Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1873-01-03

train pulled and snorted, and took in
fresh breath. g Yes, have hia address
on my paper. Just give me Charlie vii
sons number again, and I'll put it on the
same list" and Mr.. Porter fumbled in
his pocket for the envelop. "What un'
der the sun, moon and stars is to pay
now," he muttered, as, to his utter amaze
ment, he found it empty. "Here, I've
brought the wrong envelopl l can't 60
without those addresses. Ny memoranda
is on the same list" Then wasn't there a
time Didn't Mr.. Porter tear up the
street like mad-man, and dash into the
house, look on the mantle piece, and hunt
in his pockets, and scold Dick and Fred
and Elsie, and rave around generally, in
the midst of which there came distinct
and emphatic voice from the depot.
"Wh 900 o-oo-or' said the departing
train.
"There, now," said Mr.. Porter, stopping
his search and folding his arms in sort
of comical despair. ''Now you see what
you have done! There goes that train,
and I wouldn't have missed it for fifty
dollars, snd all the result of careless
ness" Fred ventured to make remark.
"Who has done it father?" That's
Just what Z should like to know, and it's
what mean to find out. Now which OF
YOU children meddled with that envel
op?n
children in breath.
go no, you were none of you here, OF
course; you never are, when mischief is
done. No doubt the letter jumped out OF
the envelop and walked off of itself.
Fred, where were you sir ?"
81 was down at the foot of the hill with
Charlie Wheeler; looking at his new kite.
I just this minute got in"
"And, papa" said Elsie, 'I went to Mr..
Wheeler's to see about that package, you
know. Don't you know, you met me at
the gate and told me good bye?"
Just then a dismayed exclamation from
Mrs. Porter arrested attention. In her
haste to get damp clothes off from Baby
Nell, she had set the tumbler back on the
mantel, and now, as she stood mechanic
ally fishing after the floating paper, her
eye caught one word, and the tru s flashed
upon her.
The culprit stood revealed. 1t was
rather damper on Mr.. Porter's enthu-
siasm; he couldn't scold Baby Nell, for
she would have laughed and crowed, and
thought herself having grand frOlic.
He couldn't shut her up in her room, and
tell her to stay there all the forenoon, for
he well knew she could do more mischief
shut up in a room for five minutes than
he could undo in as many hours; so he
turned his anger toward Dick: "What
were you about, I'd like to know, that
you let the baby do anything she chooses?
What are you hired for, pray? If you
are worth no more than that, you'd better
go home"
eff you please, sir, Dick began, "Mrs.
Porter sent me to the store to bring that
bundle from the drawer, and | hurried
every step of the way, and just got back
in time"
'Then there was no one to look after
the baby" said Mr.. Porter, turning re-
proachfully to his wife.
"Fred wasn't here" she answered, sand
there was nothing else to do"
'No, of course he wasn't here. He
never is where he ought to be. You see
what comes of your heedlessness, young
man. You can go to yourroom and stay
there till dinner time;;" and then without
SO much as glance at Baby Nell, who
serenely sucked the toe of her slipper,
and was the only happy one of the party,
Mr.. Porter took his hat and banged him
self out.
Dinner was rather solemn meal with
Mr.. Porter's family that day. The head
of the house had not recovered his good
humor. 1t was sore disappointment,
and an inconvenience to him not to be in
the city at that moment; and Master Fred,
considering himself unjustly treated, ate
his potato in solemn, not to say sullen,
silence. By the time they came to the
rice pudding, with raisins in it, Mr..
Wheeler burst in unannounced. He
looked very pale, and a good deal ex-
cited.
"Well, SIR" he said, 'you have reason
to give that baby of yours q good many
extra kisses to-day. You haven't heard
the news, suppose?"
"Haven't heard anything" said Mr..
Porter, shortly. Cali know is, ought
to be in the city now, and am here"
For which, tell you, you have cause
to be more grateful than ever you were In
your life. There has been an awful acci-
dent: the down train collided with the
eleven o'clock express, and there has
been terrible slaughter. don't know
how many killed-some say hundreds.
They have telegraphed up here for sur.
geOns and nurses, and the doctors are all
going down now, on the one O'Clock.
Then there were eXclamatlons OF CON
sternation and terror, and thankfulness,
all mingled together. When Mr.. Wheeler
hurried away, he left paler faces around
the Porter table, and just as solemn ones,
but faces wonderfully subdued.
"What a singular escaped" Mrs. Porter
murmured; and as Baby Nell gave one OF
her sudden springs forward, and signified
her desire to climb out of her chair to heI
fathers shoulder, he took her in his arms
and laid his hand on her curly head, with
tender, moved look in his eyes. "She
little knows what she has done to-day,
he said, softly. Then suddenly looking
toward Fred, he said, in voice that
was a little husky, Erred, my boy, pass
your plate, and let father give you some
more pudding" But Fred's appetite was
| gone, and there was great tear rolling
down one fat cheek.-Intersor.