Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1878-05-09

report upon the Rat.
"Poor child sighs the lady, "what
ought he to take?"
II should prescribe something to
eat" the doctor replies, helping him.
self to a slice Of tongue.
captain. 1 should like to give him
some dinner"
1t is unnecessary to say who speaks.
and the skipper would indeed have
been stern man IL he could have re-
sisted the pleading Of those kind
brown eyes. The quartermaster is
summoned again, and appears, lead
ing Dick. 1t has begun to dawn upon
him that he is not going to be abused.
"What is your name, little boy?"
asks the lady.
"Dick."
"Are you hungry, Dick?"
Rather"
"Only rather?" in tone of disap-
pointment.
Rather" explains the captain, i" in
that tone, means very"
The lady lakes the plate and fills it
with chicken, stuffing, salad, bread,
and what not; adds knife and fork,
and gives it to Dick.
81 should keep some of that for to-
morrow, il 1 were you," observed the
doctor.
"Then you'd be a fool" Dick re-
piled with scoff. "The big fellows
on the Ievee would take IL fore you'd
gone two blocks. Tomorrow ain't
here, but the grub is, and so I'm
going to get outside it while I can"
There is a general laugh at this
philosophy. Dick "gets outside" his
grub without further comment, and
is walking of, when the captain calls
him back with "a
why, you young rascall are you
going without saying thank your"
"Thank ye."
"No, not me. Thank the lady"
"Thank ye kindly, ma'am." says
Dick.
1t was the first polite speech he had
ever uttered, and heaven knows
where he picked it up.
The party remained on board till
about 6 o'clock, and by the time it
broke up every one had forgotten the
"Rat;" but as Mrs. Austin was cross
ing the levee he ran up, much to the
annoyance Of her companion, who
had had enough Of him.
at say" says the Rat. "do you like
him?" with chuck OF the thumb to-
ward the steamer.
Captain Gilbertl"
Yes-is he your feller?"
Get out, you scamp" cries the
gentleman, Indignantly.
"Let him speak, Fred" the lady
pleads. mo, Dick, I am married,
and this is my husband; but Captain
Gilbert is our kind friend. I crossed
with him once, and he was very good
to me when I was sick"
WAS you ever sick?" asks Dick,
with face full of wonder.
"Often. SO / can answer your
question, and say that do like the
captain very much"
You'd hate for anything bad to
happen to him?"
"Why, Of course-to him or any
one else."
"Wot. to me?"
Indeed 1 would, my poor boy. o
Fred, see how wistful he looks
Mayn't give him some Of Charley's
left-off things? / have little boy al
home." she goes on, seeing astonish-
ment in her husbands eye, "aboui
your size."
"Does he get chickens.to eat?" asks
the Rat.
Eyes"
Every day?"
"No, not every day." she answers
smiling; it is well she does qualify
her reply, for Dicks credulity was no,
yet sufficiently elastic to bear such 9
marvel as boy about his size. who
had chickens every day.
SO they babe him follow them, and
more wonders were in store for him
He sees Charlie. He was taken up tc
the lady's own room where the
promised things were produced and
tried on over his rags. Here he stood
lost in admira tion. He gazed abou,
him bewildered, and some dim sense
Of shame stole over him as he saw his
own reflection in the looking glass.
Mayn't / put 'em on now?' ht
] asks, as the things are selected.