Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-07-13


ed, either; and the whole army bowed
deferentialiy as this remarkable dam
sci appeared-a pink-and-white Great
ire, rejoicing in the name of Daisy
Ann, gorgeously robed in soft tarlatan,
real shoes and stockings, and orna-
ments suitable TO her rank, but hon
! ored peculiarly by the written placard
which was pinned conspicuously upon
her breast. 1t read:
This is my daughter
Love her I'd ought-ter,
Love her do"
Poor little mammal If She could
have forseen the sad fate of her
daughter, she would never, even for
the bang-whackety hero, have Of
Tered her as a loan
The process of attaching this charm
ing damsel to Jimoos back was at
tended with no little trouble and loss
OF time. As might have been expect
ed. limbo demurred. So did the dam
sefs mamma-the latter insisting that
no less that seven braids should bind
her darling to the horse; the former
perterring that there should be none.
But the feat was accomplished. The
procession formed, and moved gayly
up around the house.
1t was a beautiful day. The sun
shone brightly; the sky scraped to-
gether all its blue to rival that in the
flags. Had it not been for the horns
and torpedoes that the army brought
speedily forth, limbo might have been
very happy dog; for Daisy AIMS
legs were harmless cottony affairs, her
weight was but as feather ON his
back, and limbo was inclined to feel
quite mortified at the terror he had
shown .a
The presence of his two dog friends
and the calm fearlessness these eyinced
did much to reconcile limbo to the tor
pedoes and the horns 1t was very
pleasant, too, to have little Bess at his
side, one hand resting assuringly on his
fur, the other from time to time drop
ping cream-candy into his mouth: and
before the march was over limbo had
proved himself hero truly worthy the
name.
The two doll-soldiers. being stiff.
Woodeny creatures, kept their places
right stoutly on the horses backs; but
1t went hardly with. Daisy Ann. The
wires which had been ingeniously ar
ranged to support her body seemed of
no avail. Forward she bobbed. and
sideways, to the distress of her anxious
parent and her own indignant dismay.
But finally the army halted on high
Knoll, where Uncle Hal awaited, with
his glowing, patriotic speech. 1t was
characteristic Grafton, full of elo-
quence and humor, and met rounds of
applause.
I" Patriot men, women, and horses
was concluding Uncle Hal, when sud-
denly
9 Bang. whackety! boomp burst
upon the quiet air.
This was the signal for the army to
return and partake of the collation. pre-
pared at the house; but it was too
much for limbo. A start, a scared
look sideways, then suddenly he
wheeled round and shot down the
grassy hillside, in company with Daisy
Ann.
The army was too much absorbed TO
pursue. In vain followed Bess, Shrek
ing: "My daughter! my daughterl''
IN accents of deepest woe. On flew
limbo, down through the gate, on TO
the quietroadway, still forward breath
lessly, nearing the city's noises, with
beating heart, yet determinedly, never
pausing until he reached his native
stoop.
What a sight for little Blue Ewes.
watching tearfully for limbo to come
home. How amazedly she stared at
the dilapidated maiden who, with
face and disheveled tresses,
hung downward from his back-her
gorgeous robes in rags, but, oddly
enough, the placard still clinging to
her breast.
Next morning there appeared in one
OF the city papers this advertisement:
I've lost my daughter.
Love her I'd ought-ter,
rs Love her do.
BESSIE B. fef- OAKIASDs p q
This was Uncle Halls work. to com
fort the little mamma He had count
ed well on the placard for before even
ing the mangled remains of her daugh-
ter were placed in poor Bessie's arms.
But she proved herself a LOYAL maid.
A season of passionate tears and
kisses, then she dried her eyes heroic
ally, and said: '.She died in the service
Of her country. We will bury her in
the flag
Later, Bess magnanimously sent
limbo some candy creams. And Jim
DO munched them appreciatiyely, in
memory of the bang whacketv hero
Ann.--Roso .Grahon. ia
~ Y T116ore37 C7o,3f