Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-03-01

I'm hungry" said Susie, cuddling
down closer in Rhoda's arms "Tell
me story, and may be I'll forget.
So Rhoda Rugged her little sister up
close, and began to tell her story of a
poor maiden who got lost, once upon a
time, in great wood, through which
she was carrying poor little lost lamb
By-and-by great wolf came along the
road-a fierce, hungry thing, who
snapped at her hands as she beat him
back, and who looked longingly at the
little lamb she carried. Just as the
wolf was about to leap upon her, a huge
giant happened to come that way. He
drove back the wolf, and promised to
keep him at bay if she would marry
him, and come and live with him in his
castle. The maiden hardly knew what
to do-to be left to battle with the cruel,
hungry wolf, or accept the giants offer
For the sake of the little white lamb
she carried in her bosom, she was about
to tell the giant she would go with him,
when a wandering prince came that
way, and rescued her from the giant
and the wolf.
And there poor Rhoda broke down,
and began to cry. She was the poor
maiden Of her own story. 1t was hers
to choose between the giant and the
wolf. There might be giants a great
deal worse than this giant who offered
to save her; but if she did not like him,
how could she go to live with him in his
castle that would be more like a prison
to her? Wouldn't it bar her in for ever
from the realization of the pleasant
dreams that had been hers?
There was a tread of feet on the
stairs Rhoda shuddered, and caught
her breath in quick gasps. Was the
giant coming? The wolf was already
there.
Some one knocked. She went to the
door with Susie in her arms, and opened
it. A handsome young man stood
there bronzed and bearded, with a face
full Of welcome and gladness.
"Don't you know me, Rhoda Ais
tyne?" he cried, cheerily. II should
know you anywhere. Why, Pm Tom
Sherwood, your old playfellow, that
went out to Australia five Or six years
ago Don't you remember how used
to tell you | was going to marry you
some day? I've come back to do it
now, Rhoda, if you don't say no. "
ooh, Tom Tom p Rhoda cried; and
put out both her hands, her face fairly
radiant with happiness. I'm SO glad
to see you You don't know what you
may have saved me from Tom. [
believe Heaven sent you here tonight
"Is he your prince Rhoda?' asked
Susie, looking from one to the other,
half Jealous of the kisses the brown and
bearded man was stealing from Rhoda s
cheeks.
" Yes, Susie, my little white lamb;
the prince that will keep both wolf and
giant away" answered Rhoda, with
happy tears in her eyes, and the sound
Of tears in her voice. ooh, Tom, it
does not seem possible that it's you. 1t
seems more like dream. It's too good
to be true, almost"
4" If it's dream, it's going to come
true" answered Tom. "What does
little darling here mean about your
prince?''
And then Rhoda, halfway between
laughing and crying, had to tell it al
over to Tom, who couldn't help the
tears coming into his own eyes as he
listened.
"Only to think p cried he-when she
had finished" chow near I came to
losing you! One day longer, and ]
might have been too late [ hunted for
you for three or four days, high and
low, before I could find any trace of
YOU
And then he told her about the pleas
ant farm in Australia that was waiting
for mistress; and Susie clapped her
hands in glee to know that flowers grew
wild there, and that she could hear the
birds sing, and run all day long in the
meadows, and have what had long been
her sole delight-a kitten.
eyes, and half dozen, if you want
'em !" cried Tom, kissing first her, and
then Rhoda. II always told you, I was
coming to marry you, Rhoda, and /
kept my word, you see."
You may be pretty sure what kind of
an answer Mr.. Field received when he
came next night.
"Rhoda isn't going to marry you, y
Susie told him, " for her prince has
come-that's Tom, amt it, Rhoda?'
And Rhoda answered +" Yes"
Carpets.
CarnetS were in 11Se at least Of con, q