Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1877-11-01

( Ing WlldU SIdllu Tune Sn6 was having
when window in the basement of the
house was thrown up, and gruff voice
called out
You 60 long off dat ere, quick now
or I'll be after We wild stick Make
tracks Clar?"
Jennie lost no time in crawling back
+ to the street again, muttering to herself
as she did so,-
/ Who wants your old grass? | don't
/ m going to the country y And with
out looking behind her she sped onward
again.
Pretty soon the grass-plats became
more frequent and were larger, the
streets grew quieter, and it was only
now and then that she met pedes
TRAN, or saw cart or omnibus. She
began to feel weary. The sun shone
out full and bright, and she was warm
hungry and thirsty.
+ Il hope grandmother will have din
ner all ready when [ get there, for ]
shall be nearly famished I'm sure ]
shall know her house, for she said she
/ had a great many chickens and some
goslings that could swim right on top 81
the water. | shall stop at the gate and
call Grandmother Then she'll say
Who is there?' and I'll answer, 'Jen-
ME Ray Then she'll come out and
kiss me and be very glad to see me
! Oh, [ shall have such fine time ! But
[ didn't think it was so far to the coun
try. [ do wish | had drink of water
Oh, there's Il girl getting some at &
pump. I'll run and ask her to give mt
some"
The girl was very obliging, and after
drinking all she wished Jennie went OF
again, feeling very much refreshed
+ The houses began to grow smaller
and did not look fine indeed, many o.
them had q very dingy look, and she
! began to meet children who were dirty
and ragged, and who stared at her and
whispered as she passed.
/ Poor, tired, hungry child She began
! to get frightened and heartily wished
herself home with mamma. She dared
not turn back for fear she could not find
the way home, so she kept on, though
/ the country seemed to recede as she ad
vanced. Pretty soon, in turning cor
ner, she ran suddenly into party OF
rough-looking girls and boys, who, upon
seeing her, set up shout which greatly
terrified her. Pressing close against the
wall she hoped the ragged crowd would
pass on and leave her. But this they
had no intention of doing.
! Hallonw cried one, here's Flora
McFlimsy, come to pay us visit"
My eyes ~ cried another, !" amt she
a gay bird? Say Miss Peacock, where
| did you get your fine feathers?"
/ A big, coarse-featured girl, shoeless anc
bonnctless, called OUT
81 say let's have them shoes. What
right has the likes of yez to be wearin
of 'em when [ have none?
Jennie trembled i'll every point She
could not believe the girl was in earnest
until she felt her dirty hands trying tC
unfasten the pretty buttoned boots
Having never gone barefoOted she wa:
sure she could never walk step on the
rough stones without her shoes; never
| theless, thinking they would 60 anC
leave her if she complied with the re
| quest, she stopped and unfastened them
The rough girl thrust her toes in them
for they were so small she could not be
gin to get them on-and seemed to fee
very proud of her acquisition. But they
did not 60 away; on the contrary, one
seized upon her hat, and another caugh
at the string of corals that encircled he
neck.
/ Poor Jennie was in fair way to be-
robbed of every article of clothing. He
tears and prayers had no effect upon tx
rude children who surrounded her, arc
she had nearly given herself up for lost
when there was Il rumbling of wheels
and a large market-wagon came swiftly
down the street Its driver was a ruddy
faced, bright-eyed young farmer, anc
seeing the crowd about Jennie, it die
not take him long to see how matters
stood.
Here you young scapegraces" he
called out, 'what is the matter there?'
Driving up close to the curbstone, he
leaped out and tried to sieze upon one
Of the offenders; but the flock ofunclear
birds scattered, the girl who had ap
propriated the shoes leading the van.
"Well, sissy" said the farmer, turn
ing to Jennie, you had narrow es
cape. There's no knowing what those
young villains might have been up to, i
| had not happened along. You don't
belong In these parts, I'm certain. Now
youjump in my cart and will take you
wherever you want to go, provided you
can tell me where that is"
"Iwant to go to grandmothers."
"TO grandmothers! And where is
that?"
In the country"
Il live in the country" said the young
man, laughing; so if you will let me
put you In the cart, we'll talk about il
as we go along. Halloo. where are
your shoes?'
"They took them" sobbcd Jennie be-
ginning to cry again.
"The young thieves. But didn't you
have bonnet on?"
They took that too" said Jennie
and my corals, and they pulled my
hair, and | think them real mean, any
wayw And then she cried more
Never mind" said the farmer. g
guess we'll find more shoes and bonnets
at your grandmother's" Then he lifted
her in, took his seat and drove off, Jen-
ME cuddled down in the straw, her little
shooless feet curled under her, and he1
curly head in the shadow of the side
board of the great wagon, and III five
minutes was fast asleep. Her protector
not knowing what else to do with the
child, took her to his own home, which
was only few miles further on, just out
of the city. As he drove into the farm
yard his young wife came to welcome
him, and he called out
"See here, Lucy, what present I've
brought you from the city"