Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1909-11-06

IDLY III, Aull lHeh sue TeCObhiAcu III CA
ceedingly disreputable old pipe as be-
longing to her guardian, whom she al
ways had called uncle grandpa. Tip
toeing about, she saw the tiny cabin
and then the table with Its strange
outfit of tools. The mounted squirrel
was duly admired, and then there was
nothing more to do but sit down and
wait. Then the girl, Mildred Brown
ing, saw the unfinished letter to her
self and salved her conscience by say
ing, "Well, it is my letter anyhow, fin
fshed or not, so I'm going to read It,"
Dear Little Snipsy-At this minute my
castle 10 resounding with, a concert. yet
In spite of that writo to you. letting the
music continue. Last night at dinner I
entertained SO many guests that my head
Is half dazcd with II all. This afternoon
am going to the temple, where have
passed many worshipful hours. One OF
my friends is going along. while the rest
VIM remain In my castle, preferring to
sleep. / am ashamed to say that have
been ovsreating lately and smoking too
many cigars.
"Humr' said Snipsy, looking around.
II think see. This hut is his castle,
and his luxurious repasts seem to me
to be soup and crackers. And here is
his pipe. I'll Just bet he hasn't bit
of tobacco in the world And-well,
If he has been deceiving me and maxi
ing me think he is rolling in riches
while he is just fairly starving I'll
never forgive him. am little wretch
and brutel See my bills for cara
mels and matinee tickets and he-oh,
I can't bear itr"
Here the child began to cry disnally.
when she was reused by the sudden
arrival of a mongrel dog without any
tail, which gave one bark of warning
and then backed off, waiting develop
ments.
The old man hastened his hating
steps. AS he saw Mildred standing
there he stopped short and looked at
her as though he feared she had died
and this was her ghost. That she
should have found his retreat, where he
worked for several museums gathering
insects and mammals, mounting them
and following nature so closely In his
preparation of their habitats that he
found a ready sale for them. was as
founding. He gasped.
"well, uncle grandpa, you don't seem
to be glad to see your little Snipsy.
Let me tell you 1 have found you out.
You have deceived me. Here Is your
grand castle, here your faithful friends,
but where are the great temple and the
musiciansf Smoke up now and tell
me-" said she, handing him his pipe.
Too shocked and crestfallen Ger her
discovery of his bitter povert@ when
she had been led to think he was
rolling in riches" and even encour-
aged In extravaganza, he had not one
word to say, but sank down on the
stump and felt in all his pockets for
the tobacco to fill the pipe. but found
none.
"A-ha, 1 knew it! Here! 1 got this
in the village. Now smoke and tell me
all about it."
Saying this, the child sat. down on
the edge of the box. The sight of the
tobacco was all the old man could
grasp for the moment, and he did
smoke with the gusto of a man de-
prived, Of his favorite solace AS he
smoked his ideas began to take a more
normal form.
"How did you find me, SnipsyT'
"Oh, easy! 1 looked at the postmarl,
on the letters. and got off the train
there and asked my way. asked
what kind of tobacco you smoked, fol
I thought If you smoked you wouldn't
scold me. I've run away frem school,
"Snipsyw
Eyes, and now want to know al
about 1t. l know that you saved me
from the fire when poor mother was
killed and that you were never well
in your foot after. but 1 did not know
that you were so poor. I'd never have
remained one hour in that school. MY
mother was an actress, and I ana sure
that have some talent and--tempeFR,
mept."
The old man groaned.
Eyes, and ! could have been making
lots of money for MS both. You could
have trained me. and, anyway. I'll not
go back to school"
"Well, dearfe, 1 am not so badly OF
My wants are few. and am able to
do fairly well catching and mounting
bugs, butterflies and small animals for
the museums"
"M-m-m, and where do you live In
the winterT
ooh, l have to be near the
NOV, I've nearu enough. JUST
simply won't go back to school. You
adopted me. and now have some. say
I won't let you sacrifice yourself for
me an hour longer"
my dear little girl, it isa't 3 sacri
fee, but pleasure"
~ haven't said all had to say. III
finish 1t later. Now, where Is your
temple7 Where are all your ten serv-
antsq oh, yes; see your ten fingers
But where are your fftendsr
"Here is one and there the other
And as to the temple-ah. child, thai
is real. Up at the end of the valley is
high rock, near half mile high
almost perpendicular. and over the tor
of this flows a stream of water. O
river in the spring As it falls over
the edge 1t plunges down straight to
q rocky hollow caldron worn by Its
volume beneath 1t. When 1t strikes
this caIdron It is like ten thousand
thunders EeiAng and reverberatine
along the valley. and the water dashes
up in a seething foam terrible to see
frightful to hear.
IAN down the sides Of this rocky
t,racirfco fhara ara fnteratfce0 Tyhaf2