Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1873-10-23
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next QueSClOn was, Wnele'S nODDle
And if you caught him around tho
premises, all right; if not, a neighbor-
hood search must follow. With his
uncombed curls pinned up in a little
knot until mamma had time to make
ringlets of them, hatless, and in gen.
era1 morning undress, he would go
Gathering down the street, with many
q backward glance to see if any one
was in pursuit, and if not ignominious-
~ captured, he would "bring up -
at the steps of the nearest grocery, and
there serenely fix his seat and gaze
with delight upon the passing horse
cars and dumpy-carts. The store
keeper, knowing "his tricks and his
Manners" often tried all his persua-
sive arts in the attempt to get him to
run home" no, he was deaf to all
entreaties, until rousing summons
would take him by storm and a pair of
stout Irish arms transport him, despite
his manful resistance, safe within the
doors of home again. All in vain were
the front gates tied in every intricacy
of knot that human ingenuity could
invent; no fingers were ever more pa
tient in picking out these particular
knots than Robble's.
In vain did board barricade at
tempt to cut off all connection with the
alley -gate; like q little earth worm,
or one of his favorite patter-killers, ="
he groveled on the ground and crA wled
under, and then was off upon his
winding way"
Well, one day he came to grief, as
|,
how it was.
He had been securely fastened in
the backyard, as usual, and had dug
beautiful we'll, full six inf hes deep.
and filed it with water from the pump;
then he threw little stones in, and they
filed it up. and likewise sprinkled his
clean blouse and round rosy face.
It was q very warm day, and the it,
tie muddy hands often pushed back
the troublesome curls, or rubbed away
the perspiration from his face. He
was tired, and thought how much he'd
like walk but the gates were fast
oh, so tight! But there was q back
gate, seldom open except to throw in
brought that morning. There it lay in
a great black shining heap, and be-
yond it was the gate, open just a little
mite of way.
Up the coal-heap, with many slip,
persevering little Robbie toiled and
though the coal tumblel and ratified
noislly, no one seemed to be within
hearing. So he reached the top. slid
easily down the other side, squeezed
himself through the narrow opening of
the gate, ard then he stood in the
broad back alley, little bruised and
shaken, but otherwise all right as far
as his feelings were concerned, but
such sight!
He rubbed his leg a little where the
coal had scratched it rather roughly
above the pretty striped sock, then he
wiped his sleeve across his face and
started.
The alley-way was seldom used. and
was quite rough and stony SO, before
long, down he went and scraped his
other leg, which brought him to quite
serious halt, and sitting down to rub
his bruises, some sober thoughts stole
through his little brain. Mamma tav.
Robbie, tay in ard; mamma tay.
Robbie, be mamma's dood bov TO-,
day." he kept saying to himself; but
then thought naughty "Rcbin-Run-
away" mamma dot tore finer
mamma tant vip vel]y bad - and con-
soling himself with lis mothers mis-
fortune, ne limped on as briskly a.
possible, and tried to "make believe !"
he was enjoying himself first-rate.
Pauslng a moment at the welI-known
store.stoop, "Run home, Robbie! run
home right away! Chimney sweep
will get you, run rum" cried his
friend, the grocery man, and clapped
his hands and "shoed' until Robbie
actually scampered of, but not home
no, indeed, he wasn't ready for that
yet.
Some men were working on the
horse car track, and he walked up and
sat down on the curb stone, to oversee.
Presently man let a stone fall on his
foot, and swore dreadful oath. ooh.
bad man bad mani" said Robbie.
shaking his head, and getting M. he
walked slowly of, backward. for he
was very anxious to watch the men.
but very sure in bis heart that mamma
lear such "talk."
All at once he heard q great noise
behind him, and turning quickly. be-
hold, q great drove of cattle were ca
reering down the street, making q great
din andclatter, and snorting and bel
lowing.
Now if there was anything Robbie
dreaded, and of which he stood in NOR,
tai terror, it was COW. Of horse he
had no fear-would play with it's very
feet it allowed but a COW, with its
great heavy body, and above all, its
fearful horns, was an object that would
always make him scamper through the
gate If he but saw the tips of it's
horns coming up the street. So now
he stood transfxed with terror while
those hOrrid monsters came on-tramp.
tramp, tramp hundreds of SHARP.
fierce-looking horns bristling in the
air, and dust rising all about them like
thick smoke.
Poor child : he could no more move
than if he had been turned to stone |!
His sturdy little legs we're spread wide
apart, and the tumbled curls all blown
back from his white, scared face. All
at once-or to tell it as Jamie. his
"bigger" brother told it afterwards,
"When he did see all them cattles a.
comm right betowards him he lust
threw up his arms and fell back from
sheer fright and terror, and he knew
nothing more, till, hours afterwards,
no opened his eyes to find himself in
mammals arms, a cool linen cloth on
his head, and mammals tears dropping
on his face.
Afterward he was made to understand
that one of the boys who were driving
the cattle saw him fall, and sprang and
caught him up just as one of tho fore.
most oxen of the drove had lifted his
feet to trample him in the dust; and the
boy had carried him down to the store,
where, Of course, he was known, and
speedily brought home, all grimy and
dusty, and pale and senselcbs, just as
mamma was saying, "How nicely Rob
bic is amusing himself to-day / do
hope he is cured of running away J"
Al this mamma told Robbie while
she tenderly rubbed the little bruised
legs, and cooled the cloth on his head
in ice water.
He shut his eyes softly, and hor lip
quivered sorrowfully.
"Mc never do so din, mamma" he
said and true enough, he was no more
"Robin- Runaway"
A MAN in llnnSn- comm Dor,c 1,f