The new enterprise. (Madison, Fla.) 1901-1908, 1908-05-28
The
Kidnapping
of Lucy.
By H. Wight

Aunt Lucy, as her SIX niue heph0"
and. nieces stood before her in row.
arranged according TO age, the paoy
steadied by mammals hand. i've gone
up the stairs correctly; now lets see
II can 60 down again: Robbie is
eleven, Bonnie is nine, Ellen is seven
''No, she's eight she's eight! cnlm-
ed several eager voices
Il had a birthday yesterday" Ellen
announced proudly.
ooh, knew there was break in the
series somewhere" said Aunt Lucy
with a comical pretence of vexation.
"And I'm half past nine" objected
Bonnie.
81 can't possibly undertake fractions
the first day, Bonnie. Now let me be-
gin again: Rob 10 eleven, Bonnie Is
nine, Ellen is eight, not seven, Mary
is Eve, Lucy is three. and Berthe is one.
Therei" Aunt Lucy clapped her hands
in triumph, and the children all Joined
in the applause. Baby BERTHE shouted
"Pat-pat-pat," evidently thinking this
was "pat-a-cake" on a large scale.
Now I'm sure I'll not make a mis-
take again said Aunt Lucy. Sitting
down in a big armchair, she coaxed
little Lucy and the baby both into her
lap. and gathered the other children
about her.
Aunt Lucy was kindergarten teach
er in a distant city. She had just come
back, after five years absence, to spend
a summer at the old farm with her
sister, the mother Of the six little chill
dren. She was tired from her long
journey, and mamma urged her to
send the children away; but she could
not be persuaded to let one Of them
SO.
She asked about their books and
toys, their work and their play. She
told them stories Of her kindergarten
children In the big city. She knew
funny little rhymes to say on the ba-
by's fingers. and she had to repeat
them times innumerable.
At last mamma said positively that
Aunt Lucy must 60 and rest for an
hour before supper, so she regretfully
released her little captives, and went
upstairs with mamma to the spare
room.
After supper papa built big fire In
the sitting-room fireplace; for one of
those cold SPELLS" which often follow
the first warm days of June. had come
suddenly upon them. and everyone was
shivering.
They gathered around the bright
IRE after the evening work was done,
and baby BERTHE had been tucked away
In mammals bedroom, just back Of the
sitting-room. Aunt Lucy and mamma
visited" and papa occasionally read
aloud an interesting bit of news from
his paper brought over the rural route
that day One item was a startling
account of the kidnapping Of child
IN St. Louis. The child had been lured
from HIS home three days before, and
carried away. Not trace Of the kid
nappers had been found, though
threatening letters we're received from
them through the mails. The poor
parents were frantic
As he read the children drew UNI
easily nearer their mother and father
Little Ellen, with an anxious look on
her childish face, said, Il hope the
hdnappers won't get any Of our chill
dren." They all laughed at her moth
erly tone.
They won't come away out here.
Ellen" papa assured her.
"And II that little boy had stayed
In the house and gone to bed, he'd
have been all right now" said mamma
with meaning emphasis. taking lamp
and starting upstairs.
"That means 'bye-bye for you chill
dren, without a doubt" laughed Aunt
Lucy, sliding little Lucy, from her lap.
With hug and kiss she babe each
one goodnight and watched them up
the stairs.-Rob and Bonnie ahead.
then Ellen leading her two little sisters
by the hand.
When mamma came back, she and
Aunt Lucy had a long, quiet talk to-
gether. II was quite late when Aunt /
Lucy finally went upstairs She paus- |
Cd moment at the first door and peeped
In at ROB and Bennle rosy and smiling
Ia their alumber. AT the next door she
went IN and looked at the little girls.
al three EAST Rsleep On one bed, with I