Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-07-04
rive back Mans spoon: but to no avail

HOtllluS DlU us TagS ana UnC GnlCK slice
of bread and butter which he contrivec
to swallow somehow between his sobs
There was no use in threatening, bribing
or scolding. The child only reiterated
he didn't know nothing about no tea
spoon;" and Mrs. Hartman, fairly puz
zled as to what steps she should take tc
recover her property, let the boy depart
with many misgivings She was. quite
confident that he had disposed of the
spoons IN some way; but as they were
not to be found about his person she
told the cook to watch him, and see what
he would do, and where he would 90. TIC
her infinite surprise, she came back, and
reported that the boy did not know
where to go. He was tired, and had 10
home, and wanted to sleep all night in
the woodshed or barn--he didn't care
where-only he didn't want to go away,
and had they found the spoons yetY
The cook was completely in the boys
sympathy, and said he was an honest lit
tie chap, and she guessed he wouldn't
carry OF the woodshed in the night; SO a
comfortable bed was prepared for him,
and there he staid not only for the night.
but many subsequent nights. Mr.. Har-
riman when he heard Mans story. and
had talked with the boy himself, had
come to the conclusion that the spoons
were not taken by him, mysterious as the
case certainly was and there the matter
was allowed to rest.
The children had their Whitsun festi-
val, and the Trinity season was nearly
past, and still small Bob hung around
the Hartman farm, helping the men in
the field and running errands for the
cook, who took great interest in the
child now. He had donned some old
clothes of Harry's, and when his face
was clean and his hair combed, was not
at all bad looking boy; but, although
Nan was good intentioned little girl,
she had never quite recovered from the
less of her pretty silver spoons and in
her heart Of hearts thought Bob ought
to know all about the matter.
One day when Flossie Sheppard and
cousin Ned Golding came over to spend
the day at the farm, the mystery was
solved IN the most unexpected manner.
Ned was from the city, and nothing
suited him better than hunting for eggs,
climbing trees, peeping into birds nests,
and racing over the whole place.
After while he rushed in from the
barn, and called out, Come here, every
one of you; I've found out the oldest
kind of an old curiosity shop-come out
to the barn"
Bob, who was drawing pail of water
at the well, looked up so wistfully that
Ned said: "Small boy, you can come
along too. It's a Jolly good trick on
somebody" And then he led them up
through the hay-loft, where they could
look down through the roof of the har-
neSS-rOOnl.
There sat Jack, the house pet, the
tame crow that was almost as much of
pet in the house as the children on huge
nest of hay, that was evidently his
treasure-house-his Safe Deposit build
ing. He was talking and chuckling to
himself in an odd sort of way, and the
first thing he pulled out was long
string of colored beads, that belonged to
Mans doll. Ever and ever so long ago
she had missed them, and thought that
the string had probably broken some
time when she did not know it.
"The naughty old thief" she laughed:
:" the bad old jack Give me back my
beads this minute, sir"
At that all the children clapped their
hands and laughed; and down flew Jack,
scolding furiously. Nan ran after Inn
and caught him in her arms, and Rugged
and scolded him all in one breath; for
what do you think there was in the nest
beside the string of beads? Why, an old
broken doll, tinsel head-dress, and taco
silver sDO0ns-one very bright and new,
the other with Harry's name on the han
die. Nan screamed outright with Joy,
but Harry ran into the house and brought
his mother and the cook, and everybody
looked pleased, though everybody laughed
to see how sulky Jack looked, and how
he ruff1ed his feathers and put on little
injured airs when his property was taken
from him.
But Bob skunk into a corner, and had
not word to say. And Nan, who ran
after him, found his eyes full Of tears.
II didn't put the spoons there" he
said when she questioned him.
"Of course you didn't, Bob; no one
thinks you did," cried Nan in sudden
repentance, as she remembered her
unkind words to the Little beggar. eve
never dreamed that Jack would steal;
but we've found out that you were the
honest one. You haven't staid here SO
long and been such good boy, Bob,
that we couldn't tell thGt!"
Bob looked very happy, but his brown
face was perfectly radiant when Mrs.
Hartman patted his head kindly.
"You must forget all the unpleasant
things and remember only the pleasant
ones, Bob," she said. "My husband has
believed in you and trusted you all the
time. But tell me one thing, my boy
what made you want to stay with us?
Why didn't you go away when you knew
we thought you had taken those spoons?"
" thought maybe you'd find them,
and then you'd know-know wasn't
thief" whispered Bob, hanging his head
and working his bare toes in the ground,
~ couldn't bear to 60 way and have
you think that"
" And would you like to so away now,
Bob?"
No, ma'am.''
"Then you can stay. You need never
90 aWav. IL YOU like. You can stay here