The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1872-07-18
THE FORGOTTEN PRESENTS.
From the Christian Register

| EIOLI IuS CuTlSGldu
'Tommie," said his mother, "you nust
either get up on that table and sit still or
go to bed. Make up your mind, quick.
It was Saturday evening, and IN all
that long June day, the poor woman had
not been able to find a moment Of time
in which to fry the weekly "mcss of
doughnuts." (She was Yankee, though
she did live in the West) 1t was hard to
slave all day, and be obliged TO do her
cooking after dark, and it was no wonder
that she was cross. On her feet from
morning till night, every bone in her
body ached with fatigue.
Poor Tommie gave little sigh, and
seated himself on the corner of the table,
resolving to be very good, and not speak
q word. So for half a minute the work
went on silence. At last his anxiety got
the better of his prudence, "Don't for
get my man, mother" a.t
"Did I ever forget it 2"
mo. You wouldn't forget it this time,
would you ?''
"No." The little word came out with
an impatient jerk, but Tommie was salts
fed.
1t was such fun to see the unreslsting
man plunged into the boiling fat. "If he
was really man, hc'd scream, wouldn't
ne, mother ?"
Like enough"
"See! His legs are done His heads
brown, too! 0 mother fish him out
fish him out" and amid much splutter
ing of grease, the brownie was laid upon
the platter, reeking with oily perspiration,
"Ill bite you, sir, when you get cold.
If he was really man, we wouldn't bite
him, would We?"
"Of course not"
"But they do somewhere, Ike told me.
You wouldn't eat a man would yon
mother"
NO"
"You wouldn't even taste Of a little
teenty, one, would you ?"
"Fommie Leonard if you don't stop
talking, you shall go to bed. You'll drive
me crazy with your foolish questions
Go to bed not he, indeed, if he could
help it. He wondered what was the mat.
ter with his mouth, and resolved to STOP
it with small piece of his man, who had
now arrived at a comfortable state of tenn
perature.
Don't you eat bit of that tonight
Tommie. Oh, dear that was very hard
He put it down with look of disappo;nt
ment, and the inevitable "Why."
Because don't wish you to-"
"Why not?"
"Brainard's dog might come again"
Brainard's dog was huge mastiff, the
terror of Tommie's waking, and occasion
aliy of his sleeping, hours.
Would he come when [ was asleep
Gle might"
"Come after my doughnuts :"
perhaps So"
"I'll leave it down here then. Brain.
ards dogs an 'orfuP naughty dog"
eyes"
Odd God make Brainard's dog?"
eyes,"
"What for?"
"That's more than I know"
"I'll ask him when get up to heaven.
If Brainard's dog gets killed then I can
eat some doughnuts, can't II"
"We'l talk about that when the time
comes. Run, now, and let grandpa unfast.
en- your clothes"
ooh, mother can't you?"
"No, my hands amt fit"
"You could wash EN-"
"Thomas Leonard" if [ do wash my
hands, you'll be serry.
That was enough. Off went Tommie
to grandpa, whose trembling fingers wan
dered for a long time among the strings
and buttons, without accomplishing tht
desired result. The child grew impatient
for even gong to bed was better thar
standing still.
"Grandpa," said he, at length, "if Goo
had desdened you when you was sicl
that time, you couldn't undo my buttons
could you
mo. dear"
"It He beaded you should you be glad?'
81 ought to be" replied poor grandpa
"Ah, yes ought to be willing to go
and [ am"
"God1l send for you when He get
ready, won't He?"
eyes"
who'll He send ?"
II don't know"
"Theres angels up there. Johnnie anG
Charlie" two little brothers who haG
gone before care up there.
i Eyes"
"Shall you inhibition their jackets?"
II hope not laughed grandpa, tuggina
tthe last button. "There! go to bee
now, and don't forget your prayers.
'"No, sir. say them all the nights.
don't say them to any body, just only but
God. TIE right funny"
SIS it?"
eyes, Cause he don't let on, but he
just saves ,em all away till you come
He's got lots Of mine saved away. God
likes me-"
"Does he? Why"
"Cause I'm good to him" and with a
triumphant expression in his black eyes,
the child mounted the narrow stairs. and
went off alone to his little bedroom