The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-03-30
Tots. the Peacemaker.

Tots was just upon the point of stepping
lnto bed, when an idea struck her.
1t had been trying day for Tots all
the way through. From morning until
night this insignificant member of the
family had been in difficulties, and a
source of much discomfort to herself and
other people 1t was hot, everybody was
cross, and Tots, whose resources in the
way of entertainment were limited, had
had great trouble to dispose of her time.
In the morning she had gone fishing i'll
the duck pond, with a crooked pin for
hook, and ball of worsted for line.
After waiting patiently for her prey for
some time, she had tired of this amuse-
ment, owing to it's non-success, and de-
termined to go after some water-lilies.
When Tots grasped the water-lily, the
board upon which she rested her tiny
feet slipped from under them, and Tots
was summarily precipitated into the
pond. When she appeared Mt the farm
house, her bedraggled condition brought
down such storm of denunciation upon
her head that the unsuccessful angler,
who had expected nothing but congratu-
lations upon her narrow escape from
drowning, was Disguised. Aunt Susan
dressed her, and Tots suffered so much
during the operation that she vowed
never to go near the pond again.
After dinner she had wandered out to
the arbor, underneath whose leafy roof
Flo Stanton was playing with her clergy
man-lover's heart, as if there was so lit
tie pain in the world that she could af-
ford to manufacture more. Tots listened
to the whole interview, and watched the
minister go away, too well-behaved a
young woman to interrupt the tete-a-
tete. But, afterhaving furtively watched
Aunt Flo cry as if her heart would break
for the two hours succeeding his depart
ure, Tots thought she might venture
upon little consolation. 1t really was
zoo bad that her well-meant efforts only
resulted in a pair of boxed ears, and alb
rupt orders to Ego away.
Then life became burden. Tots be-
gan to look upon the world as a melan-
.eholy place. There was nothing to do,
and everybody was too full of their own
affairs to pay her any attention. 1t was
a CLEAN of brightness when the bell rang
for supper. In spite of her WEAKNESS
and general disgust with sublunary af-
fairs, Tots still retained her appetite,
and her bread and butter and
strawberries certainly did their part
toward raising her spirits. But
after supper came the eliminating
disaster of the day. In thoughtless
moment Tots, in spite of the warnings OF
past experience, wandered into the kitch-
'en. The kitten lay under the stove, and
Tots madea rush to take possession of hel
pet plaything Her foot slipped, she
fell against the table, and big chins
dish went humping, bouncing, crashing
on to the floor. The altar upon which
burnt sacrifices were daily offered lay
broken in hundred pieces. Aunt Susar
witnessed the whole transaction, and il
two minutes Tots was seized, spanked
and sent to bed.
There is nothing to do but yield tc
Fate and Aunt Susan. They are a com
bination too strong for Tots to overcome
So she toddles upstairs, lays aside tn,
garment she has worn during the day
and buttons herself into her bifurcatec
night-dress.
Then it is that the idea comes to her
Tots, notwithstanding her tender years
is devoted 10 fictitious literature. Sh
cannot read herself, but she takes grea
pleasure in listening to Aunt Fanny, VIII.
sometimes entertains the family by read
ing aloud. Their last author was Dick
ems, and Tots Imagination has bee