishes were washed and Put
away. Mr.. Rogers had gone 20 the vii
lage. and the others sat around the
hearth-fire. II was chilly night, and
the wind blew a gale. Ms. Rogers was
knitting, Caleb was studying his alge-
bra lesson. John was reading the news
paper, and Emma Jane was cracking
butternuts with natiron on the
hearth, and thinking now and then Of the
Checkerberry lOzenges she was to have
the next day. 1t seemed to her on that
Friday night as II nothing could posi-
bly, come between her and those lozenGes
again.
1t was nearly o'clock and Emma
James mother was just about 10 tell her
that she must so to bed, when there
was a wild shout outside. They all
turned pale and looked at each other.
What was that" gasped Mrs. Rogers.
Then the shout came again Fire. Ere.
Fire"
John eprang up and opened the door,
and great red glare that looked like
a sheet of flame itself Ourst into the
room THE barns all ahre," john said
hoarsely. stay with mother, caleb, and
save what you can in tfp house. III
try and get out the horse and wagons.
Then John rushed out and shut the door.
The air was thick with smoke. The
wind drove directly from the burning
barn.
Emma Jane never knew exactly what
happened after that she had con-
fused memory of her mother dragging
her through the house out OF the front
door. while she all the time was plead
ing that her checkerberry lOZenges might
be saved 80. mother let me go back
and get my lozenges before they're all
burned up" she walled pulling at her
mothers hand. 80 mother, let me 80
back"
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