Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1869-12-24
MISCELLANEOUS.
HOW ROBBIE RUN AWAY, AND
WHAT CAME OF 1T.
BY MARY A. HUMPHREY.

"THERE, Madge, it is finished r.
Mrs. Carroll unconsclously drew long,
tired breath, as she laid her work upon the
rickety table, and leaned her aching head
on her hand.
"Done, mamma, already9 l am so gladl"
1t was the cheeriest little voice in the
world that answered
"Then I'll light the Goals right away,
and fill the kettle, for you are to have
cup of tea, you know-a real cup, strong
and hot. The water will be boiling beau.
tifully by the time / come back from car
rying home the work. And I'll stop and
buy a.fresh loaf and we'll have splendid
supper; won't we, Bobolink ?"
D Little Rob, the three-years- DID,. baby,
clapped his chubby hands and broke into
gleeful shout. A bright flame leaped up
in the rusty CRATE, and threw its rosy glow
over the small figure bending before it.
Whatever stray beams of warmth and
brightness wandered into the poor little
room always sought out Madge, as if she
had been akin to them, and played loving
ly about her, as the fire-light did now.
And not one was ever lost, fancy, for she
treasured them all in her little warm heart,
and sent them out again into the darkness
of many long day, when her mother was
too i'll TO sew, and Robbie fretted with
cold and hunger
Such a neat, home-like little figure, such
deft, willing hands 1t was wonderful
how much they could accomplish, for
Madge was only eight years old and small
for her age.
She was ready to go out now but as
she stood with her basket on her arm and
her hand on the door latch, Robbie sprang
to catch her skirt.
Let Robbie go too, please sister "
Madge looked down into the pleading
baby face.
az think might take him, mamma" !"
she said, thoughtfully. at is so early yet,
and Robbie can really walk quite fast-al-
most as fast as 1.-The darling?"
"You are sure you wouldn't lose him,
Madge? The streets are crowded"
Lose him? o no, mamma How
could II He will hold my hand tight
won't yon, Bobolink?"
So the red scarf was wound about the
round shoulders, and the little outgrown
hat crushed down over the bright curls
and, after being held at arms length for a
moment, and then snatched back to be
half smothered with kisses, the baby
was pronounced quite ready.
"An' it's after takin' out the baby that
ye are?" said the Irish washerwoman
who lived at the end of the hall. "Be
careful of him, the darlin'. May the
Howly Mother bless his bright eyes, and
his cheeks that mind me of the roses in
me ovid fathers garden.
The lame tailor who lived on the second
floor sat sewing in his open door, with his
crutches beside him. He stopped whist
ling "Auld Lang Syne" when he saw
Madge, and called to her in a cheerful
voice. A rose-tree, a marvel of buds anG
blossoms, grew in broken pot on the
dusty window-ledge. The poor tailor haG
neither wife nor child, and he loved the
rose-tree as if it had been human bu
something in the little girls face touched
him so deeply that he rose quickly, swung
himself across the room, and, cutting OF
with his great pair of shears the lovelies
flower of all, he put it into her hand.
Madge could scarcely speak for ecstacy
and, indeed, he would not have let her, fol
he tossed penny to Robbie, and shut thu
door. He could bear anything rather
than thanks.
"How kind everybody isl" though
Madge, as she helped Robbie carefully
down the last of the long flight of stairs
which led from their room in the heart o
the crowded, noisy tenement house, doWI
to the street, more noisy still.
A gentleman and lady were passing, JUS
as the two children emerged from tn
street door. The lady stopped to look a
81 Robbie.
"Whst a lovely child /" she said
"Why, William, he would be almost a
sweet as our Jamie, if he were dressed I
NJ At first Madgc colored with pleasure
but the last words made her lip tremble
She looked down at Robbies little frock
which she had thought so fresh and clean
, but somehow she could see nothing nov
but the patches in it. Then, too, the littl
boot toes were stubbed through, the scar
was faded, and the hat SO small and worn
But the cloud lasted only a moment
I'm sure nothing could make him an,
prettier to me than he is now" she said 3
herself
Robbie was wild with delight-he wa
SO seldom in the street, poor baby ii
shouted at the horses and carriages, an
the gay dresses of the ladies, and wante
to stop so often before the bright sho
I windows that Madge had hard work
get him along at all, She was quite tire
out by the time they reached the baker
shop, on their way home There were
great many customers, and the two chi
dren stood long time waiting theif tur
to be served. Robbie grew very INN,
tient, but Madge tried TO hold him tigh
At last, Just as the bakers boy had give
her the bread, and was changing he
money, Madge felt the little fat finger
slip out of her grasp. At the same in
slant two or three people crowded againi
her and barred up her way to the door.
Robbie Robbiew she screamed, an
% tried 10 push herself through.
Here, you, little girl :" shouted Ii
bakers boy, quite roughly, for he was
sad hurry T" il You want your change
all, take il now -
Madge was ia despair She could nt
go home without the money to the poo
tired mother who had toiled so hard for