Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1878-02-20

came nearer discharging nurse than l
ever did before, and I've been devilish
near it before, ma'am but the young
ones set up such hullabaloo that, to
stop it, 1 was glad to let her stay. And
SO, ma am, the old confusion and mis-
management go on, with meals so irreg-
,llar that / don't ever know whether
I'm eating my breakfast OF my lunch,
my dinner Or my supper
l assure you [ sympathize with you
heartily" said my dear mother.
~ believe you do, ma'am. Good
evening" said Mr.. Multahney, carrying
sleepy little Mollie away in his arms.
The Multahnev children were the
most lovable children | ever met, and it
was quite pleasure to have them run
ming in every day to visit mother and
me. ..#
Harry, the oldest, named after his
father, was frank-faced, NJ erry-heart-
ed boy, immensely pleased when [
made him a gay neck-tie, or hemmed
his new handkerchief, Or arranged a
bouquet for his button-hole "No one
does such things for me but YOU Miss
Faith" he would say, "and I think
you're a darling"
The second child was Lily-a bright
little thing, and, like all the human
Lilies [ have ever known, brown as q
berry.
1t was her delight to keepstore cts
awful cunning to truly sell things Miss
Faith, Faith, Faithey," was the burden
of her song; "and when l grow up
mean to have a store zackly like this,
if papa will let me; or p'r'aps you'll
take me for a partner, dear Faith-papa
has partner"
"Most certainly 1 will, my dear. 1
promise, if at that time you continue to
wish it, and papa consents
Then came Robbie, lame little fell
low, with large serious brown eyes and
pale wistful face, who had fallen from
the high porch one day nurse was
showing the new servant girl how to can
peaches, and thought he was safe in the
nursery and broken his leg. Mother
and used to spend hour after hour tel
ling him stories, and reading to him
from his favorite fairy-books, and teach
ing him pretty verses, which he was
very fond of reciting. We had small
lounge on purpose for him in our pleas
ant sitting-room, and when the noise at
the big house made him nervous and
restless, he would limp over to us, and
lie down, his head on a soft little pillow
| had made, and on which [ had en-
broidered his name, and his pet kitten
curled up by his side. He was only
six years old, but wise little chap for
his years; and | used to smile, with a
tear in my eye, when he said, as he
often did, 81 don't know how ever
lived before you and Auntie Welton
came here. I was so sick, and papa
had to go away every day, and Harry
and Lily went to school, and the little
children leased me awful. think the
fairies sent you here-don't your
Three more girls followed Robbie
Rosie and frankie (round. rosy, dimp-
led wee bodies, with great liking for
mothers tarts) and Mollie. the two-year-
| old baby.
The shirt button I gave away on
"opening-day brought us luck, for the
Multahney family bought more at our
store than any other three families in
the village, never going, as some of the
well TODD people did, to the neighbor-
ng city for things which we had equally
good and cheap, but getting every thing
they could get from mother and me.
And, bless me, what quantity of things
they did buy!-pins, needles, stockings,
handkerchiefs, ribbons, hats, rufing,
laces-all sorts of things. Yes. indeed,
the Multahney shirt button proved
lucky one.
Well, life went on smoothly and hap
PLY, mother growing prettier every day,
and Mr.. Multahney and nurse and the
children in and out all the time, and
before we were really aware that au-
tumn had left us, behold: it was the day
before Christmas!
Mother and had bought a large as
sortment of toys and candies, and had
been we'll patronized all day, but were
disappointed and SURPRISED when eve
ming came and nine o'clock struck and
Mr.. Multahney had not made his ap-
pearance; for the dear, romping, laugh
ing children had confided to us, weeks
before, what gifts they hoped Santa
Claus would bring them; and Of course
we had procured them all, with the ex-
ception ola pony for Harry and dia-
mond ring for Lily, which articles were
a little beyond our means, and had laid
them aside to produce when the indul-
gent father asked our advice on the
subject, as we were sure he would.
But the clock had scarcely ceased
striking when he came in.
The small store looked uncommonly
pretty dressed in Christmas green's and
bright paper flowers (mother had q
great knack at making paper flowers,
and had taught me so that / made them
almost as we'll as herself), and we had
four wax candles on the counter and
two in the window besides the regular
lamps; and [ wore my new gray meri-
no dress with blue bow at the throat
and another in my hair (my hair doesn't
ripple and wave as much as mothers,
but it is the very same COLOR, and
mother wore her gray dress with hand
some black lace rosette among the waves
and ripples.
g Ee1Yj 111.etfoi inGeeG % said Mr. Mil