The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-10-07
Why Lettice 'ympathized With Mr..
bPemer.

|
spring and early summer, but when the
weather became not and dry, the cough
and pain in her side left her. iaint
streaks OF color began to flash up into
her thin cheeks, ana she grew able to
take ride with her father every morn
ing, and during each ride she found
many common place incidents to weave
into thrilling stories lor her little brother
Fred.
one morning, as they were driving
| slowly along u beautiful lane, Lettice
was much amused by counting num-
Der of cattle crossing brook on mar
row plank.
''Tnere! twenty-1neW she cried, clap
| ping her hands. "Wnat a clumsy old
fellow that last one was. l surely
thought he'd tumble into the water. l
hope they will ali do it over again when
we come back. l must tell Fred. all
about H."
"EhHt reminds me Of poor little Fred
rika Bremer," replied her father, de-
lighted to see his "languid lady" dis
play SO much interest. lone day she
and her sisters we're watching some bull
locks that mad been let out to drink al a
pond. When they came TO certain
place where the gates had been taken
down, they all appeared seized with
dancing tit, and began to jump and
prance, kicking their hind legs Ia The
air. Tue children were amazed at such
conduct in the quiet creatures, and
when their father came home thaG even
ing, Charlotte went into the library and
told him OF the wonderful behavior OF
| the bulockS. He was amused and IN
terested, aud wondered very mucn what
could have influenced them. Presently
i'll came another child and told the same
story. Tue father listened, but said
nothing. Then u third came in, repeat
ing what the others had said. The faLh-
er paid no attention. And, last of all,
poor little repressed, irrepressible Fred
erika made her appearance, saying, DO
you know, papa, tnat the bullocks-'
But she was interrupted with 'lhIs Is
the fourth time l have heard that Story.
Now, there must be an end of it,"
"How cross and unkind he wasp eX-
claimed Lettce. "He might have lis
tened to it just once more. nave no pa
tence with him."
"But it was something Of bore for
him, you see," said MI. Houghton.
"Wny," suddenly turning his attention
to the horse, "Ned has almost lost that
lore shoe. We must drive slowly. l
will watch the shoe while you keep a
sharp Lookout for blacksmith's shop. l
think there is one near"
| LGJtlCe bdJ 6IGcbs u6E UFlSub eyes
searching for sne scarcely knew not
what, until her father turned u corner
close upon "a small unpalnted building,
surrounded by broken wagons. Through
"a smoky doorway they saw man bend
.ng over forge, drawing long red iron
from the fire; but he threw the iron on
The anvil and came to the door az the
sound of Mr. Houghton's voice.
"Lonse shoe, ehw he inquired, rum
ming his fingers through his curly gray
hair. "Do it for you in five minutes;
" ill that suit you, eh? Better take the
horse out, eh? Your little gal looks
with my women folks, eh? Powerful
hot place this shop is w set in, ehp
at will only be for a few minutes"
assured her father, helping her down.
perhaps you will lind something to
amuse YOU"
| Lettuce slowly crossed the dusty road,
and Knocked at the door of the little red
house opposite the shop.
.May | please stay here until our
horse is shodT she asked, as tiny old
lady appeared.
yes, come in" answered the old
lady. in a strikIngly low tone. "HoW
thin YOU areL Have you been sick /?
Just sit in this rocking chair and put
| YOUR feet on this little bench, anu Ill
.et you glass Of our spring water. No
such water as ours to be lound Tor miles
around"
Lettice leaned wearily back among the
faded gre en- cushions OF the chair, while
the old lady stretched up to the highest
| shelf of a closet tor glass, and left the
room, moving SO nolselessly that the
child was almost startled.
The room was SO small and bare that
/ Lettuce mad made study of every thing
it contained before the Old lady returned
with the glass of water and followed by
little brown dog.
"What cunning little dog it is" she
said, alter she had drank the water,
and the dog came whining and jumping
around her chair.
yes" assented the old lady, seating
herself, and commencing to darn pair
of coarse socks. "And wnat do YOU
think he did last night? 1t was the
queerest thing, tor we never let him 90
up stairs; but Jimmy had something
like tetcn Of cholery, and he was took
all Of student in the evening, though
what he had been eating to KURT him no
one knows. For his breakfast he only
eat cakes-we was out of buckwheat, so
we made them OF rye and Indian; we
raise them over might've quarts"
"But what did the little brown dog
dor; inquired LeLtice.
well, you see Jimmy 'most had the
cholery, and we was at our wits end,
We put him in not water, and we put
mustard ON him, and gave him ginger
and paregeric, and the doctor lives a
long way Oft, and there was no one to
send, for John had the asthmy and
father"
$50 you sent the dog for the doctor?@
asked Lettice.
mo; oh, no, we would not think of
such thing" returned the gentle old
voice. "Well, you see, after we put
him in the hot water we wanted to wrap
him up warm, and so Amandy went up
to the garret chamber for a quilt-we
have a nice parcel of quilts, for PVe
piecened fifty three in my day-let me
see, thetirst one | pieced was when-'
''Did the dog bring down the qullt?"
again interrupted Lettice.
| "Oh, no." replied the old lady, softly,
| shaking her head, "but he followed
Amandy up stairs, and she never
| thought Of MIN wnen she came out of the
| Eoom, and we were all SO frightened we
ueYer missed him, and thought nothing
| OF it till Jimmy was better this morning
| and Amandy went to put the quit away,
| and aS surn az Won live thor. was Eidot