The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1877-07-19
Rrnre IiktIe WiLIie.

8 Good-by, mamma, replied Willie,
as she made her way up the little green
lane that led to the highroad
1t was nearly dusk, and Mrs. Lever
was going to the neighboring village
a-marketing, leaving her son in charge
OF her pretty, UNCOVERED home. Nor
could she have left it in better hands,
for, as Mr.. Wrinkles, the good-natured
country schoolmaster, declared, our hero
was ''quite little man.
Ever since his dear fathers death he
had striven all his might to help his
mother in everything, so that she might
feel as slightly as possible her sad loss.
GOod-by, mamma again said Viii
lie, this time at the top of his voice, for
Mrs. Lever had almost reached the high
way.
sFGood-by, DEAR" returned his moth
er, looking round with a smile, and
throwing him kiss, ''Good-by, dear.
Mind what I've told you.
Saying which she disappeared, while
our hero bolted the snug little cottage
door and closed the downstairs shutters,
and then went into the kitchen to wash
up and put away the plates and dishes.
He had been so employed for about
twenty minutes-not longer-when he
heard gentle knock at the door.
s'Hullo'' said he to himself. "Who's
this, [ wonder? I suppose it's some beg
gar p
The knock came again.
Willie ran upstairs, and looked ont of
the open bedroom window.
Standing below was quite a we'll
dressed man, with a bundle under his
arm, and stout stick in his hand.
He had seemingly walked long dis
lance, for his boots were all over dust,
and he was hopping his forehead with q
cotton pocket-handkerchief.
Our hero eoughed, causing him to look
up.
"What do you want, sir ?'' asked Will
lie.
"This is Mrs. Levers, / think, my
dear 2" answered the stranger, in quite
gentle tone.
eyes SIR" replied our hero; but
mammals not in, and I mustn't open the
door to anybody"
The man burst out into a merry
laugh.
Ha, ha, ha Why, Willie, don't be
afraid. Don't you remember Uncle
David, who used to nurse you when you
were SO high ?'-holding his hand ont
about two feet from the ground sIm
your uncle, my dear, and I've walked
miles and miles to see mamma and you.
I'm quite tired. Open the door, there's
good boy"
Willie hesitated. Though he certain
ly did not remember his uncle, he had
often heard Mrs. Lever speak OF him.
But was this man Uncle David
Might he not be an impostor? Should
he let him IN? He asked himself the
question two or three times, and at last
muttered firmly:
mo; / 'front.'.
Meanwhile the stranger was still close.
ly eying him.
Our hero could not help remarkino
that his countenance was by no means q
pleasant one.
''Come, come, my dear " said he.
holding up the bundle. ''Don't keen
me waiting any longer I want to show
you the nice presents I've brought
l have said that Willie WIS a deter
mined Httla falinr- Ia
true this was when lie replied:
Mamma told me, sir, not to open the
door to anybody, and I don't intend to.
Ii you are really my Uncle David, Tn
sure you won't be cross with ME for
obeying her; besides, she'll be back yb-
and-by, 50 you won't have very long to
wait"
The mans manner changed instantly
he saw that Willie meant what he said
that his own words of persuasion were
thrown away.
"You little fool," he Kissed, shaking
his great fist, g ii you don't open the
door this instant, I'll break in. Do you
hear?"
Scarcely waiting for the sentence to
be finished, our hero began to bawl
Help! Police " at the very top of his
lungs; but the next moment huge
stone cane whining past his head, and
crashed against the locking glass, max
ing him Withdraw instantly, all of a
tremble, you may guess.
What could he do? 1t VAS now NJ.
most dark, and his mamma would not
return for at least IN hour. Then, again
the nearest houses were some hundreds
OF yards away Would anyone hear Ms
cries? 1t was terrible position for
boy TO be placed in.
Stealing forward again, he looked out
stealthily. The man was trying the
doors and lower windows. Luckily
they were all securely bolted anu fas.
tened.
With an oath, he east his eyes up al
the bedroom, and, catching sight oi
Wilie's pale face, was on the point OF
picking up another huge stone to throw
at him, when our hero banged down the
window and drew back
"What can I do-what can I do .
cried Willie, tearfully.
But, as he was not boy to sit wiring
ing his hands when action was neces