The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1876-04-06

He got over it, however, as soon as he
entered the house. Dinner was allready,
and Aunt Sarah was at her usual place
at the table.
"Had good time ?" she asked, kindly.
He nodded.
"GOod boys say Yes, ma'am.'"
But Johnny couldn't have said Yes,
ma'am" if he had wanted to, and he
didn't want to.
"What did you see? ?"
How could he tell? He had seen 80
much! Feeling utterly incompetent to
describe the mornings proceedings, he
looked at her in helpless sort of way,
and remained silent.
Aunt Sarah didn't say "stick of wood, I"
she only looked it; but little Sue,
whose childish heart was somehow begin
ming to understand and sympathize with
Johnny's, talked so fast that no one else
had chance to ask him question.
He was so good, Aunt Sarah-yOu
can't think! And Mary Anderson says
his jacket is exactly like William Au-
gustuss. Hattie Sawyer had her hair
down to-day, and it looked like"
-, "There's somebody out here would
like to see Johnny" called Nora from
the kitchen.
Somebody to see poor, forlorn Johnny
whose friends were all at the other end
of the earth. $50 it seemed to him. Who
could it be?
"Don't sit like a stick" said Aunt
Sarah, sharply. eco and see who it
is"
CPL 60 with you," said Sue; and, full
of curiosity, Floy followed.
He went, wOnderingly-almost fear
fully. He didn'twant to see anybody
he was quite sure of that. But, as he
glanced at the stout, comely figure sit
ting at the window, he noticed that the
dress was strangely familiar. The black
eyes, gaining courage, at last reached the
face. 1t was kind, motherly, Irish
face, hOmely enough, but beautiful now
in J0hnny's eyes, for it was the face of
his faithful Bridget.
One glad cry of recognition. and then
the stick of wood flew into those out
stretched arms, and was nearly lost to
sight beneath the folds of the carressing
shawl.
"Och, but it's glad to see his Bridgy
he is! Bridgy's man! It's her that loves
him, too. Poor darlin' An his mother
and the baby is gettin' fat, an comm
for him purity soon, if he's good boy.
An then we'll all go home together, jist.
There, there! Hush, now! Bridgy's
man mustn't cry"
But" Bridgy's man" did cry as if his
little heart would break.
Its homesick he is, jist," said she.
/" His mother she got that anxious she
couldn't rest, SO promised to come up
the day an give him look. There, dry
your eyes, now. little mani"
Johnny put his arms around her neck
and whispered something in her ear.
"Who calls you names?" asked
Bridget, half indignant.
"That Aunt Sarah"
"What does the child meanT cried
Aunt Sarah, incredulously.
"Calls me sticks of wood" whispered
Johnny, scowling. .
ooh, she means nothin' ut ALL" said
Bridget, soothingly. "Be a man now,
and give me kiss for mamma an baby,
an then we'll see what have here for
you"
He gave them willingly, and then such
package of candy as was fished out. of
Bridgets ample pocket! How it ever
got in there is a mystery, and its extrac-
ton for time seemed impossible but
Bridget's fingers were strong, and it did
come out at last. And while he was divid-
ing his goodies with Floy and Sue, she
kissed him goodbye, and vanished.
But, alas! the candy was soon eaten,
and Johnny, more homesick than ever,
stock soberly at the window wondering
how many nights he must 60 to bed be-
fore mamma came for him. He kept his
trouble to himself with courage worthy
of maturer years, but kind Aunt Lizzie,
who arrived just then, l0nged to take
him in her arms, and kiss away the tears
that she knew were ready to fall. But
she did not. She only said:
"Come here, Flo, and Sue. l want
to tell you what l saw in the steam-car
to. day. 1t wasn't much. Only a cum
ming little kitty, whose mother had been
shot by some cruel boys, who was travel
ing in basket. When they lifted the
cover, she would pop her head out and
cry for milk; and once when they stopped,
gentleman took her into an eating
house and gave her ever so many things
to eat, and bought just the prettiest blue
ribbon for collar, but he tied it so tight
that she scratched him, and"
"My kitty bit hers all off,"
1t was Johnny who spoke, but Aunt
Lizzie didn't jump or look astonished.
She only said, "Pd like to hear about
your kitty sometime" and went on with
her story; and when she had finished,
somehow, no one ever knew how she did
it, the stick of wood was sitting COM
posedly upon her lap, looking very
happy, and apparently quite at home.
They were all very kind to Johnny af-
ter this. Aunt Lizzie's tact and
Bridget's motherliness had told them
what was needed to transform the "stick"
into wide-awake, loving boy. The go
to-bed was no longer dreaded, since
Aunt Lizzie went with him; and he said
bis prayers, and gave his goodnight kiss
like man." as Sue said.
Aunt Sarah's cookies were incompara-
BILE in quality, and unlimited in quantity.
She never called him a stick of wood,
now, and hoped he had forgotten the OBJ
noxious epithet; but children do not for
get 80 easily.
johnny, sald Aunt Lizzie, DAY or
two afterward, "what are you doingw
He was jumping about on both feet,
making as much noise ss his half-worn
shoes would allow.
"Tisn't Johnny, it's stick of wood,
cried he, gleefully. "See it fall downp
and over he went, with thump that
brought Aunt Sarah in from the kitchen.
Are you hurt p she asked, anx-
iously.
"Sticks of wood don't get hurt" he
replied, contemptuously. "Pm stick
of wood-look out for your toes"
Aunt Sarah did look out. She caught
him in her arms, and, seating him on the
cleanest spot of the kitchen table, stopped
his mouth with a cocoanut cake. After
that, think the "stick of wood" was
never mentioned between them.
The Chicago Infer (lc>0n contain this