Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1868-01-31
Living In an Omnibus.

kei. said n little voice. as stood at nv
gate one morning. deciding which way I
should walk.
Looking around. saw small yellow
haired, blue eyed boy. smiling at me with
such a cheerful confding face, tha, ook
the chip. at once and ordered some more.
Where do you live?n asked. as we
waited for Katy, the girl. to empty the bas.
ket.
"In the old bus, ma'sn,"
The what?' exclaimed.
The old omnibus down on the fats,
ma'sm. Is cheap, and jolly now we are
used to it." said the boy.
How came YOU to live there?- | asked
laughing a, The idea.
1--WE are Germans and when father died
We were very poor. We came TO this city
in the spring; but couldn't get any place.
there were so many OF us and we had so lit
tie money. We stopped one nigh, in the
old bus tha, was left to tumble to pieces
down on the fats behind the great stables
Ihs man who owned il LAUGHED when my
mother asked ii we might stay there, and
SAID might for while and so we've
been there ever since. and like it lots"
While the boy spoke. l took fancy that
I'd like To see this queer bone OF his
The flats were not far off; and / decided
to 60 that way and perhaps help the poor
woman. il Sue seemed honest A. KATY
handed me back the basket, said to the
lad,
"WiIl you show me this funny house of
yours, aud tell me your name?"
30 yes ma'am I'm just going home, and
my name is Fritz
saw hun look wistfulIy at n tray OF nice
lItle cakes which Katy had put o cool on
the window seat. and gave him one say
ing. as he put it in his pocket very care.
fully,
How many of you are ,here?"
Six beside the mother"
just empticd the tray into the basket.
and we wen, away together. We soon cane
to the flats behind the Stables, and there
saw 4 queer sight. A great. shabby omni.
bus. high steps. and Hat roof. with the long
grass growing about its wheels, and smoke
coming out o! a stove pipe poked through
the roof \ pig dozed underneath it ducks
waddled and swan in pool near by; chil.
dren, OF all sizes. swarmed up and down the
step; and woman was washing in the
shadow of the great Omnibus
"That's mother" said Fritz, and then
l=tt me 20 introduce myself. while he passed
the cake basket TO the little folks
\ stout, eheery, tidy body was Mrs Hum
mel, and very ready to tell her story and
show ncr house
Hans, the oldest. works IN the stables.
mh'am, and Gretchen and Fritz sell great
many chips; little X arl and Lotto beg the
cold viciuals, and baby Frame mind, the
ducks while wash and so we &c, on well.
thanks be to Gou," said the good woman,
watching her flock with a contented smile.
She took me into the omnibus. where
every thing was AZ neat and as closely stow.
cd az on board a ship The stove stood at
a
smelling soup, made from the scraps the
children bad begged. They slept and sat
on tie long seats, and ate from a wide board
laid across. Clothes we're hung 10 the roof
in bundles. or slowed under the seats.
The dishes were on a shelf or two over the
stove; and the small stock or food they bad
was kept IN a closet made in The drivers
seat. which was boarded over outside. and
door cut from the inside. Some Of the
boys slept on the roof in Gne weather. Tor
they were hardy lads and big dog guard
eel lhe pig aud ducks, as we'll as the eh;l.
dren
How will you manage when the cold
weather comes?T asked
She shook her head, and looked sober
Tor a minute A. she s,roked the while hand
OF baby Franz who clung to her gown /;
then smile broke over her face. as she an
swercd ,rusiiully:
81 do my best, maSn. and keep brave
heart IN me for remember that the great
Got, s father TO such as these. and be
won't Jet them suffer "
You may be sure OF that D." said heart
ily and resolved that Der besutifal faith
should be rewarded by finding friends close
at hand.
I'VE are saving to get clothes for Gretch
en- and Fritz to 60 to school in the winter.
ma'am Karl aud Loite make toy furni-