A LAW THAT COULD NOT Bh BROKEN — 209

“A happy thought came. Nothing could harm it if I
only could put a feather-bed between it and destruction.
I knew where there was a fine fat one. Glorious! now I
could manage to pull the vase down from its perch as
easy as a wink, and without breaking it !”
then, not now,” added Mrs. Robert,

 

“ You little goose !
hastily.

“Goose or not, I tried it,’ said I “Tt was nearly time
for mother to return. There was not a moment to be lost,
and IT had to make important preparations.

“The bed was made up in fine style, with its great
ruffled pillow fixings and its silken spread all tucked in
as if it were never to come out again. But I hauled off
the covers, and with many a tug and pull brought the
feather-bed to the floor. Then I dragged it to the book-
case. The next thing was to fetch a step-ladder from the
garret — no easy job for a ten-yedr-old. This done, it was
evident I should need some sort of a stick with which I
could tenderly start the vase. Father’s umbrella with its
crooked handle was just the thing.

“Good! said I to myself. ‘Won't it be larks to knock
down the vase and never hurt it a bit! Good for you, too,
Old Mr. Feather-Bed ! All you ’ve got to do is to catch it.

“With this, seizing the wnbrella after the manner of
the boy and flag in ‘Excelsior, and hastily adjusting the
ladder, I mounted to the top and—”

“O Rob!” eried Mrs. Robert, laughing. “I remember
hearing all about it! Yes, just as well as if it were yes-
terday. Your mother had been to our house, and my
mother had gone home with her. They went right

14 ‘