The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1867-11-09

to have a noisy child around. I know how
'twould be; but I'll take her; l can manage
him; the poor child has got TO have a mother !;
i won't do to turn the little thing out into the
cold world, no how. But the birdie must nave
some bread and butter She may sit ON the door
stone to cat it 80 shan't have to sweep up the
| crumbs
So the orphan was left to Aunt Sallys mother
" care 1t was nearly night before Uncle Jerry
came in, for he had gone to mill, and little Susy
had become quite well acquainted with Aunt
Sally, sitting by her side, like LADY," while
the good woman darned the stockings, and fol-
lowing her around when she went to turn the
cheese, and gather the pickles, and feed the pigs
lproving herself "perfect little chatterbox," a.
Aunt Sally said she was.
When Uncle Jerry and his wife sat down to
the table little high chair stood between them
"What is this here for!" said he.
"Youll see." said Aunt Sally, and just then
the little girl trpped in from the garden sv ing.
ing her sun-bonnet by the strings. and singing
"Childrcn 60, to and fro,
In merry, pretty row."
She stopped suddenly in the middle of the
| room, for her eye had caught sight of Uncle
Jerry.
whats this y said he, looking up from the
| table, what does this mean Z"
"I've taken her." said Aunt Sally, thus con-
| cisely explaining the matter.
"Taken her What do we want of young
one about? Whose child is it,"
"Mine!"
"Strange work thisw said he, beginning to
peel one of his potatoes.
Aunt Sally put clean towel around Susy's
neck, placed the little one in the high chair and
heaped her plate with food.
Fiat chicken" she said: eat all you can
little folks get awful hungry, / remember"
But the child leaned on the arm of the chair
toward the old lady, and looked curiously into
Uncle Jerry's eyes. Evidently she was not
favorably impressed.
"That's your father" said Aunt Sally.
"No it isn't" she replied decidedly" my
| mozer said my fazer was pretty man."
Uncle Jerry paid no further attention to little
Susy but finished his supper, and went out to
do his chores.
At night, when he went to bed, he nearly
stumbled over the trundle-bed.
"Strange work this!' he repeated.
Aunt Sally whispered, as he lay down to rest,
"Jerry, do you remember when little Rilly and
Naty slept in the trundle bed?"
Somehow Uncle Jerry couldn't get to sleep in
a long time. He lay and thought, and thought.
At least we may suppose he did, for well peo-
pie are apt to sleep we'll, if their minds are
quiet.
The moon shone in brightly, and about eleven
over the trundle-bed Aunt Sally was awake
and saw him. Presently she saw him draw his
shrt-sleeve across his eyes, and then he bent still
closer to the little pillow, and Aunt Sally heard
| something that sounded like a kiss. All, Uncle
jerry there is just one little spot left in your
heart for child to nestle in.
Next morning Uncle Jerry lifted the little one
on his knee, and said. $50 your name is Susy, is
it,"
eyes," said the child, demurely.
"Do you want to take my knife!' asked he,
fumblng in his pocket.
She smiled a little.
He gave it to her, and drew her little closer
to his breast.
evil you kiss Uncle JerryP" he asked, after
a while my little girl used to kiss me-"
Susy kissed him, and he put her gently down,
| and started for the field. He came back, howev-
or, directly and said-"Y You may let the baby
go along with me- mother, if you are mind TO-
| Ill show her some birds nests"
| Aunt Sally felt victorious.
you'll Spite that child, jerry said the good
woman, six months later, one day, when he was
tossing her and letting her ride on his shoulder,
up and down the path in the front yard.
"Babies amt never spilled by love, Sally said
he How much she 10 like our Rilly Won
der if we can't find little boy, to take Naty's
place ?"
The old farmer did find boy and loved
him, too, and in the sunlight of child-eyes, and
with the music of child-voices around them, the
old folks are going cheerily together down the
further side of the hill of life.