The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1909-02-02

WHAT'S that? A parachute?"
A big word for a little girls
tongue, Dollie. Come, let me see II
IL mas twisted 1t crooked?"
My six-year-old niece gravely mt
forth her tongue, and I as gravelv
pronounced 1T sound and straight.
But want to know, Uncle
Harry" she persisted.
So 1 took her on my lap. and ex-
planned, as well as 1 could. the mvs-
teries OF the parachute; and the bean
aiful brown eyes grew bright with
wonder at the new ideas thus pre-
sented to her inquiring mind.
MY story finished, Miss Dollie sat
awhile on my knee in deep thought:
and then she got down and trotted
OH with preoccupied, business-like
air.
l loved a good cigar in those DAYS
Il do now for the matter of that
and sitting smoking on the portico
with the sweet summer breezes dane
Ing around me, and the woodland
songsters filling the air with music.
forgot Dollie-though 1 had prom
ised TO Keep an eye on her-until sud
denly startled by series of screams
and outcries proceeding from the gar
den, sure indication that she had
got into some sort of trouble. as US
ually happened on an average twice n
day, at least.
Threw away my beloved cigar.
and rushed out to the scene OF the
turmoil, my sister closely following.
put neither OF us were prepared for
the sight that met our view.
There was n tall grape-arbor in
the garden, composed of several IN
right posts connected by long Stats.
nailed longitudinally, and projecting
1901 or more beyond the uprights
at either end. There were fifteen
OF these Stats, foot apart. and on
the end of one of the uppermost ones
hung Miss Dollie.
She was suspended somewhat in
the manner of pocketknife with the
Dlade partly open and the point
turned downward; and as she swung
10 and fro, filling the air with
lamentations, her poor little nose re-
celVed many a blow from the franctic
piunges OF her knees and feet.
Keep still, Dollie!" cried out.
my voice full OF laughter.
And then l clambered rapidly nm
the arbor,- and plucked the terrified
child from her impromptu, elevated
swing. landing her safely on the
ground
"Dollie," said her mother, severely.
haven't l forbidden"
IT'S all Uncle Harry's fault. so II
Isl" sobbed Dollie, in doleful accents
he said a person could jump off a
nigh place, and come down easy. if
they had parachute, so 1 thought
I'd try, and got his"
Mine!" l cried out; 81 have none.
you little goose!"
You has, Uncle Harry; Won take II
out to keep the sun off when Won go
10 draw pictures and to paint"
on" said /, IL see; you mean nv
artists umbrella! That is not para
chute"
Its not an umbrella" cried Dol
lle' Indignantly. It's big. and
strong and heavy, and you put it in
pipe and stick it in the ground. |
got 1t, and first 1 got on the fence
and jumped down, and / burned co
hard IL most took the bref ont of mo
Ihen 'membered Uncle Harry said
the air must get under IL; and 60 7
climped up the arbor and iumped off
and didn't go at all. Just look at
my skirt mamma-it's all Uncle
Harry's fault-just look!"
Mamma did look, SO did the much
abused uncle, and both fell into fresh
commissions of laughter
III was the fashion i'm those dave
ior the little feminines, as well as the
Dig ones, to wear stiff. rattan hoop-
skirts. Dollie had been very proud
OF hers-the first of its kind TO her
ana now, alas, having served as q
nook to suspend its owner in mid
arr 1t presented a woe-begone an
pearance - rattans twisted and
broken, and trailing behind I'm n de-
cided peak.
Altogether it was too much for nv
gravity, and / lay down on the groes
10 laugh Of my ease, while my sister
carried off much-offended DolIie ~
restore order to her dilapidated cloth
ing.
1t was some time before 7 rocov-
cred sufficiently to go to the rescue
OF my impromptu parachute. which
meanwhile, was reposing quietly I'm
blackberry bush.
The next day was like many of its
predecessors warm and beautiful
almost too beautiful, I'm fact. for we
were getting tired OF the hot sun and
cloudless sky, and felt that we could
heartily join I'm the cry OF the droop-
ing plants for clouds and rain.
We had had three weeks NJ nm.
pressiyely hot, dry weather. but D.
DAY was considerably cooler. tbere
was brisk breeze, and q few floating
heecy clouds gave some hone that =
change Of weather was at last an
preaching.
Lou said /, to my sister. as we
stood on the porch together after
breakfast, "it really looks as n q
might rain some time. and perhaps I
had better not postpone my sketch
any longer. III 80 now, and while T
saddle Fleet, ana get my portfolio
and Dollie's parachute ready. do Won
put me up some lunch, Ike the dear.
good sister you are. 1 shall not be
back tefore night"
Ana thus &c happened that an hour
Nnfnr found r,.r -frf..-