The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1876-09-14
NUMBER 80.
efar Nou,,q Readtrs.
LITTLE BOY BLUE.

eyes were so very blue" real ultra
marine" Aunt Sue said; but baby
only wrinkled his nose at the long
word, and mamma smiled.
However, the eyes kept their Won
derful color as the baby grew up, 50 the
name was kept, too.
Boy Blue had four sisters: three old
er, one younger, than himself. He
used, sometimes, to wish for brother,
but mostly he was too busy to worry
over tritles. He had 50 much to do
the days were not long enough.
He had to work in his garden; it
was about as large as a pocket-hand-
kerchief, but it required a great deal
of care. He had to feed the kitty,
help shell the peas for dinner, ride on
the saw-horse, and be an iceman. a
strawberry seller, a cOal-hcaver and a
tish-monger, all with only the aid of
his wheelbarrow.
Above all, he had to help Jotham.
What lothian would have done with
out his help l cannot tell. With it, he
kept the garden in order, mended the
broken tools, made sleds, swings, skip
ping-rOpes, carts and baby-hOuseS for
the five little Wares.
If lothian could have got along with
out Boy Blue, | am sure the little
Wares would have sadly missed J0-
than.
One day lothian was making sled
for Elsie. 1t was June, and people
do not usually wish to slide on the
daisies and clover; but lothian liked
to get things finished early. | sup
pose he knew, too, that when Elsie's
sled was done he would have to make
one apiece for Lii, for Dora, for Boy
Blue, and for little Tot; 50, perhaps,
he thought from June to December
was not too long time for 50 much
work.
The sled was ready to be painted;
and blue paint, in a nice little bucket,
with a small brush in it, was waiting
for the sled. Boy Blue stood by help
ing.
Just then somebody called lothian
into the house.
Il might paint little until he
comes back" thought Boy Blue.
"Don't fink I'd better, maybe. Elsie
said blue stripes; 'haps l shouldn't get
+hnn nvnn U'rnr'
The blue eyes twinkled, and the
funny little mouth was puckered i'll a
round, rosy button as their owner con-
sidered the matter.
81 might practice, first said Boy
Blue.
So he tugged the paint-bucket down
from the bench; he stopped little
over, too. 1t did not fall on his trOw-
serS; they were short, and fastened at
the knee with three buttons; the blue
SplaSheS we're ON the white stockings
below the trousers, and Boy Blue saw
them.
but they will wash" said he to
himself.
Then Boy Blue and the paint-bucket
walked off behind the Toulouse; that
was good place to practice, because
the clapbOardS were 50 smooth, and of
a nice gray color, on which the blue
paint showed beautifully.
"Ill make five stripes, cause Pm
most five years DID, thought Boy
Blue.
The first were crooked, and he had
to make five more; they were too long,
so he made some shorter ones. Soon
all the side of the Toulouse, as high
as his short arm could reach, was paint
ed in blue stripes.
eff | only had ladder" mused Boy
Blue. "Fink I'd better get one
He trudged into the shed, still car
rying the palnt-bucket; it was not 50
full now as when lothian left it, and
did not Slop much.
There was 70 ladder in the Shed, 50
he went on into the barn.
"Ouf. oufr' grunted Piggy White,
hearing steps, and expecting dinner
"Fm busy now, Piggy White said
Boy Blue, looking over the side of the
pen. "Tm painting. Oh my! Piggy
White, you'd look just beautiful if you
only had some blue stripesN'
Piggy White was a young pig, quite
|
clean and pretty; the little Wares made
a pet of him. He had a fresh straw
bed every night, and Jotham took a
deal of care to keep his house tidy. He
was so accustomed to visits from the
children he only gently grunted in re-
ply to Boy Blues remark.
The next thing seen Of that small
lad he had climbed over and was as
busy over Piggy White as he had beer
on the Toulouse. Piggy liked to have
his back rubbed, and was very quiet
while Boy Blue painted a long stripe
down his spine and shorter ones across
his sides.
"Piggy White, if you wig your tai
so | fink I'll scold. l want to paint
the end of it,
Bv this time there was not much
paint in the bucket, but there was q
great deal on Boy Blues hands, on his
stockings, on the short trousers, ano
on the front of his little blouse.
HIM said Boy Blue, suddenly
looking up. 81 tink-Jotham-l tinl
I've got trough
"The land of libertyr' said lothian
looking down. YOU'RE blue, SURF
enough" , :,
Then he picked up the little work
man and carried him into the house.
When mamma had been out anc
looked at the Toulouse and P1ggy
4 loo Il raI N