The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1876-11-23

| oh anu vi Hc tIuuSeu, singing SOFT
ly to himself as he went, but by and
by he began to think it was a great
deal farther to grandma's than usual.
The snow kept gathering in little balls
on the heels of his boots, and he had
TO stop and sit down on his sled and
pull off his mittens and pick
the balls off beJore he could
go on. Then Maj. sat down in
the road too, and when Robbie want
ed to go on he only sat still and
howled. Then Robbie coaXed till he
was tired, then he pounded him with
little purple fists, and kicked him with
feet that felt to Robbie as if they were
only straight stiff sticks. instead of the
warm active little feet that they were
usually. But Maj. never moved, lust
sat there and hOwled and howled till
RObbie's patience and courage all left
him at once, and he "howled" too.
Just then some one came along in
wagon, and seeing Robbie's plight,
| bundled both the little boy and his
sled into the wagon and drove on
while Maj'S. hOwlS ceased and he trot-
ted on very cOntentedly behind them.
"Where are you going, too? What
did anybody send such a wee baby as
you out such a day as this for? I'd
just like to know" said the man.
I'm not Il baby; and I'm going to
grandma to bring cousin Kate over
to my house tonight, sos to 'sprise
my mamma, and all the rests comm
tomorrow" "Well, | rather guess
you Sprisc somebody, anyhow.
Where does your grandma live?' said
the man. "Oh! down the road bout
ten miles; | 'spect we're most there
now," said Robbie, whose spirits
rose as soon as he had some
one to talk to him. "Is that her
house?' said he, as he pointed to
low, old-fashoned house by the road
side, never dreaming that Robbie had
not the most distant idea where he
was, and as the house did really bear
some resemblance to grandma's, Rob
bic was perfectly satisfied that he had
found cousin Kate at last, 50 he al
lowed himself to he put out, and the man
drove off while Robbie marched man
fully up to the front door, and began
pounding away as unceremOniously as
he did on his mothers door. He had
not long to wait before the door was
opened by neither grandma or cousin
Kate, but by tall, pleasant-faced lady.
whom Robbie had never seen.
"Where's cousin kate?' lie cried,
stamping in with his sled after him.
"Pvc come to take her over to my
house to dinner tomorrow, and I've
got some raiSnS in my pockets for
grandma if she'll let her 60" Well,
you'd best come to the stove the first
nearly frozen. Where did you spring
from, I'd like to know %' Where's
cousin Kate? | want to see cousin
Kate fal,ered Robbie, whose fingers
and toes began to tingle as they felt
the warmth of the room. Poor Rob-
bic; the cold and the disappointment
were too much for him, and he broke
down completely, SobbinG in the kind
lady's arms as if his little heart
would break. But by many questions
and much comforting his story was
D,I "a ST,;
warmed themselves. preparations
were being made for sending the lit
tie Wanderer home i'll the cutter.
Robbie's disappointment at not find
ing Cousin Kate was very great, but
the prospect of riding home behind
the merry Sleigh-bellS nearly COmpen-
sated him for all. When Robbie az
rived at home he found all prepara-
tions for Thanksgiving suspended, and
the house in Il general uprOar.
whats the matter? Amt we going
to have Thanksgiving" were his first
words as he burst into the room,
where mamma wandered aImlessly
about, unable to do anything save to
wait and listen for the steps of those
who were out in search of the little
wanderer. eyes, We'll have Thanks
giving now," cried she, as she clasped
him in her arms. R0bbies story was
soon told, and they had two Thanks
givings, one Wednesday evening and
one the next day, and grandma and
Cousin Kate were there, too, and the
kind lady who brought Robbie home.
Prairie Farmer.