The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1877-08-30
LITTLE DANDY PINK.BOOTS.

A little fellow not an inch high, his
mites of black eyes shining like jet
beads, his white teeth cleaning when he
smiled like tiny pearls, and a pair of
long side whiskers giving very funny
expression to mis- saucy little face. For
the rest, long coat-long for the wearer,
| mean-oi soft, silky brown fur, over a
vest and shirt.bosom of snowy white, and
finally, pink boots and stockings.
Is it any wonder that l stopped and
stared in Smazement when met this odd,
cunning little dandy as | was going home
"'crpss lots" one bright moonlight night ?
WE'LL" said, when l had pinched
myself to make sure / was wide awake
and not dreaming, "Well, sir, who are
you, / should like to know?"
A sly, saucy glance was thrown at me
from the corner of the bright eyes, but
that was all. l wanted, dreadfully, to
give quick spring and catch him, but
rejecting that if failed to catch him he
would doubtless be either angry or fright
ened, and / should probably see no more
of him, stood still and repeated my ques-
ton
This time he said something in queer
little piping voice-what it was | could
not make out-and turning suddenly he
ran off so quickly that | had hard work
to keep up, for of course l followed him
Seeing that was following he quick
ened his pace, and as he was SO very
small soon lost him in the tall grass and
shadows.
But l kept on in the direction he had
taken, till in my haste ran plump into a
h h,.,,, t,ln btta hot iv,t hn chad
ow, scratching my face and hands unmer-
cifully.
"Ough!" exclaimed; and just then I
heard something that sounded like sup
pressed chuckle.
go, no, little master" said to myself,
"if can find out your home Pll not
mind the scratches" and without another
sound sank down in the shadows and re.
mained perfectly silent.
For long time / saw and heard moth.
ing save the sights and sounds common to
summer nights, and l was beginning to
think must have been mistaken about
the chuckle had heard, when noticed,
full in the moonlight, clump of tall
grass, and suspended from it a dark, round
ball. Moreover, this ball was moving
when first noticed it; was sure of that,
VCly OdutlOuoty NiOPe eWoAo eAS
bush, SO slowly and cautiously that it took
a long time to reach it, and all the while
| was conscious that was watched, and
that one or more tiny-shadoaos, they
seemed like, were constantly fitting
around me. At last stood close to the
queer object, SO close that l could have
touched it easily, and was more puzzled
than ever.
T. In rn,,nA han
made of some light material, like straw
or grass, loosely but skillfully woven to-
gether, and firmly attached to the grass
stems, but attached in such way that it
could swing lightly back and forth at the
gentlest touch. But what in the world
was it for? And who could have made it ?
Being somewhat familiar with fairy
wiies and artifices, suspected that |
might be the victim of Mr.. Pink boots,
and that l snould discover presently that
the woven ball was all 0elusion or an H.
lusion, 80 determined, in case this were
so, to meet stratagem with stratagem, and
walked off in the direction from which
came, as if we're going home. But l
only went part way back, and then, by a
round about route, returned to the spot,
coming out again close to the clump of
tall grass, and taking care to keep in the
shadow.
As stopped heard queer noise, as
if half dozen tiny penny whistles were
going all at once, and then saw-aohat do
you think saw?
What, indeed, but Mr.. Pink boots him
self, walking directly toward me; and |
noticed that every now and then he cast
watchful glances around him, as if he
half expected to catch a glimpse OF me.
But he was lot making the noise which |
heard at intervals, and which, unless my
ears deceived me, came from that unac-
countable ball.
Still | watched, and saw Mr.. Pink
boots stop beside the clump of grass, and
an instant aftcrward he was standing on
the top of it, just above that ball. How
he got there was more than could tell
for | could see no sign of wings sticking
out of the little brown coat, and if he ran
up he mnst have moved indeed like
lightning.h Anyhow, there he was, and
another Instant there he was not, and the
question was, where aods he? l was GER
tain that he had not descended to the
ground, and what ever could have become
Of him!
But while wondered the queer sounds
grew louder; and, determined to find ou
what made them, moved few steps
nearer, till was close to the hanging ball
and then indeed the mystery was ex.
planned: for inside the ball-like those
china dolls that glass-blowcrs put inside
glass balls-sat Mr.. Pink. boots, and be-
Side him little lady whom l knew a
once must be Mrs.. Pink boots. Nor wa!
this all; for there were also six or eigh
little bits of Pink boots, and all cuddlct
into this woven ball, which, could SCI
through the meshes-was lined with soft
est silk and cotton.
But how did they get in-and outs
thought would find out if stayed ther
ali night. And did find out; for befor
had waited long Mr.. Pink boots, evi
IDENTIFY preferring moonlight ramoles
a Quiet evening in the bosom OF hi
| family. started out agatA, and how doyol
suppose he got outi He just walke'
| right through the side Of his house, an
| the wall closed up behind himl 1t is
/ fact although / admit that it does nc
sound very reasonable. But the funn,
/ part of it was, that he poked his head on
| 20 suddenly that he almost bumped
against my nose, / had crept 30 close !
nv interest, and you would have laughe
to see how quickly he pulled it (his head
not my nose) back again. :.
/ waited = while longer, but, as he di
not appear again, and as ! had found O.
s much about him Is was likely too,
left him 10 peaceful slumbers and wei
home.
And the next time any Of you childre
1 70 through wheat field In harvest TIM
yow may zee Mr.. Pink-b0ots In his pret!
hanging nest Of : home, though possiol
you may have 70 inquire for him by b
4 other name, which Il Harvest Nous
/ ~. q.-ldI r. 1Aursfes. ta Wide AsocA1.
/ 4 True story.