The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1868-04-02


that matter she would not in the least have
cared if it had BEEN" A 3s
"Not at ALL" said Mrs. Bog; "Tm
long past caring who knows how old
I am"
That is the story of how Mr.. Bog ma
ried his wife on her tenth birthday.
"Really, Rasper," said Mr.. Splitter, ss
they walked home together, "that was
very good indeed for Bog"
And Rasper admitted unreservedly
that it really was very clever, indeed,
considered as Boys frst.-London Socsety
MAY AND HER STOCKING.
When4.ttle May was five years old her
mother gave her, for birthday present,
four bright knitting needles and ball OF
wersted, and began her first stocking for
her. Little May watched her mother knit
ting, and thought it looked very easy,
pleasant work. Presently her father came
in and called her mother, who at once laid
down the stocking and left the room. May
called after her as she was going through the
door, to know if she might go on with the
stocking. Her mother said Yes" with
out listening to her; and May took up the
stocking, went out of doors, sat down I'M
der tree, and began to knit The first
row, which her mother had begun, went
smoothly enough, but when she had finish
ed it she did not know what to do next, and
looked about for some one to help her.
"The Spider would be sure to know, for
he does much more difficult things than
this" said she; SO che went to look for a
spider. She soon found one, spinning a
beautiful round web on rose bush.
cob! Spider" said she, twill you show
me how to knit my stocking ?"
Let me look at it." said the Spider; SO
May showed it him.
"You see / have done this row." said
know how to go on, or where to put my
thread"
"Threadl I see no thread" said the
Spider; "and what are those great pokers
for?"
"These are knitting needles, not pokers,'
said May; "pokers are much bigger; here
is my thread" and she held it straight be-
fore the Spiders eyes.
"Doyou call that thing a thread ?" said
the Spider, disdainfully " call il rope
don't bring such great ugly things near me.
All take care {as May turned her stock
ing round), "you will spoil my web if you
touch it with your pokers. l am too busy
to talk to you, SO good day. When you
learn to work with proper materials per
haps may help you" and the Spider be-
gan to spin again.
"You rude creature!" said May, "my
thread is not rope, and my needles are
not pokers: you know they aren't, and
you only call them so because you don't
know how to knit"
"He he +" laughed the Spider.
So May walked on with her stocking in
her hand. and presently sat down by q
brook that flowed through the copse. A
little Mouse peeped at her with his bright
eyes. "What are you doing ?" said May
Making nest" said the Mouse.
"DC you know how to knit }" said May.
"No," said the Mouse; "but what is
this?" running up to Mays knitting,
which she had laid down by her side.
"Oh this is just what want" and he
showed his sharp teeth.
ooh, don't!" cried May "you will
spoil my stocking, and it is not good to
eat"
"Only little Bit" pleaded the Mouse.
81 have been looking all day for something
soft for my nest, and can't find any
thing"
s'That is very sad," said May; 81 will
unwind my ball of worsted, and give you
a little bit off the other end )" and she be-
gan to unwind it.
"Ah!" quoth Maybe, flying down
from an elm-tree, eff you are going to dc
that, you may as well give me some too,
for am building my nest in yonder tree u
"You shall have some, if you will have
patience" said May, gravely. "But if you
touch my wool before it is unwound you
shan't have bit"
"Very we'll" said the Mouse then
will come back when you are ready" and
he ran into hole.
But the Maybe, who was inclined for a
gossip, seated herself on log of wood
near, and every now and then May felt q
sharp pull at her worsted, but when she
looked up to see who was the offender, the
Maggie was always quietly seated IN the
same place.
"What can you do with such a quantity
of wool 2'' said the Magpie, at last. You
might build twenty nests with it, though
Care say you want rather big one"
81 am not going to build nest, sale
May, "but to knit some stockings, anc
mother says they take great deal O
wool"
"What are stockings ?" asked the Mag
pie. b
Fittings to put on one s feet to keer
them warm" replied May. "Don't YOU
feet get very cold without any?"
"No," said the Maybe; "not this warn
weather. Sometimes the frost is rather
sharp at night, and then I tuck one of my
feet under my feathers like this "-(ano
she tucked up one of her legs). "Why
don't you do so too? 1t would save you
great deal of trouble"
81 don't think it would be very comfort
able" said May.
ooh yes, it is" said the Maggie; "jus1
try. Look here one leg at time, anC
when that is warm tuck up the other In
stead"
"But," said May, balancing herself or
one leg, 81 feel as if should tumble
down"
enc, you won't" said the Maggie. u
you practice every day, you will soon gel
used to it."
At that moment something gave Mays
thread such violent jerk that the bal
flew out of her hand She stopped tt
pick it up, but it rolled away. She raj
after it to catch it, and found that thu
Maggie was at the other end of 1t, anG
was flying away with the stocking IN be-
mouth. -.
"stop ssop!" cried May; you've go
my stocking"
But the Maggie only flew faster, and poo
May sat down and cried.
"What is the matter ?" said the Mouse
peeping out of his hole.
"Oh!" sobbed May, "the Maggie ha
stolen my stocking, and all my needle
but this one, which had in my hand
and my worsted has rolled away"
"Why," said the Mouse, Il thought yo'
had unWOun0 i"