The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1877-01-18

| torn and the patches Tapping on their
knees, don't wonder they sold that
little chap, do you?'
"No, indeed. l guess that ole gem
tleman dom t know nothin' about torn
jackets or patches. But tell you, 1
just thought of something. The man
that drives the feed wagon comes along
to-day, and he has often asked mother
if she would sell one of her ba-
bies. If he really wants one maybe lie
would buy Nebbie. When / asked
mother she said he was only in fun;
but he never laughed over it, at any
rate" as
Lets try him." cried Sam, ex-
citedly. -.-
Poor little Nebbie was wholly un-
conscious of his coming fate. for he
was all too young to understand his
brothers.. conversation regarding him
self. :. .-. ..
The afternoon was more than half
spent when the great wagon-load of
flour and feed came rumbling along
the village road. The driver was a
great joker, and very fond of children.
He didn't stop to be hailed, but cried
"whoa" to his horses, that he might
have chat with the children.
please, sir, if you want little
boy. will YOU buy Nebbie?" asked Sam,
imploringly.
Il don't know" said the driver.
with a broad smile. "Why do you
wish to sell him?''
"Oh, we all need new clothes.
Sides that. he's such both Here
Charlie gave Sam tremendous poke
in the ribs, thinking the sale would be
spoiled by such lack of judgment in
speaking. But the man of the feed
wagon, though he saw all, acted Who'll
ly unconscious of the interruption,
and gravely inquired:
"What do you want for the boy?'
Twenty dollars. That's what the
man SAID they sold Joseph for, l
b'lieve. Is that too much?' And
Charles face was anxious to an ex-
treme.
"No; cheap as dirt. A real bar
gain. think" and the driver looked
at poor little Nebbie, while his eyes
twinkled and his mouth quivered with
suppressed laughter.
"Well, will you buy him." said
Sam, anxious to settle the matter at
once.
docs he ever cry?" asked the
driver.
Sam and Charlie eyed one another,
as much as to say: that's rather a hard
question; but a bright thought struck
the latter. "He cries sometimes he
said, "but candy will make him stop
ever so quick -
"All right-Fll buy him; stow him
the remainder next week.
Nebbie quite willingly rode away,
sitting in among the bags like a wee
mouse, and Charlie and Sam went
back to the shade of the tree and be-
gan to plan how they woald spend
their money, the price of their brother.
But somehow they were not SO happy
as when Nebbie was with them, and
presently they ceased to talk, SIMPLY
because their hearts were so sad.
Charlie hid his face in the grass, and
Sans cheeks were full of tears that
came from his brimming eyes. After
A time Charlie sobbed aloud, and then
Sam asked, in dolorous tone, if they
couldn't get him back.
81 hope so," said Charlie. "id
rather have backache, and armsache
too, than to part with him. he's such
good little fellow-isn't he, Sam r
Eyes" said the other piteously.
"And I'd rather wear the old jacket,
and pants, too. Oh, dear!' And Sam
set up such a dismal howl that his
mother came out to see what was the
matter, and found her two eldest chill
dren making as loud lamentations as
the hired mourners of the East, and
anxiously she asked what was the
cause. The explanation was scarcely
commenced when the great rumbllng
feed wagon drove up to the gate.
Charlie rushed out, with Sam at his
heels, and Nebbie was laid, fast asleep
as he was, in his eldest brothers arms.
The driver was sick of his bargain. so
| he said. Nebbie had wanted to have
him let the horses take care of them
| selves that he might turn nurse at
once. This he could not do, so he
brought him back; and if the boys
would only take him again they might
have the silver quarters, and he would
feel that he had been let off easy and
he concluded by saying that he thought
they might take him back, for they
misrepresented little when they said
candy would always serve to quiet
him, for the urchin had cried though
a pound of candy was at his disposal.
Neb was caressed and kissed till he
opened his eyes in wonder. The feed
man drove away, laughing most hearth
ly, and the boys were cured OF all de-
| sire to sell Nebbie.-N. Y. Witness.