Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1876-01-27
ROYS FIRST RIDE IN THE CARS.

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| depot and Rob and Daisy were her two
children Rob was bright little fellow
of six years, with just the curliest yellow
hair and the bluest, laughingest eyes you
ever saw and dimple in each cheek SC
Thin holes went clear through" and
Daisy, a little, round, roly- poly lump OF
humanity, was ROb's especial charge.
But Mrs. Dunbar had not always lived
In the third story of the brick block. Oh,
mol There was time when they had a
neat little cottage with a pretty white
fence around it, and the yard in front was
filed with roses, pinks and marigolds
while the garden in the rear supplied
them with fruit and vegetables all the year
round.
Those were happy days for Maggie, for
Robert Dunbar was kind and loving
husband. Indeed, Maggie thought there
wasn't another such In the whole world
or many such darling little ones as Rob
and Daisy But alasi there came a sad
day; day when Maggie was widowed
and her children orphaned in one short
hour The blow was. fearfully sudden
and the young wife was well nigh crushed
by 1t. Indeed, the thought OF her father
less and dependent little ones was all that
kept her poor heart from breaking. But
now the pleasant little home had to be
given up and Maggie, Rob and Daisy
went to live in the third story OF the brick
block near the depot.
Maggie had very little money, and ii
cost SO much to pay the rent and buy food
and clothing for them all that she was
forced to seek employment and was many
times Obliged to leave her children alone
for half day at time while che was
sway at her work.
Not many mothers would think OF
leaving five-year- boy to mind the
house and take care OF a two-year- old
sister; but Rob was an uncommon child,
so his mother said, and we have half u
mind to believe her.
You may think the days were very long
to the little Dunbars when they were thus
left alone. IT'S true, they had no beauti-
full waxen dolls. with real hair, and eyes
to open and shut, or railroad cars that
could be wound up and made to run all
about the floor. kindergarten blocks
they had never heard of, and the only pict
ure-book in the house was the we'll
thumbed primer from which Bob learned
his letters Still they had no lack of play
things. Mothers clothespins were easily
transformed into most beautiful babies,
and the empty starch-box, given to Rob
by the kind hearted grocer on the first
floor, answered perfectly well for a car
rage. table, bedstead, or, indeed, almost
any article OF household furniture, pro-
vided it was needed for only one thing at
a time.
And when at last the warm summer
time came and the days grew long, and
the birds sang in the tree-tops, and Rob
had grown larger, and was six years old,
going on seven," as he would be sure TO
inform you, and Daisy had learned TO 60
up and down the long stairs without fall
ing, Mrs. Dunbar used to let them go
down and play in the large yard below.
II wasn't very pleasant place, to be
sure, the great bare yard in the rear OF the
brick block; but there was plenty of fresh
air and sunshine there and II seemed quite
like fairy. land to the two little people who
had been SO long confined within doors.
The only tree in the whole playground
was small, struggling sycamore grow
ing close TO the fence, and this Rob used
toclimb so as to see the cars as they came
putting and whistling up TO the depot.
Daisy wanted to see, too, 80 Rob borrowed
his mothers vegetable knife long enough
to make peep-hole through one of the
soft boards OF the fence, aud cut deep
cash in his finger besides.
One warm summer afternoon Mrs. Dun
bar went out to her work, leaving little
Daisy, as usual, In her brothers care.
Take good care of little sister, Robbie,
my man." said she, pattiDg the curly
head and leaving fond mothers kiss on
two pairs Of ruby lips. Don't go into
the street. but play about the yard, like
dear children, till mother comes home.r'
Rob promised obedience, and, taking
his little sisters hand, led her carefully
down the long stairs into the yard below.
Notthe least attractive spot 70 the two
children was disuscd mortar bed, and
toward II they at once bent their steps.
Such grand place for a bakery" Rob
said. With sand for -four, and water
from the old butt at the corner Of the
building, and clam-shells for plates, their
stock In trade WAS quite complete, and II
was not long before most tempting array
OF pies. cakes and biscuits was arranged
on the stairs. and the busy little workers
SAT down 10 rest and contemplate the fruit
OF their labors, while their faces, hands
and pinafores presented woful picture,
OF which they seemed blissfulIy uncon-
sciOus.
Let's pay sufiin' else, Wobbie," said
h'sie Daisy. Use tired o. baking and