Delaware gazette and state journal., 1895-12-12
sAraeE AVID mAs1c plcroRgs
Nobert Louis stevenson Tells of the Mykti-
tiration of One of His Ketainersi


Robert Louis stevenson Tells of the Mysti-
tration of One of His Ketainersi
Decem er St Nicholas.
But | have told you a great deal
too much about poor Arcks savage
nature, and now l must tell you Of a
great amusement he had the other day.
There. came an English ship'of.war
into the harbor, and the officers good,
naturedly gave an entertainment OF
songs ard dances and IA magic lantern,
to which Arick and Austin We're
allowed to go. At the door of the hall
there were crowds Of black boys wait
ing and trying to peep in, as children
at home lie about and peep under the
tent of circus; and you may be sure
Arick was a very proud person when
he passed them all by, and entered the
hall with his ticket.
n wish l knew what he thought of
the whole performance; but friend Of
the lean man, who sat Just in front Of
Arck, tells me what seemed to startle
him most The first thing was when
two Of the officers came out with black.
ened faces, like minstree, and began
to dance. Arick was sure that they
were really black and his own people,
and he was wonderfully surprised to
Gee them dance in this new European
style.
:But the great affair was the magic
lantern. The hall was made quite dark,
which was very little to Arick's taste.
He sat there behind my friend, nothing
10 be seen of him but eyes and teeth,
and his heart was heating finely in his
little scared breast. And presently
there came out on the white sheet that
great bright eye of light that am
sure all you children must have often
seen. 1t was quito rev to AIick; he
had no idea what would happen next.
and in his fear and excitement he laid
hold with his little slim fingers like a
birds claw on the neck of the friend
in front of him. All through tho rest
OF the show, as one picture followed
another on the white sheet, he sat
there grasping and clutching, and good
ness knows whether he were more
pleased or frightened.
Doubtless il was a very fine thing
to see al those bright pictures coming
out ana dying away again, one after
another; but doubtless it was rather
alarming also, for how was it done? At
last when there appeared upon the
screen the head of black woman as it
might be his own mother and sister, and
this black woman of sudden began to
roll her eyes, the fear or the excite
ment, whichever it was, wrung out OF
him a loud, shuddering sob. ] think
we all ought to admire his courage
when, after an evening snent in look
ing at such wonderful miracles he and
Austin set out alone through the forest
to the lean mans house. 1t was late
at night and pitch dark when some Of
the party overlook the little white boy
and the big black boy, marching
among the trees with their lantern. /
have told you this wood has an i'll
name, and all the people of the island
believe it to be full of evil spirits; it
is pretty dreadful place to walk in
by the moving light of lantern. with
nothing about you but curious whirl
of shadows, and the black night and
beyond. But Arick kept his courage
up, and | dare say Austin's, too, with
a perpetual chatter, so that the people
coming after heard his voice long be-
fore they saw the shining of the Ian
tern.