Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-12-16
UNCLE GRUM.

THERE lived once on a time a certain
great, stout, disagreeable gentleman,
whose name was MI. Grum. You know
there are some people who make them
selves provoking in everything that they
do; and this Mr.. Grum was one of these
people. He wore great thick, creaking
boots, that nobody liked to hear coming
up their steps. He had a way of blowing
his nose that you would have disliked
very much if you could have heard him.
He hated children; and having said that,
I don't think there is any need of adding
another word to this description but that
we can just go IN with the story, setting
him down as a grumbling, growing,
rusty, fusty, ill-mannered, stony-hearted
grim old Grum.
1t happened then one day that little
frankie Mitchell, having nothing else to
10, and being a very daring boy for his
years, asked Uncle Grum to tell him a
story. Uncle Grum did not believe in
fairies, of course; but by the way of pun
ishing frankie for daring to beg a story
VI LII liz III 11C pun Joy SlCu d uICdU-
full story of a giant who did nothing all
day but eat bOy-sandwiches that frankie
dare not go to bed alone for a week after,
and started up screaming as often as he
fell asleep. 1t fell out, however, that the
Dreamman, who was bringing pleasant
dreams for frankie, heard every word of
Uncle Grum's story standing behind
Frankie's crib; and telling it in a fairy
land there was great indignation.
"We'Il teach him to brighten little
boys!" said all the elves.
So, that night, as Uncle Grum was
sound asleep, dreaming of boxing little
girls ears, something hit him a smart tap
on the shoulder; but, jumping up, he
saw nothing-only that his shoes were on
the bed. He was surprised at that, and
threw them off the clean, white coverlet
quickly. Hardly had they touched the
carpet, however, when up they popped
again on the bed, and "Put us ONT"
growled one of the shoes, hoarsely.
Good gracious mer' cried Uncle
Grum.
Put us on, | say" growled both the
shoes together this time.
So Uncle Grum had nothing to do but
to put them on. Hardly were his toes
we'll in when they made him get out of
bed, and he found that they were
marching him straight toward the door.
Here, this won't do! Stop, I say!"
squeaked Uncle Grum. But the shoes
went straight on without minding him in
the least.
"Stop-wait a momert!' pulled Grum.
Let me get OF my clothes, anyhowr
But the shoes went on, just as if he had
not said a word, and trotted HIM down
stairs, and, shivering, out of doors, on the
double-quick. He had not gone very far
before he came to a brook, and stopped
on the bank, for the water was very deep
and whirled in a very uncomfortable way
for one who had any notion of crossing.
The shoes twitcbed at Grum's Toes, but he
caught hold of a young tree and held on
with all his might, bellowing:.
II won't 60 in-I shall be drowned! /
Won't-I won'tl''
"Oh, you won't" said a voice near
him; and, looking around, there stood a
tall man, wrapped from head to foot in a
long white cloak. what won't you do?
and what are you believing here for?
I have got on a pair of bewitched
Shoes" said Uncle Grum, land they are
trying to drown mel"
- - 49, Ill - -
stranger. & know how to manage such
shoes"
Then old Grum held up first one foot,
and then the other; and the man in the
white cloak touched first the sole of one
shoe, n then the other, with his long,