The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1878-06-15
! resdav or rather brought NJ, for examination

as might be expected He Gould not uhuei
stand how he came TO he suspected, and seemed
more indignant at being accused OF stcaliIS
than anxious to assert his Innocence SUI Mr'
Parker promised to stand ly him and heip
him ms far rs he could, bcingquite sure IN MS
own mind that Bat was not guilty. lie re,
solved not to tell Robin abohl the matter tlIl
it should be decided, knowing well how the
little fellow would giievc oyef his friend, ms
fortune So he cautioned Ids wife and Jack
not to say word to the chill on the subject,
Mrs. Parker was just on herIway to see MIS-.
BARLEY. Bats aunt, when shGrccclycd this adj
vice; and She was so grievcl ald disturbed by
the dreadful distress Of the poor woman that
il did not occur to her thai j. IN could near
the news through the serYkn,, Poor Mrs.
BARLEY was indeed broken down. She had
looked forward to this thanksgiving with pc
culiar pleasure, for her old mbther was to spend
il with her And Bat had worked hard eve
nings, TILL he had made money enough by the
sale ofhis fishing-ilics and sawed brackets to
buy turkey, which had come home on Sat
urday and was hanging up ID the pantry now ;
and grandma,s whom she had not thought to
telegraph, was expected in every train, She
and Mrs Parker cried together, for the whole
outlook seemed very dark indeed to them.
In the meantime Robin had persuaded Char
lotte to put on his new clothes and let him cX-
hibit them to the cook. While she was pin
ming his fine red neck-tie the last touch OF
spIendor to the costume, he grew very restless.
Hold still, Robbyn' she said sharply.
you re IL real Robin.a- bobbin to-day. Do stop
spinnin' roundw
Robin looked up indignant Me insn't
now. Is chalged my name and
tits Wobnson Hal-lctt Partei Whatyou think,
SaElottc?"
Charlotte laughed, as lie went hopping down
stairs; and then her face cldlded over
Poor little crctur.' she sad to herself
"He's forgot Bat pretty considerable quick, if
he is Bats boy"
But Robin was more faithful than she
thought As he ambled into the kitchen, to
show himself, he called out to Bridget;
"Bidzet. Bidzet. Look al me. Is all new
all over-'cept my hair"
An announcement which took Blddy In such
a funny way she had to laugh, and Robin
grew very angry.
II don't like you, Bidzet. You SAINT mustn't
laugh. Is goin' 10 bank, 10 show Bat. Bat
lon't Taught"
"Oh bless the heart av him" screamed Bird
get "Robby dear, stay behint! Sure, Bat
snt in the bank at all, at all. It's the bad,
wicked boy he is stealin' money to HIMSELF;
md he's in the lookup thisfidintcle minnit!'
Robby stared at her moment; and then
ran out crying and sobbiIg as if his heart
would break, toward the frbnt door, where he
met ms mother, just coming in. 1t took Il
ong while to quiet the poos little fellows hon
est agony, and to convinced him that he could
not go to see his dear friend at once. But at
last he grew quiet, and otter tea was tired
enough to get right to bed, on the plea that it
would make morning come quicker; and IN
he morning he could sendhis love to Bat, for
papa was going to see him.
Directly after breakfast, The next day, while
papa and mamma were talking over the I'M
pleasant prospects of Bats trial, Robby stole
upstairs, struck by sudden memory; rum
mayed quietly IN the closet for his old coat,
md extracted something from the biggest
pocket which he carried dbwn to the dining
.oom Mr. Parker was still talking when
ROBIN crept up to his ellDw and stood quite
till, waiting for him to stop, for he had been
carefully taught not to interrupt anyone who
vas speaking. But at the first interval he
poke quickly, lest his father should begin
lgain.
Papa, is dot somesin to send Bat. Pease,
will you div it to him:'
Dear little soul ~ exclaimed mamma. And
,apa smiled very lovingly as he turned round
o see the mite at his elbow
What is it, Robin?"
"Oh! it's some veal big stamps for Bats
,ook." And with that Master Robin cody
landed his father package Of ity-dollar bills.
Mrs. Parker gave little scream and Mr..
Parker turned quite pale.
Where did you get them, RObin?" he said,
IS quietly as he could.
ooh. [ taxed 'em out of your drawer to the
,ank, papa, last time was dere, and zey was
n my old pocket in my coat Dzack said Bats
lamps wasn't SO dood as his stamps; and desc
$ like Dzack's stamps, zackly"
"Why, didn't see you take them out my
10y When did you do t."
Fen you'n NJ. Sniff was helpn' that ole,
lie man up the steps, papa
But why didn't you ask me, Robin:'
"Why, papa, you was busy. l mustn't
peak when you was busy; don't you know?
In was comm home. didn't like to stay.
,Ir. sniff don't love little boys"
ale certainly won't now said Mrs. Parker,
oftly.
well, never do ii again Robin. Emcline.
must leave you 10 make the thing plain.
lon't think il is n case for punishment.
must be off to the courtroom at once"
So mamma took her little boy up in her lap
md explained TO him, very gently and softly,
low much trouble he had made by taking
What did not belong to him, to give away.
But muv-muv muvver" sobbed poor Rob
n, II fought it was papa's money. / did,
'oolv"
II know it, my darling, but you must not
axe papa's things without asking him. The
money in the bank doesn, belong to papa at
H."
"But, muvver. fought 1t was stamps.
)zack said Zey was stamps"
II know he did, Robin; and there's small
essen in store for Master Jack. But dry
our eyes, 20 ask Charlotte to dress YOU and
Ge will 90 over to Mrs. Bartley's."
Ii would be hard to tell how glad Mrs. Bart
~ was to hear the good news-how she cried,
nd laughed, and Rugged her old mother, who
AL Just come in the cars, and kissed Robin,
nd hustled the cat and began to wipe her
isles with pillow-casc and rub her eyes with
be dish.cloth. =.
But when Bat came in, pale and tired and
Apply, then she stopped flying about; for how
ould she with her arms tight round his neck
But she sobbcd worse than ever, and ROBIN