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

"THE idea of ittn said grandpa, laugh
ing. so very inconvcnient," protested
grandma.
"That many in a family is uncommon,
men, added Nurse Pippin
Nobody ever heard of such thing"
pouted Auntie Meg.
They were talking about naming the
baby; and if there has ever been baby
at your house to name you know how
much talking that takes. But when all
the other people had spoken, the baby's
mamma repeated what she had first
said
Gle is to be John Boyd, Jr."
But that is so commonplace" sighed
Auntic Meg, who wanted the name to be
Lionel Frederick.
"Your argument is not as good as
grandmas Ii might be inconvcnicnt, :"
said baby's mamma.
For you must know that in this family
there were already three Johns living un-
der the same roof; John Boyd, Sr., who
was baby's papa, John Harlow, who was
baby's uncle, and little John Hathaway,
who was seven years old and baby's half
brother So il did seem rather droll to
add a fourth, and you cannot wonder
that Auntie Meg brought in the diction-
ary and read aloud all the names in the
last part, in the hope of softcning her
sisters resolution. However, diction-
aries arc of no use when a woman's mind
is made up, and baby was christened
John Boyd. And the name did not prove
SO inconvenient after all, for by the time
grandma began to say,
"We must leave off calling that child
Baby
Baby had made name for himself,
and was accustomed to describe himself
as "Don Boyd, Dunior,' 50 presently
everybody fell into Baby's habit and
called the little fellow Don or Donny.
When he had grown so much as to
wear button boots and sailor suit Don
ny was square, sturdy urchin, with
brown hair cropped close, brown eyes,
brown little fists, and snub nose
f.n al laI ~ . is";l ls~e IN r
| were almost as great a trial to Auntle
Meg as his name, but Donny cared not a
penny for them, and frisked out III all
weathers regardless of consequences.
One day Donny was sent of an crrand.
And [ don't care much about going,
neither" he said confidentially to his
mamma. 81 feel as if l could get in a
| tantrum just as easy!'
q wouldn't to-day said mamma,
kissing his brown check. " Here are
five cents to spend for yourself, and
after you have carried the note you may
go and slide on the Common for half an
hour"
In spite of this encouragement Donny
took the note rather gloomily.
"Johnnie don't 60 of errands. Wish
was big and studied Latin. Wish l hac
a sealskin cap, too"
With this remark Donny wound him
self up in long gay-colored scarf which
Auntie Meg had knit for him, pulled his
cap over his forehead, and put the five
cents in his overcoat pocket, then ral
for his sled and departed.
He had delivered the note and wa.
trudging toward the Common when
chestnut stand with it's little furnace at
tracted him.
Give cents worth and l want som'
all hotted up and cracked open," sai'
Donny.
Turning away with the paper bag 0
warmth in his hands Donny jostlc'
against boy very nearly his own size
who held long basket on his arm.
"Buy some peanuts, won't you? or
candy stickn' said the boy, wistfully.
Haven't any more money, don't sup
pose," answered Donny, fishing vainly il
his pockets. Il like peanuts"
81 haven't sold hardly pint this af
ternoon," said the boy, sadly. Folk
don't buy 'em SO well when it's cold.'
Donny looked at the thin jacket an
torn hat, the bare red hands and pinche
lips, and shiyered little with sympathy
"'Course didn't mean to fret s if /
beggar boy. | only wanted seaiski
cap cause Johnny has one, and l WASH
ungrateful NEITHER" said Donny to him
self, answering little twinge OF con
science hastily Then aloud he said:
"Pm going up to slide, and if | NEE
papa I'll ask him for five cents and bu
| some. I'm sorry"
So Donny trudged away and was 500
, sliding merrily among the little thron
I of boys on the long slope. Coming dow
; with shout and a whirr he saw his sma
|, acquaintance with the basket watchin
, him from the sidewalk.
| 81 didn't find him." said Donny, stol
, ping to speak. Haven't you sold an
mOre?"
"No," said the boy.
"You don't holler out and ask foil
loud enough, maybe" suggested Donn
: Don't you want to slide down once wit
/ me?"
' II darscn't leave my basket said tn
/ forlorn boy, Frightening a little at tf
f idea, nevertheless.
, "Ill tell you," cried needless, gel
erous Donny, struck with a sudde
/ thought. 81 will take your basket an
. sell for you while you slide fe
3 times. Take my scarf, too, the sno
e flies into your face So"
The next minute Donny had flung b
e pretty scarf about the peanut-boy's nee
0 and was holding out to him the sic
/ rope. 1t was not in boy nature to r
8 sist the temptation, and after an instant
E hesitation the offer was accepted.
d YOU'RE a regular hanger" said Il
a peanut boy, admiringly. you'll be SUI
, and meet me here pretty soon?"
E "Of course" said Donny, singing Il
; basket on his arm, and the new-mat
t friends parted.
+ 1t was funny sight to see Donny
' his new office; he never did anything
! halves, and now, intent only on adding
v the capital of his employer, he pluck
at gentlemen's coattails, presented !