The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1906-01-10
A Live Lantern.
By ANNIE HAMILTON DoNNELL.

know You could see em, going past 1t was a
beautiful party"
SOS this going to be beautiful party Emily
said positively ''You wait and see, Tbbie Peters!'
"But that in the night" Tibbie sighed
I'D like shiny party in the night"
Its going to be shiny party in the night" nod
ded Emily rashly. And then she went out to the
wood pile to consult Martin Martin would know
how to make it shiny party if anybody would.
Emily was only eleven and the two years additional
that Martin boosted gave him prominence in her
eyes.
81 promised, Marty" she said anxiously; 81 don't
-spose 1 ought to've but did. It's different with
the other children, but Tibbie's lame in her back
snd-and we've been most afraid she might not
might not
81 know interposed Martin hastily. None of the
family could bear to remember how afraid they all
had been that Tbbie would not be here this BIRTH
day But here she was-little white frail Tibbie!
They had kept her five years tomorrow. And they
meant to make her birthday party-a "shiny one,
in the night, it must be- because Tbbie had chosen.
81 guess manage, Martin said thought
fully.
eve haze tot" Emily cried go Martin, Just
s'pose could have japanese lanterns!"
"Well, can't firmly $50 might we'll not
waste our s'poses. They cost money, and all we've
saved up has to buy the five stick o. candy and the
five candles for the gingerbread birthday cake, |
mean," he corrected himself hurriedly. They had
agreed not to call it gingerbread and truly, it would
look almost exactly like fruit cake-wedding cake
All the afternoon Martin chopped wood and
thought, and thought and chopped wood 1t
not until supper time that he had thought out the
way to make it a "shiny party"
Emily met him at the kitchen door, her small
figure foury from head toe making the birth
day ginger-the birthday cake.
''Well? Quick, Marty! Why don't you tell
what you've thought Off"
cts secret Martin said firmly; 'you have to
wait with Tibbie. I'd tell you, but girls can't keep
secrets
MOO Emily admitted meekly. 81 guess I'd
better wait"
1t very late that night before Martin went in
to bed. Emily thought she heard him hammering
something out in the wood house. the last thing.
The next morning he would rot let her any of
the other children peep behind a curtain he had
made out of old shawl
Tibbe took long nap, in order to get ready for
the shiny party at night Then Emily dressed her
in her stfly starched little pink calico and led her
outdoors to the party She gently pressed her hand
and, bending close to her ear, commanded gaily:
Shut your eyes-don't you peep!"
ooh, will WON'T" quivered Tibbie, in tremor
of excitement.
Now open 'em-noor
ooh, ! have EN-, o--"-but Tibbie never finished
the word. She looking at the beautiful shiny
party.
The little barren door-yard was shining softly
here three big lanterns dangling from
the old crab-appe tree, one from the pump handle,
from the clothes post All three sparkling
in wonderful, splendid way.
"It's shiny party-a shiny onel" murmured lit
tie Tbbe rapty Hold me up, Marty" extending
her lean little arms; ] want to it shine
Martin lifted her up to the lantern that hung from
the crapapple tree He watched her eagerly
"Wby it's alivel" shrieked Tibbie.
ITS alive" echoed the other children in chorus.
For the "lantern" full of whirlng little freAies
their bright little lamps shining out spenddly Mar
Tin had made big round cage OF some old fine wire
netting and stocked" it well with the frchies he
had spent many patient hours catching.
All three lanterns alive Tibbie was held up
to examine them all and admire them. 1t was
beautiful shiny party and when Emily carried her i'm