The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1877-06-28
What Became of The Mucttage.


dow, and remarked that it was training
cats and dogs"
Tommy looked up, with his mouth full
of bread and butter, to see if Uncle Jim
was really in earnest; but, as he looked
perfectly sober, he Immediately scram-
bled down from his chair and rushed to
the window, expecting to see shower of
black and white kittens, with a smart
sprinkling of curly dogs. What he
really saw was a very muddy river, rush.
ing along through the gutter two men,
with tin pals and short pipes, tramping
down the street and a misunderstanding
dog, with bone in his mouth, picking
his way through the mud. He looked as
if he might have rained down, but Tom
my knew he didn't, because he knew
where he lived up the alley, and he had
often seen him sneaking around the back
door after bits which Tommy threw away
when he took his lunch outdoors. Just
at that instant Uncle Jim came in from
the back hall, and said, in very dread
full voice:
Now, then, Tommy Trotter, where
are my rubbers %
When anything was lost in that
house they always asked Tommy about
it. 1t was habit they had of suppos-
ing that Tommy had had it, especially
if it was something he never ought to
touch.
Tommy forgot all about the cats and
dogs, and looked at Uncle Jim, and said,
quickly, 81 DIN know"
That was habit Tommy had, and he
always said, "I DIN know" before he
stopped to think. But he did know very
well, and so he said
Oh yes, Uncle Jim they're over to
Billy's house. in the big troft where
the horse drinks. Me and Billy sailed
'em for boats, all full wild oats, and
they sinked down to the floor of the
water
"Why, Tommy Bancroft" said his
mamma, looking great troubled, "what
shall DO with you ?''
Uncle Jim looked at him very soberly,
and said:
"Well, young man, here I am, two
miles from my office, and no rubbers.
/ should like to know what you mean to
do about it :? You ought to buy me some
more. I shall catch my death of cold,
and then how'll you feel, sir %
Tommy's little face frightened in a
minute.
''Oh, I'nbuy you some more" said he,
and he trotted away to get his bank,
which had II loose floor, so whatever
you put in at the top could be easily
shaken out at the bottom, an arrange
ment Tommy found very satisfactory
The first thing that came out was quar-
ter, new and crisp, but Tomnly's heart
never faltered.
''There," said he, You can buy some
more rubbers, and [ won't never sail
'em in the troft''
Very well, said Uncle Jim, putting
the money in his pocket, and going into
the hall.
''Uncle JIM" called. Tommy, eff
there's any shange left, you buy me
some peanuts, will your
Uncle Jim nodded, and said, 81
shouldn't wonder" as. he strobe out into
the rain.
Tommy's mamma gave the baby her
breakfast, talked awhile with Bridget
about supper, busted the parlor, wa
tered the ivy in the bay window, and then
she put the baby on the floor in the din
ing-room, and gave her some clothes
pins and a tin pan to play with. Tom
my had his Noah's ark, but he had to
keep it on the table, because the baby
put the camels and elephants into her
mouth whenever she got chance, and
once she sucked all the paint off from
Shem, Ham aud Japheth, and made her
self quite sick. Ellen was ironing in the
kitchen, and Mrs. Bancrofts aid:
Now Ellen, it is such a rainy day,
nobody will be in, and am going up to
look over the winter clothing and put it
away. The children Will do very well in
here, but You must keep your door open,
and look in once In a while"
'Yes'm,' SAID Ellen; 'sTommy's get
tin right handy to mind the baby when
he tries
"Uh, I'll tend to her." said Tommy,
who was trying to stand MIR. Noah on
the ridge pole to the ark. ELLEN needn't
mind us at ali.
So Tommy's mamma went away up
stairs.
1t was just at this moment that Tommy
spied a bottle of mucilage on the clock
shelf over the table, and it struck him
instantly what a fine thing it would be
to fasten on the elephants trunk and
Noah's head again. 1t was quite easy
to reach it and pull out the cork, but
there did not happen to be any brush,
so Tommy was forced to use one of his
fingers, which answered very we'll, only
he had to wipe it frequently upon his
apron. Noah's head refused TO stick.
and so did the elephants trunk, though
he tried it on nearly all the animsis.
Then he concluded he would paste up
handbills, as he had seen men do ON tie
street. So he got babys little, soft, white
hair-brush, and poured out some of the
mucilage into the seat of Uncle Jim's ia