The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1878-06-15
BATS BOY.

"Muvvcr! say! Can doe over to bank to
see Bait"
"0h, Robbin-a-bobbin! You can't run after
BAT all the time. He's got something else to
do"
Il likes Bat, muvvcr! Is Bats boy. Don't
You know Robin said, sorrowfully, and his
great gray eyes filled with tears.
Robin was Mr.. Parker's little son; five years
old this past summer, for it was November
now He had been the family baby so long
hs had never yet learned to speak plain and
BOW that there was a real baby baby GIRL in
abe house, Robin had announced with some
spirit that he was Bats boy! Muvver's dot
hsby She doesn't want two Troublesome com.
its
Bat, whose real name was BARLEY IIender-
son, was IA boy of fifteen, who lived with his
aunt very near Mr.. Parker's house. He was
an orphan; but his aunty was just like his
cWD mother to him, and he was very glad to be
odd enough to help her, for Mr.. Parker had
i2iely taken him into the bank of which he
was Cashier, 10 be errand-boy sweeper, fire
Enakcr-in short, generally useful Mr. Black
man the bank President, had been too ill for
SIX months now to be at the bank so Mr. Par
ker attended TO much of the business that did
not ordinarily fall to his share, and found Bat
gcry useful, careful and diligcnt He was
tame, and could not be quite as swift at errands
- he might have been; but he was always
sure. Being so near anelghbor to little Robin,
Bat had always liked to petite child, who was
remarkably attractive and aflectonatc BE
fore he went into the bank to work Robin
managed to find him out in his den in the gar.
F,t at his aunt's every Saturday afternoon, and
took almost AS deep an interest in the big Boys
pursuits rs if he were of the same age.
lie thought Bat was wonderful and il was
his delight TO help him stir paste for his book
81 stamps, collection that was already quite
large; hold the fishing-ilies tight while Bat
1uund them with floss, and hackle and gilt
threads; sweep up the dust of his scroll.saw
and pack the cotton round BIS birds eggs IN
their neat square boxes.
And Bat was as patient and as kind to Robin
u ia boy could be. If now and then rare egg
vas broken under those tiny fingers or fly
slipped and was quite spoiled, or the dust was
scattered over his fresh vanishing, he never
sColded or scowled; but comfortcd Robins dis
may and made no fuss at all about his own
loses
No wonder that when Robin announced
that he was going to be Bats boy, his mother
only laughed, and said; You've been that
This long time, Robin. But you're mothers.
zoo, sir. | can't let Bat have you all"
Blu, muyyer, you's got baby. Bat hasn't
cot her"
That's very true, my boy; but motherc can't
give you up, either"
~But Is Bats boy" And seeing his per
sislencc, his mother said no more.
Today he wanted, as usual, TO 90 To the bank
md see his friend. lie went there now and
Then with his father, and staid few minutes /;
and hc could see no reason why he should not
90 there and play with Bat Ii was hard to
convince him that Bats time was otherwise
occupied
but he had turned away, knowing that "no"
always meant no when "muvver" said il, and
by hard rubbing with his little fists had almost
dried his fearful eyes. when Cousin Jack
bounced into the room in great glee.
On say, Aunt En-, amt | in luck? Grand.
ma sent me lots Of stamps in her letter this
nne; SOS can go to New York with you
and get my clothes. Hooray!"
Jack Jack % said Aunt Emeline laughing.
Jd demonstrating. Cant you possibly speak
hlte lower, and not talk slang"
We'll, you see, mas so awful deaf. forgot
And slang Why everybody calls 'em stamps, ("
nOGrishing bunch OF lank bills in Robins
Ese as he spoke -
NO zey don't" said the small boy very de.
citedly. "Bat dontl Bats got two. four.
eighiy-nine, dess, in book, nd tIley,s dzesi
as small. Amt biz. like thosel,'
Just hear Cock RoBinin shifted lack. de
risiEely You small gosllng. Those are