Middletown transcript., 1902-09-27
Fiametta and the School Treat.
By .. ALLEN HARKER

No one spoke except Paul, who agail
voiced the thoughts of the community b,
asked Whats that?'
"Oh, a play out Of. the Bible, wher
things happen, you know. Listen: wei
do Elijah and the prophets of Baal, the,
all know about Elijah, for they've beel
doing him for Sundays and Sundays il
school. Miss Goodlake told ME; you al
know about Elijah, don't your" she asked
turning suddenly to her amazed and gasp
ing audience. The PropheE you know.
"Pve cared on i'm. " said Tommy Cop
ner, cautiously, as one unwilling to ad
NIT too great an intimacy with Elijah til
he should know what was expected 0
him.
cam to be Elijah?" asked Paul, wht
never expected long-winded explanations
where any pretending was toward.
"Oh, no." said Fiametta, with great
decision, sI'm to be Elijah, and you and
the rest have got to be the Prophets Of
Baal, you know; then in persuasive
voice, "you'ye all the shouting and dane
ing round the bonfire, and the cutting
with knives" s"-here Tommy Copner felt
furtiyely in his pocket-"you've really
much the best of it. I only come in quite
at the end. No, don't poke the frel !
want it to shoulder till quite the last.
Do show them what to do, Paul; you
know"
Paul thought moment. "I'd rather
like to be Elijah" he said regretfully; he
was man, you know; but if you're very
anxious you may be him, but you must
let us call on Baal for a good long time,
won't you?"
80, for agesp' said Fiametta, magnan-
imously; "the fire isn't nearly ready yet."
"Be us to 'oller?" asked Tommy, with
"Ah, you 'oller same as mer' cried
Paul cheerfully. and holding out grubby
hand to Ebenezer and Tommy. They, to-
gether with Rose and Mary Anne, formed
themselves into ring round the fire.
'Dorcas did say as she were hold-fash-
ioned piece" whispered Mary Anne to
Rose; "what do she want us to dor" Paul
began to dance round the fire, and slowly
but surely the others warmed to their
work and the ''hollerin' began in good
And Fiametta, who at first had
stood loftily aside, hurling sarcasms at the
prophets Of Baal, decided that it was pos
'ible to be ''Baalite," as Paul called it,
irst, and then Elijah, so she too joined
,he dance and shouted for Baal with the
rest of them.
'Now for the kniyesn cried Paul
orandishing new penknife. Only
Tommy Copner followed suit, which per-
1aps was as well. Then the dancing
'ound and the yells for Baal began afresh.
Now, whether the children acted as bel
ows to the smuuidering fire, or VII wf1etthhe etthher
t had suddenly reached some dried sticks
will never be known, but something
'aused the bonfire to burst out suddenly
nto quite large flames, and Mary James |
white muslin frock caught alight.
With wild scream she darted away
Imong the carrots, while the others, all
'ut Fiametta, stood perfectly still, trans
ixed with horror.
Flametta tore after her, screaming,
Throw yourself down, roll on the
round" but Mary Jane was crazy with |
error, and ran on. Fiametta, however,
ould run faster, and, jumping upon her
ack, brought the little pillar of fame to |
be ground and rolled over and over with
er on the damp earth. Fiametta's dress.
Ike all her dresses, was of some soft blue
7oolen stuff that did not catch fire easily,
nd In three minutes a sobbing, singed
nd sadly frightened Mary Jane was sit
ng among the feathery carrots, while
le others crowded round to discover the
ztent OF the damage. Her dress was ut
'rly spoiled, but she herself very little |
urt. FIametta's hands were burned and
er trock scorched, but otherwise there
as no very serious damage done.
l can't never go to tea like this 'ere."
'obed Mary Jane, "an' it be all 'er fault,
le be that mishtiful Dorcas did say
:" ~ U 90
Flametta, too, began to cry. 'T'm yery
rry," she sobbed. "Pll give YOU one |
my frocks to make up. Ididn't intend
y flame to come till 1 poked it at the
~ when said the Lord God of Israel
aac and Jacob bit, and then you would
we iallen on your faces all quite prop
ly." II
Il did vail on my feace, any'ow," sob
q Mary Jane. II don't know what
other II say, nor Squoire neither, though
aster raul be just as much to blame as
\"
WHAT'S that about Squirs?'' said a
lce' and fathers head appeared over
wall, followed by that of the Voice.
Canon.
Whatever is the matter with Il j
lldr' cried father, peering over the
u. He had climbed up on to nro.
=, I,ng stone and was somewhat unsteady
nat are you sitting in among those !
carrots for, and what on earth was
that awful row about?'
10 one spoke for moment. till Fonmv o
pner stepped forward and pulling his
Mt lock said solemnly, "'Twere them A
'phets, sir, a-'ollerin'; and Mary Jane
caught on fire, and Elijah e put Ter
!; an then they both sits there a.,ol. O
M"
Good Heavens!" calculated father and :
from view; but the yoiceful :
ION swung himself on to the ton of tbe
j and surveyed us. "And where bo.
lah gone?' he inquired. 4
Up in fiery chariot" cried Panl 4
denly finding his voice; 'at least she
rly did,"
sheT' repeated the yoiceful Canon in W
olute bewilderment.
Flametta, you know; she was Elijah ),