The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1879-09-26
The Little Stone House.

The Little Stone House.
There is large vacant lot next the
house where Johnny lives, and he and
Mamie often look down upon it from
the windows, and wish they could go
there to play.
There are great blocks of sandstone
scattered around in the grass, that
would be so nice to Jump on and to
play house with. And there are daisies
and white clover there, and a pretty
spotted COW who looks gentle.
But there is a great high board fence
all around the lot, fence as much as
ten feet high, which on the side toward
the street is covered with advertise
ments; and if policeman ever sees
boy trying to climb over he drives him
away; so how can little children ever go
in there to play?
But one day something happened. 1t
had been very warm, and in the after
noon storm came up, with big black
clouds and wind that was almost
hurricane. There was thunder and
lightning; the rain fell in torrents; and
the wind roarcd and whirled, and all
OF a sudden there was crash that
startled everybody.
The crash was iii the lot. A great
piece of the ten-foot-high fence had
been blown over, and lay shattered on
the grass. On the broken boards you
could see pieces of elephants and horses,
for there had been an advertisement of
a great circus placarded on the fence.
NO" we can go into the lot and
play said Johnny, clapping his hands,
and Nan echoed:
,NO,c we tan 60 in and play!"
But it rained too hard all the rest of
that day for any one to try it.
The next morning, however, the chill
dren ventured in; and, though there
was policeman at the corner, he did
not say word.
Johnny put board across a stone,
and there they teetered in great glee,
while mamma smiled upon them from
the window.
The COW was feeding in distant cor
ner of the lot, while funny little wom-
an sat on rock watching her.
By-and-by the children left the boards
and went along among the stones, pick
ing up number of tiny pieces and lay
ing them together.
Were building house, mammal
Johnny called up to the open window;
and in time a very quaint, roughly-built
little house stood in the shade of one of
the big blocks of sandstone.
Then Mamie came running into the
house for her dolls. Mamma advised
her to take only che, and that was Mel
ly, the most battered of all, and the
best suited to keep house out in rocky
region.
The restn cry, but tan take them
to see Nelly next day." said the sweet
little voice; and away Nan trudged,
carrying under her arm the housekeeper
for the new little stone house.
She and Johnny pushed Nelly in at
the door headforemost, and then made
her sit upright inside on stone bench.
A fold OF her pink calico dress lay on
the door-sill, and one of her arms was
thrust out of window.
Amt she comforble?" said Mamie.
III great delight.
Well let her live there all the time"
said Johnny, and bring her things to
eat, won't we?"
Yes; an "a mouse, next time we get
one, to be her little pet" said Nan.
"Come in to dinner now, children 7"
called mamma from the window Just
then.
Dood-by, Nelly" said Nan; we'll
tum again pity soon."
As the children ran out of the lot to
go home, they found two or three men
on the sidewalk Standing and looking
ut the fallen boards.
"Dess they want to see the picsurs, |"
said Nan.
They went into the house and ate
their dinner, and then waited little
while to look over a new scrap book
mamma had been making. and then
started ont again to go into the lot, and
see how Nelly was getting along in her
little stone house.
ooh! obi" cried Johnny, the minute
they reached the street, they're build
ing up the fence again!"
Alas! it was true! The men had set
up the posts, and were mailing on the
boards as fast as they could. The fence
was already five boards high, and the
vacant lot was again forbidden ground
The tears came into Nannie's eyes
and she and Johnny ran right back to
mamma.
"Nelly's got to stay out there as long
as she livesl" exclaimed Johnny
"They've built up the fence"
40 mamma! my poor little dolly
cried Mamie, pitifully.
Mamma went to the window ant
looked out. The fence was now sever
boards high, and the funny little WON