Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1874-05-13

from the lungs of four-year-old
boy this time. His mother, ar
ranging her toilet placidly, paid no
heed to his screams, and the little
imp danced with passion. Sudden
ly Madge showed a vexed face be-
tween her curtains, and her ring
ing voice called out imparatively;
"Tom, for Heavens sake, get q
slipper and spank that child. He's
quite too old to cry like that, and
his mother doesn't seem to know
enough so manage him !" Then
she vanished. r-1 rd.
Fancy the taught It began in a
chorus Of stifed chuckles, but she
had spoken for US all, and a hearty
Endorsement sounded from every
berth, while the amazed parent
picked up her offspring, slapped
him soundly and looked around
with q "Please-ma'am-what-else-
shall-I-do 7" face which was funnier
than Madge's prescription.
Our train was behind time, and
breakfast only dim prophesy, 30
We beguiled the hours as best we
might, watching for buffaloes that
wouldn't appear, spying several
groups of the pretty, graceful an
telopes, passing swiftly through
widespread settlements of the fun
ny little prairie dogs, and opening
our eyes widely at the cactus which
grew in such prickly p:ofusion en-
either side of the track. ! found
the face of my English beauty more
enchanting than anything else, for
it was as changeful as her thoughts.
Suddenly she exclaimed:
81 wonder where Tom can be !"
and suiting the action to the words
she started in pursuit. She was
only gone a minute; then, with q
comically rueful face, she begged
me to come, too. We found the de-
serter costly tucked beside the very
girl he had admired the day before,
for both of them were occupying
the same car step, while the rest Of
the gay group were camped on the
platform. OF course l laughed,
while Madge evinced her presence
by reaching over and energetically
pulling a curl of the handsome
head that was so dangerously near
the young lady's rosy cheeks.
Tom started, looked around, and
cody said:
"Ah, Madge! thought It was
you. Well, / can't very well move
just now ; but, Miss Ellis, if you
can look over your shoulder you
will see my sister. Miss Fairfax,
allow me to present Miss Ellis"
The scamp certainly showed
good taste, for Miss Ellis was very
lovely, both in feature and express
sion. She blushed a little, but
bowed as gracefully as her position
permitted, and her voice was singu-
larly sweet when she said:
81 find that Mr.. Fairfax is an old
schoolmate of my brothers. They
were at Toronto together"
1t was Madge's turn to blush
now not a little, but furiously,
while Toms mischevious eyes dan
ced with delight at her confusion,
and l did some Yankee guessing
about that "brother," which proved
quite correct, and then 1 sat down
to watch further Developments
and enjoy the happiness before me.
o youth and hope and beauty!
What brave possessions ye are !
Ye hold in your magical glasses
such rare libations, and we drink
such eager draughts, believing the
visions they bring to heart and
brain.
The train roared on. "Boss
Tweed" came out and stood on the
platform of his car, watching the
strange, desolate lands we were
passing; gentlemen consoled them
selves with cigars; 7; ladies tried all
conceivable changes Of position
and read persistently while all the
happiness and delight in the whole
train seemed to concentrate in the
knot of among people about me.
Madge sent for the hamper, tho
young ladies opened their baskets,
and when we reached Cheyenne L
left Tom seated on reversed
water-pail, with all the gay girls
around him pampering him by the
offers of the daintest morsels, and
my queen,y Madge as merry as the
rest, directing at him q perpetual
volley OF saucy speecbcs.