The Hickman courier., 1877-06-01

puzzled as TO what steps she should take
to recover her property, let the boy de
part with many misgivings. She was
quite confident that he bad disposed of
the spoons in some way; bur as they
we're not to be found about his person,
% che tell the cook to watch him, and see
what he would do, and where he would
90. To her infinite surprise she came
back, and reported that the boy did not
know where to go. He was tired, and
had 70 home, and wanted 20 sleep all
night in the woodshed or barn-he didn't
care Uhere-only he didn't want TO 90
away, and had they found the spoons
yet?
The cock was completely in the boys
sympathy and said he was an honest little
l. chap, and she guessed he wouldn't carry
ehthe woodshed in the night; so com
ior,ablc bed was prepared for him, and
there he stayed, not only that night, but
many subsequent niUh,s NJ tr-----y
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 AZ the case GER
tainly was, and there the matter was al
lowed to rest.
The children had their Whitsun !esti-
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 fat cook,
who took a great interest in the child,
! now. He had donned some old clothes of
4 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 loss of her pretty
/ silver spoon, and in her heart of hearts
/ thought Bob ought to know all about the
matter.
One day when Flossie Sheppard and
her cousin Ned Golding came over to
spend the day at the farm, the mystery
was solved in the most unexpected man
ner Ned was from the city, and moth
ing suited him better than hunting for
eggs, climbing trees, peeping into birds
nests, and racing over the whole place.
After awhile 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 80 wistlully 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
hayloft, where they could look down
through the root of the harness room.
There sat Jack, the household pet, the
tame crow that was almost as much of
pet in the house as the children, on a
hugh 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 a long string !
OF colored beads, that belonged to Mans I
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 him
and caught him in her arms, and hugged !
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 t'eo
siire' spoons-one very bright and new,
the other with Harry's name on the
handle. Nan screamed outright with joy /
/ but Harry ran into the house and brought +
his mother and the cook, and everybody !
looked pleqsed, though everybo laughed !
10 see how sulky Jack looked, and how he |
rufled his feathers and put ON little in
jured airs when his property was taken
from him.
But Bob skunk into 4 corner and had /
not word to say. And Nan, who ran /
after him. found his eyes full OF tears.
." didn't put the spoons there he
said when she questioned him.
'0f course you didn't, Bob; no one
thinksyoI did, cried Nan in suddn re-
pentence, s.she remembered her unkind
words 10 the little beggar. We never
dreamed that Jack would steal but we've
found out that you were the kenest one.
You haven't staid here SO long and been
such good boy, Bob, that we couldn't
tell that
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 hoy
what made you want to stay with US
Why didn't you go away when you
knew we thought you had taken those
spoons
Il thought maybe you'd find 'em, and
then you'd know-know wasn't thief.
whereupon Boo, haneIng ms neau and
working his bare toes in the ground, said
couldn't bear TO go.'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
go away. if you like. You can stay here
and be my boy, Bob, since no one seems
TO have claim upon you. Would you
like that p
sMore'n anythin' else, said Bob, with
a pleased flush
What do you say, children, cook,
rrandpa-all of you-shall we let Bob
go or stay2'
20 stav!' shouted one and all.
And Bob SUNK away very happy and
verv proud; which was more than Jack,
the naughty old crow, did, for he had the
sulks all day, because he had lost his
,,,ettv spoons, most likely.