Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-01-23
little jerks. "Cris, Girls, it went; a most
dnlinhfful nrisnv sound

OdUy Nth SiSSiCu 81
much more improving this was than read
ing. She was studying the science of
acoustics. She was very industrious
little body; and it took but short time
for her deft little fingers to tear all Papa
Porter's Important addresses into such
narrow ribbons that it would have been
very hard, indeed, to have made them
out. There they were, in nice little
heap in her lap. She gave sigh Of salts
faction, and wondered what to do next
She decided to go back to the mantel,
and, Selling the envelop that she had not
chosen to tear, she climbed up again.
There was glass of water on the man
tel, and she chose to consider herself
thirsty. She promptly dropped the en-
velop, in almost the same position that
she had found it, and, Selling the tumbler,
clambered down, without spilling more
than half the contents.
Arrived on the floor, she forgot her
thirst and began. eagerly to gather up the
whole army of strips, tear them into
smaller bits, and send them in swimming.
At this point, Dir. Porter rushed out,
seized upon Baby Nell, kissed her hur-
riedly, sat her down again, snatched the
empty envelop from the mantel, and flew
out OF the house, meeting both his mes
sengers in the yard, and receiving infor-
nation and bundle.
"Do you know where to find MIR.
Adams, when you get there?" Mr.
Wheeler asked, as the two gentlemen
stood saying few last words, as the
train pulled and snorted, and took in
fresh breath. Yes, I have his address
on my paper. Just give me Charlie Will
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
nent, he found it empty. "Here, I've
brought the wrong envelop! l can't go
| without those addresses. My 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-o oo-o-oo-o!" 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 | 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 I should like to know, and it's
what l mean to find out. Now which of
you children meddled with that envel-
OPP"
60 wasn't here" said each of the three
| children in breath.
| so 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
just this minute got in"
"And, papa" said Elsie, 'sI 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 lumber back on the
| mantel, and now, as she stood mechanic
ally fishing after the floating paper, her
eye caught one word, and the truth flashed
upon her.
The culprit stood revealed. It 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 a grand frolic
He couldn't shut her up in her room, and
tell her to stay there all the forenoon, for
be 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"
"If you please, sir" Dick began, 'NIrs.
Porter sent me to the store to bring that
bundle from the drawer, and l 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.
| erred wasn't here" she answered, s'and
there was nothing else to do"
mo, 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 your room, and stay
there till dinner time;" and then without
so much as glance at Baby Nell, VINO
serenely sucked the toe of her slipper,
Nhe fdo ldC OiiIy hcpPJ ohC Va lllC PAL "
MIR. Porter took his hat and banged him
| self out.
Dinner was rather a solemn meal with
MIR. 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 good deal ex-
cited.
"Well, sir" he said, "you have reason
to give that baby of yours 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, l tell you, you have cause
to be more grateful than ever you were in
your life.SxThere has been an awful acct
dent: the down train collided with the
eleven o'clock express, and there has
been terrible slaughter. l don't know
how many killed-some say hundreds.
They have telegraphed up here for sur
geons and nurses, and the doctors are all
gong down now, on the one O'Clock"
Then there were ordinations of con-
sternation and terror, and thankfulness,
all mingled together When Mr. Wheeler