White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1857-08-13

Il Il wish We could send her some flowers said
little Garry. Il don't believe she has any,
don't see any growing round their little house.
Poor little GIRL cried Frank. Do yOu sup
pose the old gentleman that lives there is her
father1'
Buy any thread, needles, scissors, tape, thin.
bles knives, balls Iaees essences, rings or othel
ljewelry7' said loud voice IN the midst of the
startled children, who turned round and met the
: frank smiling face Of Ben Pearson, the travelling
merchant, as he somewhat pompously designated
himself.
The moment they recovered from their sur.
prise, there was joyous demand for the articles
they wanted, and the good-natured pedlar, TN
did his packages and boxes, and displayed their
glittering contents. Garry had her thimble,
Frank his gay ball, and Harry his new knife.
Besides these, Mrs. Armitsge purchased several
things she thought would be useful. While she
was purchasing, there seemed to be a consulta-
ton going on among the children, and at length
Harry came gravely up to his mother and asked
her if he might buy some little present, and send
to the little girl across the river Pray, let me,
mother, for she looks so lonely!'
Mrs. Armitage loved to encourage kind feel
ings in her children, SO she readily asserted,
asking only how they would send their present.
'Oh,' said Ben Pearson, I am going directly
over the other side, and will carry it if you
like, and will add something to it myself
Thank you! thank your said the children,
that is just what we wanted, but didn't like to
ask you.'
'And now mamma said Frank, as have no
money, may send her a bunch of flowers from
my gardenl'
Certainly my DEAR said his mother, and
Garry, you may send her your doll, the one you
call Jenny
Garry was delighted beyond measure, and ran
to get it, while Harry making his own choice,
selected pretty pencil for his gift, to which
Ben Pearson generously added pretty little
handkerchief
This is quite curious coin, ma'an,' said
Ben Pearson, cycling one given him by Mrs. Ar
mitage among number of others. Il never see
one exactly like it,
'Oh,' said Mrs. Armitage, Il did not intend
giving you that. 1t was given me many years
ago by my poor brother, who brought it from
abroad. would not part with Il On any account.
was very careless TO put it in my purse and
she carefully returned it again, pouring out
handful of gold and silver, and making the ro-
quired change.
She then desired Ben to 90 into the kitchen
and take some refreshment, which hospitality was
commonly shown in those days, and particularly
| in that house.
Ben thanked her respectfully, went, and after
short talk with old Joe over mug of cider,
and some cold beef and bread, and after dispo-
sing of some of his wares to the housemaids, he
returned again to the front of the house, for
Cary's doll, and Franks bouquet, which he smi-
lingly promised to deliver. Then singing his
brass-bound trunk over his shoulders, and hav
ing a smaller one in his hand, he walked briskly
off towards the marshes where was an easy eros
sing place by which one could readily make their
way to a bridge which crossed the river nearly
opposite, at a place where it made sudden
bend
| Long after Ben Parsons stout form was hid
den by the trees, his loud but not uumusical
voice was heard carolling some popular ditty, or
laundering out some patriotic song, full of ged-
4 desses and heroes, liberty and arms.
AL sighed little Mary Harland, as she sat
on the stump of an old willow tree, and watched
the children at the great honse.> How happy
those children must be. 1 suppose they have
bought many fine things.of the pedlar, they are
50 rich. Heigho! Well am little goose to
waste so much time looking over there, and
thinking, thinking about hardly know what
and MARY sprang with the intention Of getting
her pail and milking Grumpy.
As she rose, she saw for the first time man
leaning against one of the willows in lazy at
titude, and looking fxedly at her. He was of
tall, stumbling figure with stoop in the shoul-
ders, and an awkward, ill-bred air. His coarse
clothes were in some places ragged, in some
clumsily patched and darncd, his old hat seemed
to be cutting the acquaintance Of its crown, and
his sandy hair struggled about, very stranger
to comb or brush. There was nothing particu-
larly repusive in his features, if we except the
general appearance of one accustomed to drink
ing freely of the more powerful stimulants. With
his hands thrust deep in his pockets, the idlsr
regarded the child's start at the sight of him,
with lsering smile.
well, dessy,' said he, whereabouts is the
FOLD man to-dayP
NJ - o,o1a avrav nm hs,z;nacz
'And so you thought you'd take the time to
rest, and amuse yourself little
Il believe have wasted little time, and
must make up for it now said Mary, who had
now recognized in the intruder, a man who lived
at little distance, named William Allen, but
commonly called Idle Bill, who lived as the
common phrase Is, from hand to mouth, working
only when he was forced to, but considered as
one of those people who do themselves more
harm than they do any one else
Don't be in a hurry, GALL said Idle Bill, as
Mary turned to go away, mean to help you in
your work, and have you give me some supper.
Tit for tat, YOU know.
Mary would certainly have preferred doing
her work alone, but thought it best to take the
matter quietly, and while Idle Bill was doing or
pretending to do what little remained to be done.
Mary prepared supper in the simple style she
was accustomed to. Idle Bill grumbled bitterly
because there was no beer or cider, but he made
good use of the knife, under which the brown
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