The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1874-12-24

basket in the way of fashionable ladies'
marched into shop-doors, and ran against
large boys with reckless earnestness
Some people bought of him, but more
MN aside or bade him clear out, ana
most were too busy to not:~~ngs be-
little peanut bov~kers. The few who
nice oyePt to question him about his
costume Donny took leave of at once.
He had no idea of having his fun spoiled
too early. On and on he ran, careless Of
time, until he saw a line of horse cars
waiting for some temporary obstruction
to be cleared from the track, and sprang
aboard.
"Peanuts! only ten cents'' called
Donny, but nobody minded him; and he
had reached the forward car in the line
when with IL jerk and rumble 1t
started on.
Donny sat down very suddenly ana
hard ON the tiocr, but picked himself up
and neiu on>,y 49, aaor as the car rat
tied around corner and long distance
up the street, then as it stopped he
jumped off and discovered two things
which surprised him greatly: First, that
it was evening; second, that he did not
know where he was.
"Of course can find my way to the
Common, but wish twas nearer" said
Donny, with a little gasp. "Spose that
boys a waiting this minute"
On and on he ran, but the streets still
were strange, the glare of the lamps con-
fused him, and he was tired and very
hungry.
q might eat some peanuts, only ! am
honest" sighed Donny. Shouldn't
wonder if some boys would cry il they
felt like me.
Before long poor little Donny found
himself on the list of some boys" for
the tears fell fast down his brown checks.
ats cold without my scarf, and we
were going to have oysters for supper"
sobbed Donny. !" shan't eat any pea
nuts, though, cause I'm honest. Maybe
that boy is hunting for me, so I'll sit
down here till he comes along"
SO it came to pass that later police
man spied Donny asleep, curlcd up IN a
doorway, and knew him for "lost
child" though somewhat puzzled by the
basket Donny was too sleepy to eX-
plain, but told his name and the street
and the number where he lived, SO
presently he was stumbling and trotting
along in the right direction by the police
mans side, hungry still, but happier.
How glad he was to see the familiar
house and hear the bell tinklc sharply in
answer to his guides strong pull.
The door flew open with jerk, and in
the hall Donny saw curious group.
Papa John, Uncle John, Johnnie Hatha-
way with his arm around mammals neck,
Auntie Meg with fearful eyes, all staring
at another policeman who held by the
collar little, shivering boy, with "a torn
hat, and gay scarf hanging from his
neck.
Halo" said Donny.
"There! he'N tell you ! amt thief!
"Hcre! sold lot of 'em for you"
said Donny and the boy together.
Then they both began to cry, the fam
ily began to laugh, and the policemen
stared at each other very surprisedly.
Well, at last it was all explained, the
policemen went away, the real peanut
boy was sent away with his basket,
thick Jacket and handful of fivc-cent
pieces, and the boy who had played at
his trade cuddled into mammals lap and
wiped his eyes on her soft kerchef.
"Did you think how naughty 1t was TO
run away and frighten me so?" whispered
she, gently.
"But wasn't going to lose myself
a-purpose; | was going to help that Doy.
And how did | know it was going to
hurry up and be night so quick?" said
needless, generous, naughty Donny.-
| Christian Union.