Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1876-12-28
LANCASTER. WISCONSIN. THURSDAY. DECEMBER 2s, 1876

looked straight at the conductor and
nodded his head.
You're a runaway, Tam afraid
Where's your ticket How are yor
going to pay for your ride p
Very deliberately and slowly Tatfy
put his hand IN his pocket and took
out thu remaining Baldwin apple
which ho laid in the hand of the con-
ductor.
You'll do said that official laugh.
ing. 'rll look out for you when we
get to Springfield
And he passed on.
1t was four O'Clock when Taffy
commenced his journey, and it was
half past six when the train rolled in
to Springfield station. Something
unuaual had happened, as was evi,
dent from the excitement among the
throng of people upon the platform.
Whats the matter p asked one OF
the passengers, as he stepped from
the car.
The eastern express has run into a
freight train, mile out, aud the
track will be blocked until after mid
night
Taffy heard the question and reply,
but understood neither. He had a
vague idea that he was in California,
and, undismayed, set out in search OF
his father. 1t was bitter cold but
he pulled on his mittens and walked
iuto the street. The shouts of the
hack-drivers and the glare of the
lights confused him somewhat but
he kept on, looking into all the store,
and shops where the lights were
brightest.
Il guess my papa would be where
twas awful warm tonight, said he to
himself. Il just wis he would come
out =
Just in front of one of the largest
and most brilliantly lighted stores
on the street his foot slipped and he
fell. One of his mittens came off
and his cap rolled into the street
Somebody stopped to pick him up
and said, 'Poor little fellow L and
his heart gave way all at once. He
was carried, loud in ntation,
into the store, and set in the warm
est place, in the midst of sympathic
dim that confused him still more.
The most ingenious cross-questioning
failed to extract any further infor-
nation then that his name was
Taffy, that he lived with Gran'pa
Was'bun, aud that he had come to
California on the cars TO find bis
papa.
By and by be was left to himself,
after having been furnished with a
of buns and caudy, and
his tears were soon dried in contem-
pl.tion of the ever varying crowd of
visitors which thronged the various
of the establish ment-
After a while he got to wondering
at the big piles Of Blankets which
tottered high above his head en- the
counters, and what they did with
them, and where all the beds were
they belonged to and at the long
shelves of cloths and calicoes and
little square boxes and at the rows
of ribbons and big and little stock
ings, and many queer things he bad
never seen before, which hung over
the counters. Then be began to feel
very comfortable, and all the things
and the Clerks which he had been
watching gradually seemed to min
gle and melt together. His eyelids
dropped slowly, and Taffy was
asleep.
How long he slept be couldn't have
told be was awakened by voices
talking, it seemed TO him, in his ear.
He lazIy opened his eyes, and saw
close by the pile of blankets, against
which his back was leaning, tall
rleasant-looking man, with big whls-
kers.
you may put in Stwo pairs of
incest ones,' he was saying. with
the dress patterns and the rolls of
cotton cloth, they'll make something
of a load The accident on the rail
road has delayed my journey home
for few hours ; and, as | have the
chance, | may as we'll take some
thing with me to make my welcome
warmer. Christmas, too, you
know
where will you have them sent,
sir p asked the clerk.
sTbare,' said the tail gentleman,
handing him a hote! card. Send
them at any time before 10 o'clock. |
shall remain until the first mornin g
train, | presume. though | would
give hundred dollars if I could get
to my journeys end to night. l have
planned getting home Christmas Eve
for six months past, and it's hard to
be Disappointed
Yes, sir Must be, sir, said The
busy clerk. Here, Tom 7
Tom came.
Get down that long basket and
put in those packages on the counter
and two pair OF those best Middlesex
blankets.
TaffY's eyes closed again, but
opened when Tom reappesred, with
a huge basket, something like a
cradle in shape, into which the good,
we're carfully deposited. the blankets
on the top, and over all white cot
ton covering, to keep them from DO
ing soiled.
How much it looks like bed,
thought Taffy.
1t did look inviting, truly. And il
would be so much warmer and nicer
than sitting on board box with CAP
and boots on. The basket was near
him-so near be could put his hand
on it. The clerks were all busy and
none of the crowd ever came TO that
corner of the store, which was quite