Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1871-07-06
We We hated him for
nearest the stove

pocket money was lavlshly scattered
when the apple-woman came into the
playground. He would buy shilllng's
worth Of Bonaparte's ribs and give
every boy in the school one. He would
propose q scramble for apples, or a
quart of Spanish nuts. ! have known
him to come with half dozen cocoa
mats, and give one each to the fellows
who had played at horses with him.
Playing at horses was his passion. A
boy must be great favoflte or be able
10 dispense favors who wants to dnve
team ir the playground. Lewis was
niable enough we thought then, and
vas ready to give everything he had,
, movided we would be his nags We
aade him pay, and he drove us. He
' vas a ready fellow with his fists, ] ad
ait. He would give, but he would
ave no fakings. got on very well
18th him, and was often his out slider,
ecause j made my bargain openly,
nd he liked that carried off heaps
0 things, till my mother at home was
ute alaraned Where did you get
that splendid top, Bobs" said mother.
"Lewis," was my answer. g That
kite must have cost FIVE shillings,
Bob "1.ewis," ] replied Your
fathers knife is not worth that" my
maternal parent observed. Lewis, y
was my response; but ] never liked
him.
We played truant together, and he
got me off the punishment, and the
school clleerad him in the playground
for it, thought they made much of
it-but must say Lewis himself didn't;
and he behaved well in asking me home
to his mothers great house to dine and
spend Saturday afternoon with him.
| Mrs Lewis stepfather was there, and
| everything gave way to him He pinch
ed my ear playfully, and tipped me
when | went of SO school in the even
ing-loaded with fruit and cakes for
the boys of our form, which Mrs. Lewis
packed up with her own white hands,
While her stepfather stood by looking
at her and joking very atiably for 50
great man.
When the holidays came-being an
orphan, and my guardians being resi-
| dent in Florence-Lewis persuaded
| his mother to invite me for a fortnight
or so to their country house. 1t was
here saw the Lewises and their mighty
friends in all their glory. The house,
or castle, was an ancient one, which
her stepfather had given to Mrs. Lewis
"a n marriage present, and which he
helped her to beautify, experimenting
the cultivation ofthe fruits and flowers.
the telling of the timber, the planting
out OF the strawberries, and the repairs
and adornments Of the house himself. |
They were picture together when i,
he was shutting about in his grey
dressing gown, and she was in her |
morning robe, with her abundant hair |
floating about her, so long that she |
could throw il round Lewis and almost |
smother him with it, which made him
look very foolish, | thought. She
petted Lewis in the most ridiculous
style, and made him dress like a page
in a burlesque. To me she was almost
rs atfectiouate as to her own son; and
when | told her how ] was left an
orphan in my fourth year, and how |
had not relation in the world, big,
hot tear from her brimmed eyes fell
upon my hand, which Sue was holding
while she talked to me. She said |
must let her be q mother TO me; and
she called up Lewis and told him. in
her serious, impetuous way, that he
was to look upon me as Il brother, and
be always kind to me.
Mrs. Lewis was an lndulgent mother,
but she was strict too, rs her steptatner
directed her to be, and his word was,
to her, law in everything. Lewis Went
to bed at nine, and SO did | while | was
at the castle. Webegged hall an hours
grace sometimes, but she never would
Weld even when she was In the middle
of IA song. She sang divinely, and Lew
is loved to hear his mother. Sometimes
he would keep me awake for whole
hour after we had gone to bed, listen
ing to Mrs. Lewis voice in the draw
ing room. | was obliged TO keep awake.
being his guest, but / IS shows how in
! considerate he could he.
He had begged Mrs. Lewis to allow
him 60 give me one OF his shetland po-
mes ON my birthday, md he had sur
pTised me with it, witt q bran new sad
die and bride, which. was very good,
Am free to own but ne might have re-
membered that / liked fishing much
I better than riding, and that / should
! have been orepleasei with handsome
rod and tackle
I One day, Mrs. Lewis stepfather see
1 ing me on the tc'-act alone, called me
! to him, and beg.' 70 question me ON
. the life that my canadians haa proiec.-
/ ed for me When / told him that I
! had not heard from them Tor year
! md that | ba1 NOT the ipaUt idea az