The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1875-07-01
LITTLE SISTER ROBINSON.


LITTLE SISTER ROBINSON.
HER real name is Ethel Robinson. 1t
is written in big letters with blue ink in
the family bible, and every Sunday after
noon papa shows her upon the opposite
page the beautiful picture of Christ
blessing little children until, as she now
believes, the tender eyes Of the Savior are
always looking at her name, " Ethel Rob
inson, April ID, 1869" This makes her
afraid to say or to do anything naughty
lest He should look grieved, as mamma
did once when her little daughter refused
to obey her.
l must tell how Ethel happened to be
called Sister instead of her own pretty
name. Before she was born there weren
girls in the family, and the four noisy,
merry, but loving little boys wanted SIS
ter so much that they went up to their
mother one day, stood all in row, made
each an elegant bow, and then Arthur, the
Youngest, who had been chosen for spokes-
man, lisped out: "Oh, mamma, please,
dear mamma, we want a little sister! If
you will only give us little sister in the
pring we will be satigfed.'
That loving entreaty went like prayer
| to Heaven, and was answered, for in the
spring little Ethel came, and lay like
tiny bird in her mothers arms. And the
happy, wondering boys stood on tiptoc at
her bedside, looking at the wee thing with
longing, loving glances, almost afraid that
she might fly back to heaven if they made
the slightest noise.
They were permitted to press one kiss
each on the rose-leaf cheek, and then stole
softly away to talk it over. "Hy sister"
What two beautiful words! Funny little
Arthur kept repeating "He's sister.
Oh, how I love him. And the other
boys, who went to school, spoke of my
sister, as if she were a young lady, al
though Charley did explain" She's so
very little there's not enough of her to
give name to-"
She was lovely baby, with such sweet,
coaxing ways that all sorts OF pet names
seemed to suit her exactly; yet as the days
went by, and she grew to be five years old,
which is this very time at which | am
writing, the dainty little lady, with her
golden hair and sweet blue eyes, was just
'' Sister" to every one who knew her
1t was 50 funny to hear her little play
mates inquire for SISTER Robinson ex-
actly as the old ladies in the village in
quired for Sister Sniffen-a cross old lady
who lived next door, and who could not
bear the sight of children. really think
she would have had fit if dear little
boy had offered to make horse of one of
her chairs She got up with the first peep
of daylight and scrubbed her house from
top to bottom. When that was done, she
killed all the poor flies on the walls, and
then sat down to her knitting with Jemi-
ma Ann her cat (who scratched like
tiger, winking and washing her face by
her side.
But precious little Sister Robinson kept
her name, though Sister Snitten always
gave an extra sniff when she heard it.
Every one in the village knew her. for
there never was such child to get ac-
quainted with people. And dogs! | real
ly think they adored her, such a wagging
of tails took place the moment she APP
peared.
Mr.. Lukins, the blacksmith, with a
hoarse, gruf voice, as if his hot fire had
baked it hard and crusty, loved to have
little Sister Robinson put her golden head
in his low window and say in her sweet
little voice:
"Any lame horseys in dere, Misser
Lukin?"
She just puts me in mind of picture
mother has a-hangin' up in her room,' he
would say-''a little white angel with a
glory round its head" and he would nod
with smile at the little, bright face in the
dark frame of the window.
Mr.. Robinson had forbidden his boys to
bring home any stray dogs, as they al
ready had two pets, which were generally
in the way; but sister did not consider
herself included in this command, so every
poor, bewildered puppy was housed and
fed, and when good master was found
was sent on his way rejoicing. One lank
yellow dog in particular she was very
fond of-Charley had named him Gen.
Grant because he was such splendid
warrior He would rush out and fight
Jemima Ann every day, making the fur
fly, until sister would implore Charley to
climb over the fence to the field of battle,
which was Sister Snitfen's back garden,
and bring him home, when she bound up
his wounds and talked seriously to him
about his conduct.
The General died on the field of battle at
last; for the butchers dog and Jemima
Ann set on him at once, and poor sister
sincerely mourned his loss, while the rest
of the family were very much relieved
One day the dear little thing ventured
herself on the battlefield She crept
through hole in the fence and trotted
away, singing to herself this pretty little
| song: 54 ;4a --.n-v-
| A was once an apple-pie-
| Pi-dy, wi-dy, tidy, ri-dy;
Nice in-si-dy, apple-pie.
1t was Saturday. There was no school,
and her brothers were playing in the barn,
and oh how providential this was, for
presently they heard a scream. Jumping
up, and all crying out together: Why,
that's sisterr' they rushed out Of the
| barn.
Nothing was to be seen but the garden,
the green fields, the blue sky, and the little
birds, and the boys ran hitler and thither
almost distracted. Then strange gurg-
ling, smothered sound reached them. 1t
seemed to come from Sister Sniffen's
grounds. In an instant they had jumped
over the fence and were hunting in every
| direction.
In one corner of the garden was a well,
| the curbstone of which was even with the
ground, and the water in it only few
1 4