The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1874-05-22
ssGrnndma's Little Boy"

.~Grnndma's Little boy"
Many years ago grandma lived in a
pleasant town in Connecticut, far away
from the city by the lake, which is now
her home. She lived in a large white
house close to the street, with a pretty
garden on one side of it. The street
door was a great green door, with a
queer brass knocker on it, and two
stone steps that went down to the side
walk, and wei this door was a porch
covered with climbing h~oneysuckle.
Grandma had three little girls and one
boy. She loved her little girls very
much, but her little boy she thought
prettiest and brightest of all. He had
long golden curls, a fair face, and bright
merry eyes, and it was not strange
that his mother thought him the most
beautiful boy in all New England.
One Saturday afternoon after giving
him his bath and combing his golden
ringlets we her finger, notwithstand-
ing all his twitehing and pulling, she
dressed him in a new buff dress prettily
braided with white. He looked very
fair and fresh add sweet, l can assure
you, and she felt very proud. So she
gave him a good hug and told him to
go and sit on the front doorstep for
awhile. until she could go ont to walk
with him. The children always loved
to sit on this doorstep, beneath its
pleasantporch, and watchthepassers-by.
Willie's younger sisters were now hav-
ing their bath, the eldest was busy sew
ing, so be was all alone, which did not
often happen. However, he sat there
quite patient for a time, kicking his
heels against the doorstep, trying to
whistle, thinking himself a great big
boy, watching a couple of butterflies
chasing each other. Just as he was be-
ginning to feel very tired of keeping
still, down the street came a horse and
wagon, driven by a big boy whose name
was Ben.
"Holloa, Willie !" said he, "Want a
rle?"
Nothing could have pleased Willie
more, and he fairly danced with delight
as he answered eyes, indeed. Yes,
Injured, Ben !"
Ben jumped out, ran into the bouse
and asked grandma if he might take
Willie down to the hatfactory with him,
and said he would take good care of
him.
Now grandma knew that Ben was a
little needless, and ut first she thought
she would not let her little boy go with
him, but he begged so hard that at last
she said, eyes, if Ben would take very
good care of him."
SO Ben put Willie into the wagon,
jumped in himself, and placing the lit
tie boy beside him, put n arm around
him that he might not fall out. Away
they went down the street. Willie's
.curls were flying, his eyes dancing with
pleasure and his mouth wide open,
laughing at Ben's funny stories.
Down through the town they flew. and
many looked back with smiles upon the
Jolly pair. When they came to the hat
factory Ben jumped out and whisked
out his little friend with such a jerk
that Willie laughed till he could hardly
stand up. In they went to find Ben's
father, and Willie trotted behind after
big Ben, whom he thought the smartest
boy in the world.
Now in the factory there was a large
room called the dyeing room, into the
floor of which was sunk an immense
tub full of something just like ink, only
tlscker. Into this the hats were dip
ped to make them black. Generally