The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-03-30

tie Dora.
"If," says Tots to herself, ct could
only marry somebody. Now Dora was
| Just as good for nothing an am, and
yet Dodo loved her, and nobody called
her nuisance and boxed her ears. II
must have been very nice to live in the
little house with Dodo and Jip. wonder
if could find any body to marry me ?"
Then, all of sudden, Tots thinks OF
the minister. His name is David, and
he lives all alone in the cunningest little
cottage, with an old woman for house
keeper.
at would be just the thing" thinks
Tots. "Tll ask him."
With Tots to plan is to execute. She
withdraws the foot with which she has
begun to scale the heights of the bed,
and goes to the window. The moon
shines brightly. She isn't bit afraid.
In two minutes she has scambled over
the roof of the shed, seized Dough OF
the old apple-tree, let herself quietly
down to the ground, and is on her way to
the ministers house.
The Rev. David Thornton, sitting
gloomily in his study on the ground-foor
of his house, and fighting manfully with
the heart-ache caused by girls careless
words, is suddely startled by two white
legs tearing their way through the vines
that grow in front of his window, and a
small body turning somersault into the
middle of his room.
a" l caught my toe and tumb1ed," ex-
plains Tots, assuming an upright 20
sition, and caressing the injured foot.
"What are you doing here at this time
of night ?" asks the clergyman, begin
ming to smile
81 want to get married"
"To whom?"
"You p
This time the grave man laughs, and,
seating himself in his armchair, take
the child on his knees.
"What for?"
"Cause Aunt Sue spanks me and
Aunt Flo boxes my ears, and I've been
hearing about David Copperfield and
Dora, and L want to be married and be n
child-wife like Dora, and have a dog
named Jip, and I'd like YOU" Tot ac-
companies this statement with kiss.
"Thank you"
"And I'll call you Dodo, and hold
your pens. They are all so cross at
home, and there is nothing to do so [
thought I'd come and ask you to marry
me. wish L had thought of it before /
got undressed :" and Tot surveys her
toilet, realizing for the first time that she
has committed a breach of the proprie-
ties by appearing in public in panta-
looms,
"What did Aunt Flo box your ears
for %
after you went away this afternoon
she began to cry so that / thought you
had been pinching her. 1t hurts so, you
know, when you take little nip. But
then L heard her say she had been 80
wicked, and done something to you that
you never would forgive, and that you
would never come back again; so then /
thought it must have been she that
pinched you. So she cried for an hour
awful hard. Then took her some jam.
When L cry, and they give me jam, al
ways stop. But she boxed my ears and
sent me away. Don't skeese me so; it
hurts"
"Tots," said the minister, "you are
the dearest child in the world, and | am
going TO take you home"
s. l won't go. want to stay with you;
only must have some clothes.
"We'n go for the clothes"
Aunt Flo is sitting in the parlor WHIP
ing very red psir of eyes when the
Rev. David appears with Tots on his
shoulder.
"Florence, says the clergyman, ''may
1 forget all the harsh words spoken this
afternoon Z"
"Can you forgive them? ?"
"Were all the tears Tots tells about
shed for me? L have just had visit
from the little lady" The clergyman
looks tenderly down at the red eyes, and
Flos hand feels its way into his.
Poor Tots here are two more people
who won't pay her any attention.
You are going to marry me, you
know" tugging at the Reverend David's
disengaged hand.
"No, Tots, not you-Aunt Florry."
Tots begins TO cry.
"Never mind, pet" and Aunt Flo
takes the child in her arms. "You shall
have your reward. Blessed are the
peace-makers, Tots, and I'll give you
big cake in the morning. Now Aunt Sue
will put put you to bed"
CT don't know what peace makers
are, and 1 don't want a cake. L WV
want tito g-g-get married ~
Tots is borne screaming away.-Har
per's Weekly.