The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-10-01
Little Miss Cobweb.

Little MISS CoDWeb.
Mr.. and Mrs. Trlplett had borrowed neigh
bor yackTvuus one-horse wagon, and
driven over the lonely country roads to the
village store, to buy quart OF moiasses, 10
yards of calico, a new chufn, and a quarter
OF pound OF tea, and they had concluded to
take little Clara with them-and little Clara
Vas playing around the store door when the
stagecoach came rafting up.
She was very little indeed, this Clara OF the
Tripietts-a very doll Of o human creature.
The rest of the nine young Tripletss were
tall and stout, and well grown; but Clara
had stopped growing at three years old. and |
never advanced a1half-iDch since.
s'Hallool" said tail, biack-whiskeredg ger |
tleman, who had sprung down from the very |
top of the stsgecoach, and stood staring at |
the tiny elf at his feet, s'what midget is |
thls?'
s'I'm Clara Cornelia Triplett," said the
small creature, with dignity.
No, you're not" said the blsck-whiskered
stranger, catching her up in his arD.s.
s.Youre Fairy-an Ella Lilliput-"
'Put me down, please" said Clara, sfrug-
Cling with all her might Pm not child
Pm IL years old; and my father is IN the
store"
At this the stranger put Clara down, and
hurried into the store.
Friend, !" said he to Mr.. Triplett, sis that
child yours?'
"Well, calculate she Is" said the honest
farmer, patting Clcra's curly head.
do you want to make money!"
I'VE all do s'poss,'' said Mr.. Tripzett
who had never been able to accumulate
great deal of that article himself.
'Pn give you $40 week for her, and all
expenses paid" said the stranger.
"For-CIara?"
"For that child. I'm Snowman; man
age theater In Boston during the winter
months. and carry travelling show through
the country in sumnlec- / could make
good thing out of that child with a little ad-
vertisipg. she shou ID have kind treatment.
and the best of carei Come, what say you2"
Mr.. Tnplett was fairly cSzzlea by the
prospects OF so much Enoney.
i've no objection, I'm sure" said he.
-tWhat 60 you say little Clara? Will you go
travelling with hissentemsnl"
ButCiara hid behind hey mothers skirts.
Mo- cried she, stamping her tiny foot
$40, ne! l won'tso away from homd III
stay with motfleC."
And no amount of coaKing could induce
her to alter her decision.
Honest Farmer Triplett scountenanoe fell.
He was very poec, and there was a heavy
mortgage on his farm, and the prospect of q
little money had been very tempting. But
he was fond OF Clara, and would not oppose
her will.
.sWell little ene," said he, s'you shan't be
driven. You shall have your own way. No,
smister," the stranger, you cant have
.our Midget, not on any termsi"
The Boston Snowman wrote down his
u
seYou can always find nie at this place, in
case of Yoar changing your mind" said he
to the farmer. But Clara would not even
come out Of her hiding place among her
mothers skirts to tell him goodbye.
"PIn afraid he IL steal me'' said the CHILD,
beginning to cry.
And she danced up and down with joy
when she was once more safe IN the Old farm
kitchen at home.
But that autumn Farmer Triplett fell
md hr0k 20 1op md fho CD
died. and the barn took fire one windy night
and burned up all the harvest of hay, and
the Tripletts became very poor.
Clara was only Ii years old, but she pom
dered over all these things, when she lay in
her little garrett bed of night, and heard her
father and mother discussing how they
should manage to keep the wolf from the
door.
'sMother," said she, one day, 81 should
luxe to go and visit Uncle Leo, in Boston,
"You are very useful at home, taking care
of the baby and running little errands fol
your poor lame father" said Mrs. Triplett
''But 1 sm tired of home" said Clara
1'Uncle Leo has asked me to visit him il
Boston, and should like to CO."
''Clara," eaid her father, Il didn't thinf
you could be SO selfish as to leave US, wher
We are all in such trouble, and go and enjoy
yourself in Boston"
Cara's little lip quivered. and her tiny
eyes filled with tears, bu. she could only
repeat:
81 should like to go to Uncle Lao. il
Boston,"
So they let her CO. for somehow they had
always INDUCED this little afflicted, dwarfeG
creature more than all the rest of theil
children.
And the weeks went by, and gradually
extended themselves into months, anl
little Clara did not come back.
II didn't think Clara would have beer
conteDted to stay SO long away from us,
said Mrs. Triplett, sadly, as she washed uI
the supper dishes, with all the children a
her heels.
come home, mother" said the farmer
..She's small, to be sure, but. one way ant
another, she's deal of help to you"
Mrs. Triplett accordingly sat down ant
wrote to Clara, entreating her to return
home.
'.Pm sure she'll come when she gets tina
letter." said Mrs. Tripett.
But in a day or two Clara wrote back, say
ing that she was SO happy, ana enloyln
herself so much in Boston that she though
she should not return home until the follow
Mr.. and Mrs. Triplett looked blank.
enough at each other.
"She's getting selfish and hard-hearted,
aid the farmer. '.Its just as / said"
"Oh, no, father" said Mrs. Tripett, wiz
ing her eyes with the hem OF her Gallo
apron, don't say that. She's thoughtless
that's all. She's no idea OF how much "
need her at home.'
It was Christmas eve. and the Tnplett
were sitting very sorrowfully before thei
fire, looking at the cbildren's empty stock
iness. which they had no chance OF being abb
to FILL
They'll be dreadfully disappointed, poo
little dears'' said Mrs Triplett; "but it can
be helped
Suddenly there was a iingling of sleig
bells and a cruncnipg of runners over tn
frozen snow.
Its Santa Claus" eaid the children. u
stairs, hiding their heads under the be
clothes.
ssIrs the stage coach, bringing some one
see u.s. ssid Mrs Triplett; "bless me! VII
can It be?r
They were not left long in doubt, howeve