The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1877-07-26
DIMPLE'S USEFULNESS.

THUMp-bump-bang! No wonder the
racket made grandma start nervously,
and Aunt Patie rush to the stairs and call
out: sf
"What in the world has happened?"
"It's noffin' but only me. I'm dittin'
upi" piped small voice in the chamber
above.
Evidently Dimple was getting up, and
something else was getting down, for an
other clatter was heard and stream of
water began to tricKle down the stairs.
It's noffin' but this big pitcher, called
Dimple, appearing in his night-dress in
the hall / just set it down some hard,
you know; and it came to pieces. The
tables fell over, too"
Dimple Stacy you do put me out of
all patience" cried Aunt Patie, as she ran
up to mend the mischief which had been
his waking work. "I've mind to tie you
in bed so you can't get up until I'm ready
to see to you"
THAT would be defful!' said Dimple,
slipping past her with his clothes on his
arm, and hastening to the safety of grand
mas presence. She dressed him, gave
him breakfast, then set his sailor hat on
his head and babe him go out and play.
Go out and pick up your chips, first
thing" said Aunt Patie. . You are get
ting too big to be Of no use."
II arc useful,p said Dimple, earnestly.
What would folks do without met"
Grandma kissed him, and he set of,
swinging his basket, which held from six
to dozen chips, according to the way
Dimple packed it. He has been known
to fill it with three, by careful selec-
ton of the largest, SO you see his daily task
of picking up four basketfuls was not
very severe.
When that was done Dimple peeped
over into the COW yard.
wish Aunt Patie would let me help
milk" he said to himself.
Old Brindle shook her horns, threaten
ingly, for she had little calf by her side,
and did not wish to encourage intruders in
her family quiet. .
"You needn't shook your head at me-"
said Dimple, bravely. "If you hooked
me, grandma would make you sorry
Maybe I'd better feed the piggies."
-Four little pigs looked up at the small
figure which presently tugged at the side
Of the feeding trough.
1t flew open at last with jerk that sent
Dimple tumbling on his back, and be-
fore he could pick himself up and go for
the milk bucket, one, two, three, four lit
tie pigs wrigglei through the convenient
slide and ran grunting and whisking
curly-taiis straight toward Aunt Patie's
fiower-bed, under the window.
"Stop! stopp called Dimple, earnestly.
6 That wasn't what ] meant"
But little did the piggies care for that.
Out from the house came grandma, and
out came Aunt Patie, filled with horror,
away ran the pigs and away ran the peo-
pie, guilty Dimple's short legs making
good speed, but powerless to remedy the
mischief he had caused.
such q race as that was not quickly
ended. do not know what would have
become of those pigs at last, if Abner, the
hired man, had not come up from the
field and helped to catch them.
Only the fourth and smallest pig ram
where do you think? Into the kitchen,
through the open door, and from there
into the milk-room, where stood the
churn just filed with yellow cream.
You can't have that, SIR" cried Dim
pie, triumphantly grasping the pigs
hind leg, and down in heap went
churn, piggy and child. with the cream
over all.
+" But I've got hold Of him; he can't
get away from Msl' said Dimple, as
grandma rushed in and tried to pick up
her darling, while piggy cried "wee! {!
.weei'' louder than the little pig in the song.
aIm out Of all patienceP' said Aunt
Patie, as she undressed Dimple and re-
dressed him in dry and uncreamy gar
ments. Such child never sawr'
Why, IcaugH the piggy" said DIM
pie. Didn't that help some That was
most Is useful as Abnerl'
But the next day Aunt Patie led Dimple
to the red school house down the lane,
and he began to 20 to school like big
boys. w. 1outh's Companson.