The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1875-12-09
had better be set apart to fasting and

had better be set apart to fasting and
lamentation.'
Just then Buster" came stamping in
our dear, noisy. sturdy boy, whose
other name is Neddy-looking so rosy
and Jolly, his checks red as apples, his
great black eyes full of mirth and fun.
swell, young gentleman asked, have
you anything to be thankful for !" He
studied little, then said, "Why, yes,
my red.top boots and my tandy cigar
and-and-my new trumpet ''All
good things said; "behold, one mem
Der of this interesting family-least, if
lot last-who counts his blessings and is
grateful therefor. Anything more.
dear?''
He ran to his mamma, and looking
sweetly into her face, said-sAnd you
mamma dear, and you, dranma.'
Grandma looked over her spectacles
with loving tears in her eyes, and stroked
his curly head. | caught him up and
struggled him, and said: ''Our greatest
blessing is this precious nuisance-the
one thing every soul in this house is most
thankful for is this little scrap OF boy!'
It is true we thought every day OF our
lives that he would make lunatics Of US
with his mischief and racket; But we
knew very we'll there was not in the
county such another well-grown, active,
handsome boy Of four years old. From
morning until night it was constant
question, .'What is Buster doing now.
or, "What aciH Buster do next!" There
was no feeling of safety or peace in the
house until it was said, Buster IS
asleep Full Of life and beauty from
the TOP of his sunny head to the tips of
those red-topped boots-how dear he was
in spite of all the care he gave us! But,
Notwithstanding his beautiful thankful
ness, he was just dreadful that day be-
fore Thanksgiving. His pranks were
endless. Banished from the sitting
room for his noise, he took refuge in the
kitchen, and soon cook came in perfectly
exasperated, bringing the young man.
He had followed her into the storeroom,
and the first she knew he was prancing
up and down the garden path playing
horse, dragging at his heels huge tur'
key-his lines tied to its legs. thought
the cook never would get over it. She
for bid him the kitchen for the day, and
she called him "Spalpeen.' Well
you would say that was enough for one
day, but the worst IS to come.
In the afternoon Mrs. Lofty and hel
daughter from the city called upor
mamma. AS she was going down thu
stairs she noticed on every step streal
or splotch Of flour; she did not stop t.
inquire how it came there, and what wa
her amazement upon going into the par
, Tors to find. up and down, crlss-cross ant
ZicZag, all over the handsome carpets tn
' same. Back parlor, front parlor, halls
! porches, steps, all covered. How MANN
, felt. There sat the strange ladies, thei
n beautiful dresses tucked up to keep ther
out of it. What could it mcan9 l sue
;. gested Buster. He came in smiling an
= cheerful, in the very best of spirits, hi
. little seaside bucket on his arm nearl
!. empty, while he looked like small mi
;. Ter, completely covered with flour. II
! did look so comical and so sweet and i.
q nocens that before word was said ever
h one began shouting with laughter, Mr.
n Lofty as much as any one. He had creI
!. down to the kitchen and filled his buck
!, from one Of cook s pans when she W;
!. not looking. He was only playing II
n poor little girl who was carried off by
q cruel giant, and who dropped ashes a
"a the way. so her friends followed al
n found her.
~ After that ne was in great disgrac
I'd and we consulted, asking what should ,
in do with such child !! Mamma thong
I'd he mast be punished. Grandma sho,
id her head and was "afraid he would cor
in to some bad end. Oh, dear y
h. 1t was getting near five o'clock, a.
III papa would soon be home. Mann
he called nurse to bring Buster. ''Indee
IL mum. he's not with me. thought
"a was here
.r. He is probably with cook; 60 Fl
In him" but Bridget had not seen hi
st she has gone to the stable with Jame:
*, / said; hut nurse came back, and he h
or not been there. 1t then occurred
m every body that he had not been heard
ed seen for an hour or more, long time
lly him to be quiet. OF course he "
100 around somewhere and We all beg
IN looking and calling for him. Some WI
mt searching for him in the grounds so
ia. were calling. "Neddv, Neddy" /,
en-. stairs. and some. Buster. Buster, des
or. where are you !" downstairs. Papa ca
sen home. and he, too, searched. VIII,
he could he be at is only an hour or tw,
he we said ''there is no place he could
ted lost" But we could not find him. S
ro. we searched up in the attic, down-cell
hat in every closet, under beds, through
in gan uens and stables: all were rum
nv. hither and thither. ''Oh. where was
baby = Papa said. He'll turn up;
has hid somewhere" but when it
quite dark he did not say it SO brav
and mamma looked pale and agita'
Grandma walked up and down. with
our glasses pushed up over her cap bort
hat ard l felt as though stone was in
ked heart. Papa and James went to
lor- ueishbors. Soon all the neighbors v
he'd aroused, and men were going here
was there shouting! and. oh oh. some
ong had gone to the dark. cold river not
away. We kept saying. I'VE shall