The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1877-02-03
LOttie's Walk to Boston.

Lottie's Walk to Boston.
1t was nine o'clock in the morning. By the
roadside sat a little child. rough looking man
came driving slowly by. He had red hair, a thick
red beard, and light blue eyes, so light that they
seemed almost white.
The man was nearly at his journeys end, but
something in the child's face attracted his atten-
ton. Perhaps it was because he had little girl
in his rough home that he had left few hours
ago, and the ptiful expression in this young face
touched his father-heart.
Almost instinctivcly he stopped his tired horse,
and looked down upon her. He saw that she was
pretty Her large, dark eyes were raised fearless
y. The little blue check sun bonnet had fallen to
her shoulders and the thick, fat brown curls were
plastered on her forehead by the perspiration
caused by walking in the sun.
Presently clear, musical voice reached his ear.
els Boston very far of, now?"
"My next stopping-place, puss. Are you going
to Boston? There's only the long bridge way
yonder to cross, and you're there"
The child drew long sigh of relief. "I'm so
tired" she said. Guess I'll rest little longer"
"Where dye come from ?" asked the drover.
'Way from Thornville," mentioning town
about twelve miles off; and she lifted her old sun
bonnet to its proper place, and tied the strings.
The drover took his basket, which was filled
with crackers and ham and cheese, and as the
place happened to be somewhat secluded, he clam
bered down from the high wagon, and seated him
self beside the child.
"Hungry?" he asked.
eyes, sir" said she, simply.
"Then eat;" and he filed her hands with crack
ers "sS 5yf ypure e g9ins to Bost0n-sufh mite as
'1'm going to DR.. Iris. De you know him ?"
quered the girl, eagerly. "He lives on fremont
CIV nd ho fyaS panrla'c THAT'S oil ha
does do. One of the neighboTs told my mother
about it, and she said that he almost makes the
blind see. walked all the way from Thornville."
"You walked?"
eyes, sir"
''When did you set out"
yesterday in the afternoon. Mother thinks I
spent the night at Cousin Sara's, and did mean
to, cause I wanted her to go with me; but she
was sick, so came right on"
"Whew Walked from there, eh? Where did
you spend the night?"
ain barn."
''What2 In barn? Well, you are one of 'em.
Your mother must hev sight of faith in you"
80, she don't know it, mean she don't know
I've come all this way. I stay sometimes at Cous-
in Sara's. And there's Betty at home-shes my
sister-and though she is lame she can do good
bit but couldn't bear to see mother suffer sO.'
'If that don't beat all !" exclaimed the drover,
after long stare of admiration. "She's hepluck-
lest little critter I ever did see. "Wel all hope
is that you may do what you come for but don't
know. DIR. Iris, s'pose, is one o. them rich fel-
lers that want big fees"
said the child.
"Don't ?"
"No; I'll pay him when am grown up"
''Well, that's too good 2" he roared. "Im bless
ed if ever saw anything so funny in all my born
days. A kitten like you talking about paying
when you're grown up. How old may you be
now, Miss-Miss-"
"My names Lottie, and I'm nine next May"
said the child with a serious manner, and nothing
daunted by his air of amused interest
"Well well, I never! p muttered the drover,
raising and stretching his brawny frame. "But
come, I'll give you ride as far as Boston, any
way )" and the next moment he lifted her, as if
she had been feather, and placed her on the seat
beside him.
So they logged along behind the staid old
horses while the man pointed out the sights
Everything was novel and delightful to the little
woman. The long bridge, the sparkling water,
the vessels, and sail-boats, and Steam-tugs, the
CLINT of the sun upon the river, the fine carriages
that rolled past them. Everything she saw she
treasured, that she might carry the picture home
fresh to her mother, and beguile the long, dark,
painful hours with the story of her experience.
Leaving her with some pennies in her hand, and
as near to the place of her destination he con-
veniently could, the drOyer went on, quite lost in
admiration of this brave little SOUL and LOttie be-
gan to look about her.
The noise of the streets, the hurrying, jostlng
throngs, the cries and clamor of the news-venders
and street merchants disconnected her a little. In
all her life she had never seen such bewideringly
beautiful things as the shop windows displayed.
1t was as good as trip into fairy-land, and a
thrill of genuine pleasure caused her for a mo-
ment to forget the responsibility of the GRAND she
had taken upon herself.
1t was a long time before she found the location
she desired, and then, poor child she fingered
about the door with the sensitive fear of novice.
She had pictured to herself so terrible object,
terrible mainly because of the dignity and power
with which she had invested the skillful oeulist,
who could do, it seemed to her, almost what he
would with disease-she had so pictured him, l
say, that the thought of meeting such greatness
embodied, probably in the form of tall prince
| ly parsonage, who would scarcely deign to look
upon her-caused her little heart to thrOb almost to
sufocatiOn. AT last she summoned sufficient cour-
age to pull the door bell. A handsome, motherly-
looking woman opened the door, for the doctors
servant, who usually attended to that duty, was
busy putting the doctors horse in harness.
81 don't think the doctor can see you now, lit
| tie girl" said the housekeeper, looking somewhat
disdainfully upon the small figure and the hOmely
p-bonnet, in whose darkening shadow the soft
brown eyes were almost hidden from sight.
go please let me speak to him just moment
came all the way from Thornville, and haven
anywhere to 60"
She burst into tears. The sob and the pathoi
of the childs tones had penetrated into the inte
rior of the house.
"Who is it, Mrs. Sanderson2" spoke up sin
gularly manly voice. as some one crossed the nall
"Only little girl, sir. She's come good dis
tance She says, but as it is after hours thought
"Never mind let her come in; I'll give her
minute or two"
Another second, and Lottie, her brain all in
whir, found herself, breathless and trembling, II