The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1874-08-21

u1Ve IL TO me as not.
He could not imagine tcnderer mark
of affection on Mr.. Affords part than
his lnclosing Ave cents to Wosie. =
He opened the letter rs carefully as
his clumsy little fingers could do it. and
out slipped-not something to eat. and
not five cents, but a round, firm curl
clipped from Mr.. Affords black, curly
head.
gusted.
He tried 10 slip it back again, but his
small fingers were ''all thumbs" and it
slipped doWnto the Sidewalk Eeaide him;
ne anought, however, that he had got it
IN again all safe, and he stuffed the let
ter back into his pocket, feeling rather
dubious about what Vests you'd say
when she fcrrs tRtt ne had opened it.
Not being in the habit of Borrowing
trouble, however, Digglybonas dis
missed the subject from his mind and
started off again en- his journey,
The rther he walked the more forci-
by it occurred to him that il was queer
tn he did not find the Hfqh school;
and the mora rerse.tlaa ne was that he felt
decidedly hungry.
These two circumstances together
caused Diggly lybones' spirits to descend
to zero, and putting his fingers in his
mouth and rubbing his eyes with his
dirty fist he began to cry.
For some Hrae he walked aiong. cry
ing harder md harder every minute,
and nobody noticed him; but at last a
brown eyed gentleman, who, perhaps,
had half-dozen little brown eyed chill
dren at homes stopped Digglyhenes and
said:
IWhats the matter, little man?'
Digglybones took his fist away from
his eye to see who it was that had spok-
en- to him; and being won at once by the
kindly light of the brown eyes he took
his finger oct OF his mouth and an.
sTered
please, sir, I want to find the high
school and l hain't had no lunch, and
Pm hungry T.
The last words came ont with below
that would have made grandmother's
heart ache for her pct # she could have
heard Il.
Hungry p said the gentleman, who
could not suppress grin at the nature
of Digglybones' complaint. "Well, well,
my boy, wen soon cure that. Now tell
me which high school you wish to find,
the boys or bhe girls q
This was q poser for Digglybcnes,
who instantly clapped his finger into
his mouth again to consider the sub
| ject and he came out bravely.
81 want to find Wosie," he said.
"Ah. ha T. said the gentleman. {" Is
Rosie yeut sister ?"
Digg1ybones nodded.
"Take my hand, =" said his new friend,
''ard we will find son. ching to eat first,
and Rosie afterward."
They walked along together very con-
fidentiaIly indeed for the indiscreet
Digglybones told the gentl man all
about Wosie's letter, and what grand
mother had said, and what his naughty
eve saw at the parler keyhole, and the
curl of black hair that had dropped out
| of the letter all of which made the
gentleman laugh so uproariously that
/ Dipply bones was profoundly astonished.
He filled his little companions pockets
with cakes, candy and nuts, however,
so that the little boy could not feel
hurt at his laughter, and took him to
the very steps of the high school.
"Where is your letter, my little
man % he said. f'Let me zee the curl. .
4 Dierlvbones took ont the letter and
shook it, but no curl fell cut; then the
gentlemen took the letter and shook
aud all in vain.
"Why. nv boy" he said, "what viii
Rosie say to you? You've lost the curl
of hair"
Digglybones looked little puzzled
! and worried for q moment, but his face
I soon cleared, and he replied, very
calmly:
"Oh Wosie can Diet another his
head is all covered with 'em."
Whereupon the gentleman took out
his handkerchief and wiped his eyes,
and shook very hard; Digglybones
/ looking on wonderingly.
just then a young girl came down the
steps. and the young gentleman said ::
q Can you tell me if Miss Rose Still
ingfeet attends school here
ayes, sir, she does, said the young
"Will you take this little boy SO that
he can find her?"
Certainly" she answered.
"Good,by, then, my boy," sud the
brown-eyed gentleman, patting DIggiy
bones head, and then, walking away.
Perhaps he told his brown-eyed chill
dren that night about he~funny, dirty
faced little boy whom he met, out hunt
ing for {" Wosie."
The young girl led the way up-stalri
and. opening the door, ushered poor
shocking-looking little Diggly bones int
room full of neat, pretty young LADIES
'sThis little boy wants to see MIS-
| StilIingfeet," said the young girl to th'
teacher.
Rose stood up, her face scarlet ant
her eyes swapping, half IN anger, MAJ
in fun: she did not know whether t.
laugh or to cry.
The dirt on Diggly bones lace wa
now SO mixed with crumbs OF cake ant
bits of candy that it was hard TO Tel
what the color of his round cheek
might be: his tangled hair straggie'
down from under his ragged straw hat
and he held Mr.. Affords poor hl-use'
letter extended in his dirty hand'
"Here, Wosie, " he said, IN his clear
sweet voice, with smile when Woui'
have dore honor TO a seraph, ''here's M!
Affords letter. There was a cqfl OF u u
hair in il. but lost that; but he's go
lots more on his head. Don't oe mau
Wosic."
lie a0uG0 EDG lbSb 49,
ouence of a look on Wosie's face Whlc
he had never seen there before. d,
The young ladies giggled; how coui col
thew help it? Even the teacher smlieo
The tears rose mp SO thick in Wosle
ewes that she could hardly speak to as
the teacher if she might take the lnnC
cent little offender home,
: The letter she put in her pocket. On
did not scold, but she refused to tak
: hold of his hand and made him wal
? faster than his pool little legs could con
veniently go.
When t6eyreached home Digglybont
g realized that the way ofthe transgresst
) is hard. and from that day to this /
e eyes Wosie's letters with fear and scorl
a and nothing will persuade him to toue
= them.
--Pestered with "contrib utlons
/ verse" from a persistent rhymster, II
3 his patience gave out, an American e'
itor wrote to his correspondent thus
"It you don't stop sending me yo'
: | sI0,,,1v v,oatru TIL Orint q piece OF