The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1876-12-27
considered in his bluff, very nasty
thing indeed. .ts...

considered in his bluff, a very nasty
thing indeed. .ss,..
Il don't suppose that little wretch
told one atom of truth they are
trained to tell the most awful false
| hoods, which they do as easily as re-
spectacle person could say grace be-
fore meat, and yet. if he should have
been really and truly hungry, or his
sister or even. his drunken mother
why it would be very dreadful to
think Of. remember I was very hun
cry once in my life, only once-but |
don't think there can be any state
much worse than to lie dreaming of
roast beef and all sorts of comfortable
things, waking to just nothing at all.''
At this truly awful thought, Mr.. Bull
ger trotted off as fast as his pudgy
legs could carry him, back to the gay
ly lighted street, with it's glorious
shop windows illuminated and embel-
lished to the last degree of splendor,
and full to overlooking with all man.
ner of what this curious gentleman
considered trumpery. Goodness me;
do believe frightened them when |
said I'd give 'em in CHARGE And Mr..
! Bulger spun around like blessed old
teetotum in gray trousers, throwing
his keen eyes here and there, up and
down, searching in the busy crowd of
people, nearly all laden with huge
whitey-brown parcels, for two thin
little creatures, whose pinched and
meagre faces haunted Mr. Daniel Bull
ger, going as he went, turning as he
turned. always peering at him from
the f1imsy wisps of fog and making
him more uncomfortable by long
sight than he had been for years and
years
| There they were, with blue noses fiat
tened against d con fectioner s window
specializing on the richness of the tarts
and guessing at the citron balls in a
| huge birthday cake.
AHA so you are there, are YOU?
you young vagabonds; and what
chase you've led me, you greedy little
villains. Amt you ashamed of your
selves? - and Mr.. Bulger clutched the
| frightened boy by the collar of his
miserable jacket, and actually shook
him with gentleness.
con, indeed, indeed, sir, we wasn't
tryin' to steal anything, Nettie and me;
and we didn't think it any harm to
look in at the folks buying cakes and
! things, did we, Nettie =
Nettie blinked her solemn eyes, and
shook her head mournfully. Poor
Nettie, she fancied that eyes were
given to see with and mouth to eat
with, though that cheerful occupation
had run down woefully of late.
go Won didn't how We'll ,ovx, ID
you suppose for One'mOment that Il re-
spectacle coal merchant is to be taken
in by two tramps no higher than good
sized ducklings? My what genera.
ton this is, to be sure!'
''Let's get in out of the wind, young
sters it fairly makes my eyes water"
and queer Mr.. Bulger wiped his eyes
on the fringe of his comforter, and
blowing his nose with most awe-in-
spring report in a huge red-and-yel-
low bandana, went into the shop arm
in arm with the two greedy villains,
looking like some grand. chancellor. 1t
would have moved the iron scraper at
the door to have witnessed Bulger's
prodigality.
''Another round of cheese-cake,"
says he pompously, and to the ecstatic
delight OF Nettie, who really thought
she had got hold of a very fat fairy
prince. sure enough, and was afraid to
touch the nappy coat with the tip of
her frozen little fingers, for fear he
would vanish like puff of smoke and
leave her and Tommy in the clutches
Of the law.
sob, my eyes, only look at that 'ere
cake Nettie, with the angels dan, in
on top,' said Tom, in u convulsed
whisper, while the other cakes were
being tied up in natty white parcel.
"Well, | hope may be shot and quar-
tered it ever see an appetite like this
one. And away went the cake with
the lightly dressed nymphs, to be put
up in a box, and Tom and Nettie were
quite beyond any words at this. They
simply walked upon tip toes and dread
ed to awake. After Toms rapacity
had been satisfied to its utmost here,
many other turkey and venison shops
were visited, and when Tommy had
been wrapped to the eyes in new
gray overcoat, topped with fur cap,
and Nettie bound up in gloriously
striped shawl and a wooden hood to
match, the three jolly beggars, as Mr..
Bnlger gaily designated the trio, wend.
ed their way down the dirty court and
up the grimy stairs to the poor lodg.
ing which Tommy and Nettie had left
ages before on AL aimless search which
had turned out far beyond their Wild
est expectations.
Now you wouldn't believe that it all
turned out just like a real story book,
rDvNl VNc~>. = u 30