Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1874-06-20
OUR BOYS AND GIRLS.
RObbie's Visit to the Smith
cry.

da, in halffrightened accents tC
Andy Poundaway, the blacksmith
"Get out of my way, youngster,'
replied the man, not turning from
his anvil to take glance ut the
eager little lad. "No place here fol
boys" he added, still hammering
away at the horseshoe.
The smith was not amiable on
that Tuesday. He was cross, very
cross SO cross that it did seem as
though he could never be pleasant
again, and when Robbie solemnly
added, "I'm here on businoss," he
replied, "Go back and tell whoever
sent you to come himself"
"There didn't anybody send me,
l came mysey, and it's heavy too,''
said Robbie.
Then, for the first time, Andy
POundaway ceased to strike the
horseshoe on the anvil. He rested
the hammer he had been using, and
turning round saw Robbie with a
rocking.horse in his arms.
"You don't expect me to shoe that
thing ~ he cried.
cit don't want shoeing. It's all
whole. Why, Mr.. Santa Claus
brought it this Christmas, SIR"
"Then what on earth have you
come here with it for? It's bad
enough to have live creeters to shoe,
and there comes one this minute.
Run for your life, boy! They're
fetching in Wicked John,' he cried.
Robbie had never heard of Wick.
ed John, but he ran as fast as he
could through the smithery, and
out at an open doorway.
1t was we'll that he made his es-
cape, for Wicked John, who had
earned his title by vicious actions,
made, at tho instant be saw the
rocking-horse, q mad plunge, twitch
ing the bridle from his leaders
hand. He gave leap over the
anvil, and an instant later he rushed
past the steps up which Robbie had
fled in terrible alarm. Andy Pound,
away escaped the flying horse by
dextrous movement, exclalming,
"Wicked John won't get shod to.
day, not by me-"
III reckon there won't nobody shoe
him until he gets cotched," said the
man from whom the horse had es-
capped, and away he ran after Wick.
ed John.
Robbie let the rocking horse fall
from the steps he was so much
frightened that he could not hold it.
Then the door just behind him
opened, and a woman with sorrow
ful gray eyes said, "Come in, little
boy" and after one look at the
broken rocking horse Robbie went
into Andy Poundaway's house,
When he got inside, there sat the
very little boy he had been want
ing to see, though he had not had
the courage to ask for him.
81 brought you something--I
mean | was going to give it to your
father for you, but the horse came
in, and now it's all spoiled"
"What was it 7" asked the child
his eyes opening very wide,
but he did not make any effort to
to get out of his chair and 60 near.
er to Robbie.
"Why, it's nothing but my rock,
ing horse, only I heard you was
lame and couldn't walk none, and
so l thought Santa Claus made a
mistake and leaved it at the wrong
house, cause I could walk and you
couldn't, and so brought it over.
Mamma said l might if 1 wanted
to really, and do"
Mrs. Poundaway turned her back
toward the children, and then she
left the room, trying to find the cor
ner of her apron as she went.
Robbie wondered why she want
I'd to get hold of it, but we do not
we can guess pretty well.
In a minute more she went into
,he room again with little Andy's
horse held in her arms.
"There, my boy" she said to An
ly, 81 told you you might pray for
It for you wanted it so much, and
here it is. We can mend it up as
good as new in very few minutes"
"Your papa thought I'd fetched
t up to get it shod, but didn't
,nly 1 was afraid to come right in
lere with it," said Robbie to Andy.
"Oh!I most want to cry, I'm so
,lad," said poor little Andy, looking !