The Forrest City times., 1894-12-28

tomorrow when you go down to the grocers, see if he won't give you an other soap-box. We must save the chairs for our callers"
 This evening after the Fourth she was feeling very down-hearted indeed. It looked as though she would have to openly appeal to charity and this she had never been driven to before. It was so hard to do it, so hard. little after eight she and lilly re- tired to their chamber up under the caves, and soon they were fast asleep.
 About ten o'clock when all was dark and still, wagon drove up. and turn | ing out from the road stopped on the other side of Aunt Judy's back yard fence. Here it lay completely hidden both from the house and from the street.
 . Three minutes later Ted and poked our heads above the boards and seeing that no one had been disturbed we climbed lightly over and crept up to the back door. As we expected, it was only on the latch, for if there was anything that Aunt Judy had no oc- casion to fear, it was the midnight thief. Once inside the house, we drew down the blinds and lighted our bulls eye lantern. The old cat looked up at us in surprise from the kitchen hearth, and then. evidently considering the idea of burglars too absurd to enter tain for moment, again dropped off | to sleep.
 In the kitchen we quietly removed our shoes in true burglar fashion and crept forward. The scene of our oper- ations was the sitting-room. Hist" whispered Ted; gently, now. If we are discovered we are found."
 The situation lent the old chestnuta fresh pungency. And it was as much as we could do to keep from bursting iuto a roar of laughter. We got our 1 risibles under control, however, and set to work.
 Gathering up as many chairs as we could bear off without noise we carried them to the door back. After that we took the table, then with much difficulty we lugged off the rickety old sofa. Next we took couple of armfuls of odds and ends, and finally plucking up the threadbare carpet by the roots we bore it off, chucllling to ourselves, for we had completely denuded the room. Pulling on our boots we now carried our booty out to the wagon, and then well, half an hour later Ted and I were we'll along the road on our way back.
 Hal ha! hal" roared, as soon as we were out of earshot, "that's the great est lark out. Oh, but won't the old lady be surprised, though?" Ted was more serious. He evident ly felt his responsibility as originator and packer of the affair. 'I say, Bob," he whispered, what do you suppose they'll say if we're found out?"
 The only reply could make was an other scream of laughter.
 When lilly came down in the morn- ing to light the fire her eyes almost popped out of her head with amaze ment. As Soon as she had recovered her self she rushed upstairs. On reaching the first flight, however, she paused as an idea entered her mind and stood leaning against the banister. Then, with broad grin, for her decision seemed to amuse her greatly, she ran up and burst into Aunt Judy's room.
 ''Oh, Missile! Missiew she cried. Its ali gone, missie! The robbers have tooken all your furniture. It's all gone, missie, even to the carpet and spoons and everything!"
 Poor Aunt Judy's face was a sight to behold. In trembling haste she threw on her wrapper and hurried downstairs.
 Pushing open the parlor door, the excited old lady received a shock which well-nigh took her off her feet. There before her was brand new set of furniture, chairs, sofa and table, the latter spread with a nice white table cloth and with bright new knives and forks and spoons, and pretty cups and saucers upon it, the like of which she never expected to see in her little home again. In the center of the room was laid nice large rug, and stuck up in the corner was a roll of hand some carpeting sufficien. to cover the border of floor that was yet exposed. With quick glance the as- founded woman took it all in, and then she dropped on her knees and sobbed aloud For some minutes she remained thus, her head buried in her hands, and then rising, her face great ly frightened. she said simply: Make some tea, lilly; we must christen our new teapot"
 As lilly lifted the cover of that ar ticle, something green flashed to her eye from the inside. She shook it out