Rensselaer Republican, Volume 12, Number 7, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 October 1879 — An Afternoon Lesson. [ARTICLE]

An Afternoon Lesson.

Philip Bkext and his sister Sadie latve,farm-house on toe hill; and when Phn was such a Tittle boy that he oOuld scarcely speak plainly, he used totay toat “Sadie was such a canning little thing.” He, was just three years older than this little sister. He hived her very dearly now; but sometimes he would! feel tliai it was a much finer thing to be; a boy than a girl, and that as he was bo> ach?’** Sadie should be very But the spoiled darling, a dear little: roly-poly thing, with great black eyes, ana toe sauciest little nose, thoughtthat brother Phil was just madeto wait upon her , and humor all her whims; andaome times their views would! clash very unpleasantly. It wah a bright autumn day, and Philip was busily working at a little toyhouse tort had just been given to him for Ids own use. Ho had been hammering for some time inside, and he was now making the door secure. Sadie stood near, in her tittle pink sun-bonnet, looking rather cross; for Phil would Dot ten her what he was doing'all this for, nor would he let her go inside. To all her questions, he replied tfirt it was a secret; and that some day, may-be, he’d tell her. But Wnrt tittle girl of six yearswould be put off in this wayP Sadie coaxed until she was tired; and then she got angry, and stamped her foot; but Phil went on with his hammering, and did not seem to care in the least. The little sister was sure that she saw him take something out of a covered basket, ahd she thought it might be kittens, or perhaps tittle chickens, hat Phil would tell nef nothing, and she stood pouting awhile, and finally walked away. But there was no one at the barn to amuse her, and she did not want to go into the house; and by-and*by she went back again. But Phil was not there now, he had gone to the house to get something; and after peeping all around without being able to see anything inside, Sadie triea toe door. It wasn’t fastened very securely, and two or three pulls got ft bpen. * The little girl screamed, “ Oh!” as two pigeons flew over her head. And just then, Phil, looking very red and angry, ran toward her, calling ont—— “loulittle ‘meddlesomeMattie!’l’ll K've you a shaking that you’ll rememSadie shrieked, and took to her heels; she bad never run so fast in her life before, bnt her brother ran faster; and forgetting all about the pond in the fear of his anger, she stumbled, and rolled down the bank, and into the water. Phil was sobered in an instant, and his red face very quickly turned white. What if his little sister should be drowned? There was no one to get her out, and he could do nothing but scream for help. ’V * ' Fortunately, two of the hired men were coming across a field in the opposite direction; and they soon lifted little Sadie, all dripping, from the water. But she was very still and white; and Phil cried as if his heart would break.

He forgot all about his pigeons, and would have given everything he had to see Sadie smile again. She was carried into the house, and bud on her tittle bed; and Mrs. Brent cried, and every one looked very solemn, and the doctor was sent for. _ They rubbed and worked over the tittle girl for a full hour, without being able to see any signs of life. But suddenly she openedker eyes and said: “ Where’s Phil?” A happier boy never lived than the one who now bounded joyously at the sound of his sister’s voice. And when Sadie asked:

“ Won’t they ever come back again, Phil? Fm sorry; but I didn’t know there was anything there that would fly.” “ Never mind, dear,” replied Phil, choking down a sob at the thought of his pigeons, which had cost him his only half-dollar. *\l ought to have told you. But you see I wanted to surprise you, Sadie. They would have laid eggs, you know; and perhaps, on your birthday, I might have had a beautiful white pigeon for you.” “ Oh!” whispered Sadie, “ how good you are, Phil!” > . But Phil didn’t feel particularly good, a§ helooked at his pale tittle sister; and it was some time before Sadi%*vas able to run about again. Mrs.-Brent talked to her boy very earnestly about his quick temper, which had nearly caused bis little sister's death; and after that sad day Phil seemed .quite changed. Perhaps Sadie did not tease him so much; but the brother and sister were very fond of each other; and the new pigeons which soon came to take the place of the others belonged to them both. —Ella Rodman Church, in Youth's Companion.

—“ Thomas J. Griffith, of Utica, is said to own the first greenback issued bv tee United States Government. He h&srrtfused an offer of S7OO for it.” If it is a SI,OOO greenback he is sensible; but if it is a one dollar bill Thomas has lowered himself in our estimation, — Rome (;N. Y.) Sentinel .>

—A petite, blue-eyed maiden, who was nursing her fifth Christmas doll, and listedUg to her mother and some female fnends talking about domestic broils and divorces, created rather a sensation byremarking: “Well,nut, I'm never going to marry. I’m going to be a widow.” —An Irish newspaper says: “ In the absence of bothe ai tors, the publishers have succeeded in securing the services of a gentleman to edit the paper this week.