Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-05-15
"A II sorts to make wOrldt Il shOuld

They're just like Mrs Jones when she
wants to cross the field where the cows
are. She'll stand on the fence and shoe,
and swing her working, and flap her par
asol, and cry, Get out therer when the
critters are so busy eatin' grass that they
never notice her no way, and she might
cross dozen times if she'd a mind to'
"And me too; yes, think So" observed
Miss Becky, counting her stitches.
But then | don't say somefolks haven't
as good right to vote as anybody, and
more too, for all I know, if they be
women" pursued Miss Polly, frisking
around to the other side of her tub, and
surveying the suds from that point puts
me clear out of patience to hear all this
talk about its spilin' wOmen-sif we was
a lot of eggs that must be kept cool and
not be shook up much-and CALM us
'ministerin' angels all the time, Do
look much like an angel, Becky Murray?n
The resemblance was not very striking
as she stood there with her sleeves rolled
up, her bare arms akimbo, a wet check
apron pinned about her, and her nose
decorated with streak Of blueing. Con-
scientious Miss Becky surveyed the stout
form rather doubtfully.
"Well-to be sure! That is you're as
good as the most, Polly-better'n most,
Polly; but then there's the wings and
things; they'd make-well, I must say
fort, considerable difference, do s'pose!'
she admitted hesitatingly
Guess you'll get wings sometime,
Aunt Polly. Wish | had some now" re
Elected Billy, with FLASHING of his hands
III the water that at once recalled Miss
Polly to matters terrestrial
''Mercy! what is the young one up to
now? Got my best spice-boX for boat,
and punched Il hole clear through the bot
tom of it to stick mast in, as sure as I'm
aliyc"
well, Maggie wouldn't tell me stories,
an my tops broke, an I didn't know
nothin' else to do,' affirmed Billy, detcns
lively.
s'Nothn' else? Well, it's lucky YOU
didn't, for it would like as anyway have
been something worse instead OF better
There, there childr" with Il softening
light in her eye whereby the angel in her
flashed into sight for an instant, "all the
splashin' in the world can't make an
ocean in wash-tub older folks than YOU
have tried it. Run out in the yard and
play, there's a good boy
The June sunshine fell soft and bright
upon the quaint, homely old garden and
Billy was quite reconciled to his Danish
ment the moment he caught the rustic Of
the lilac leaves, and met the familiar nod
ding Of the tall, g0od-natured suntlOwers.
He seated himself on the grass, dug his
bare toes into the warm earth of pOppy-
bed, and leaning his small elbows upon
the patched knees of his small
trowSers, settled his round chin between
his palms, and dropped into a fit OF child
j.h To
Der no cares to make anxious, and small
knowledge Of possibilities to curb him.
his dreams and plans had a wild, free
range; and he had quite decided where he
would 90 when he came into possession Of
his coveted wings, besides selecting par
ticularly soft tieecy cloud, in the far-otf
blue, to serve as his bed at night, after it
got too dark to fly" when a voice inter
ruptcd him.
why don't you play with me- Billy
Murray" \ little blue dress was crush
ed against the fence, pair of tiny hands
grasped the pickets, and from under a
white sun-bOnnet merry brown eyes
laughed at Billy.
"'Cause-I gucss-Im thinkin' what
I'll do" he responded with slow gravity,
neither disturbed nor astonished by her
sudden presence.
What you'll do when you're big? I
know all that now, and | guess | won't
wait to to grow ether" ratified the little
damsel, her nimble tongue crowding in the
words 50 thick and fast that she contrived
to utter a dozen in the time Billy would
have required for one.
"What:" asked Billy slowly, but with
an awakening CLEAN Of curiosity.
keep a toll gate-that's WHAT know
all all about 'em, for me and papa rode
through in a carriage, and did see it nv
own self. You have a gate clear across
the road, so folks can't get through, and
then they pay you to open it; and you
don't have anything to do but Just live in
nice funny little house, and get lots of
money!
Biliy's blue eyes Frightened. Down
from his airy heights, at the prospect Of
gaining earth's shining dust, he came as
readily as though he had been older
Il guess I'll do that too" he announced
"Long of me?"
yes said Billy, accepting the part
nership as condescendingly as though the
patent-right for the invention had not be-
lOnged to the other party
WELL let's do it nOw,n proposed the
vivacious small lady, anxious to be max
ing her fortune at once. II guess lots of
folks 90 long the road down by the end
of the lane, and if we have it there then
they'll have to pay us'
~ cs, y said Billy once more, and lifting
the latch Of the gate he slipped out
Maggie had ears for nothing that morn
ing but footstep that did not
come, and Aunt Polly was too busy
in looking after the whole of crea-
ton to pay any special attention to
her own small corner of it; so there was
nobody to observe the new firm, as they
trudged off to seek a favorable locality for
their enterprise. 1t was no long search,
however, since the road at the end of the
lane was the only one they knew anything
about; moreover it was narrow, and well
suited to their purpose in that way.
Il don't know how We'll stop it up,
though" Billy remarked, surveying it
doubtfully. But Garlic was fertile in ex-
pedients. Her quick eyes rested upon an
old unused cart standing little distance
up the lane, and she proposed that they
should draw that down across the road, to
begin with. 1t was hard work, with all
their united strength and most vigorous
efforts, but they persevered until the task
was accomplished.
II thought it was big enough to reach
ever so far, and it don't" said Garlic dis
appointedly. "Anybody could Just go
around the side of it if they wanted to,
and never pay cent
Billy expressed a valiant determination
to knock any Teller down that tried it."
but Garlic was unsatistied Presently a
nile of bpan pp1aS in rb LOT