The Plymouth Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1869-1941, 1869-12-23
MISCELLANEOUS.
HOW ROBBIE RUN AWAY, AND
WHAT CAME OF 1T.
BY MARY A. HUMPHREY.

l1au8e, IL Is 0nlSntu
Mrs. Carroll uncOnScIOusly drew long,
rickety table, and leaned her aching head
on her hand.
Done, mamma, already? am so glad ~
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 a
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 III stop and
buy a fresh loaf, and we'll have splendid
supper; won't we, BObOlink -
Little Rob, the three-years-Old 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 freight 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 Ill 10 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 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.
:" 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 THE darling?"
You are sure you wouldn't lose him,
Mafge? The streets are crowded"
Lose him. o no, mamma How
could II He will hold my hand tight
won't you, Bobolinky"
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 sm0thered with kisses, the baby
was pronounced quite ready
=" An it's after takin' out the baby that
We 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 cheerful
voice. A rose-tree, marvel of buds and
blossoms, grew in a broken pot on the
dusty window ledge. The poor tailor had
neither wife nor child, and he loved the
rOse-tree as if it had been human but
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 loveliest
flower OF all, he put it into her hand
Madge could scarcely speak for ecstacy
and, indeed, he would not have let her, for
he tossed penny to Robbie, and shut the
door. He could bear anything rather
than thanks
How kind everybody isl" thought
Madge, as she helped Robbie carefully
down the last of the long fight of stairs,
which led from their room in the hear. OF
the crowded, noisy tenement house, down
to the street, more noisy still
A gentleman and lady were passing, Just
as the two children emerged from the
street door. The lady stopped to look at
Robbie.
what a lovely childl" she said
why, William, he would be almost as
sweet as our Jamie, if he were dressed ~
At first Madgc colored with pleasure
but the last words made her lip tremble
She looked down at Robbie's little frock
which she had thought so fresh and clean
but somehow she could see nothing now
but the patches in it. Then, too, the little
boot toes were stubbed through, the scar
was faded, and the hat so small and worn
But the cloud lasted only moment.
I'm sure nothing could make him any
prettier to me than he is now" she said u
herself
Robbie was wild with delight-he wa.
so seldom in the street, poor baby HI
shouted at the horses and carriages, anC
the gay dresses of the ladies, and wante(
to stop so often before the bright shoI
windows that Madge had hard work te
ge. him along at all. She was quite tIreC
out by the time they reached the baker.
shop, on their way home. There were
great many customers, and the two chill
dren stood long time waiting their turr
to be served. Robbie grew very impa
tient, but Madge tried to hold him tight
At last, just as the bakers boy had giver
her the bread, and was changing hel
money, Madge felt the little fat finger.
slip out of her grasp. At the same in.
stant two or three people crowded agains
her and barred up her way 70 the door.
'.Robbiel RODbieI' she screamed, an(
tried to push herself through
"Here, you, little girl :" shouted tn,
bakers boy, quite roughly, for he was il
sad hurry; if you want your change a
all, take it now y
Madge was in despair She could no
go home without the money to the poor
tired mother who had tOiled SO hard for it