The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1879-05-22
T'oddleS.


ToddleS.
/ felt like lady that morning. was {
lady, thought, after all; quite as much Sc
as Mrs. Jones, who lived in the great cupoll
house on the hill Quite as much Of lady
said to myself, briskly, as | busted up my
little shop, and arranged the sheeny ribbons
and gay striped goods in the window. The
window was hung with pretty lace curtains,
and there was a globe of goldfish in it thai
sailed about as courteously and busily as
though they were getting their living as
head clerks.
II was a sweet, soft autumn morning; the
village street was grassy and quiet, and
hummed tune as glanced cheerily out al
little Toddles. fitting about in her scarlet
ribbons under the old willow outside. Bles:
her little rosy face why shouldn't / bt
happy when I've her to look after2
was happy, and | hummed again thai
old snatch of tune, and nodded gayly tc
Toddes, wondering vaguely to myself what
was going to happen that Ifelt so uncannily
bright. Nothing simply nothing; things
were done happening me long since. My
way was straight and narrow, my days
quiet and uneventful.
As slipped my coffee that morning | re-
member that held the cup up to the light,
aud felt certain sense of satisfaction in the
transucence of the rare bit of china, 1t j:
so pleasant to know that ones own election
may keep one aloof from from the uglines:
and squalor of poverty.
1t doesn't take much to keep one person,
of course, and | don't count Toddles fol
anything 1t needs but the odds and endl
of things-a bowl of bread and milk cur
of coffee, with now and then lively bit o.
ribbon-to keep the little onegoing famous
ly. a a
Yes, always wanted to be lady. AnC
as sat in my bright little room | half fell
inclined to forgive Richard Gray the heart
break he gave melong ago. But if he haC
married me. perhaps he would have shu
me up in some gloomy city house, to be ,
lady after his fashion, to stifle for want of {
bit of fresh air, to walk softly under thou
sand pretty conventionalities, and to cease
being my own mistress. All that | nevel
could endure, So it is, perhaps, as wei
that Richard left Inc and went off some
where-God knows where.
You see, | like tiny little shop. Tbere'l
something so delightful in seeing the pretty
girls of the village, with now and then {
fine lady, hanging over my dainty wares
and trying the tints of scarlet and blue anC
orange with many laugh and many &
glance in the mirror call it my recep
tion when they pour in of holiday after
noon. i love colors; | love grace anC
beauty and perhaps l might have been {
bit of an artist, in my way, if I'd ever have
had the opportunity. Richard used to say
80. But ah! he said many hatterins
thing and many false one in those
old days And if ever dreamed of any
higher life than contents me now-well, I've
given up dreaming
For there's Toddles, so round and sweet
and soft and real She leaves melttle time
for building air-castles.
You see, love the child as if were she
my very own. For she came tome one day,
about four years ago, wee little baby
thing curled up in heap on my doorstep
when went to open the shutters. Wher.
ever she came from | never knew. Tod
dies never explained; she just stretched uI
her little fat arms to me and gurgled "Tod
dle-doddle,' and that was here sole intro
duction.
1t was surmised that the child had beer
dropped by some travelling circus passing
through the town, and had excellent neigh.
borly advice about putting the treasure il
the, founding hospital. But one seldom
takes good advice, and didn't.
To tell the truth, | grew. 80 attached tc
the child that should even have been wick.
ed enough fear to regret any ones turning
up to claim it, But that's not at all likely
now, after so many years--no, not at al
likely no more likely than that Richard
and should ever meet again in this world,
And Mdt--that is among the things that
never can happen.
1t was on this wise, our parting.
Richards mother was old and feeble and
miserly. She'd spent good deal of money
on him--sent him to college, and expected,
folks said to ''make something of him. y
She always expected to get her moneys
worth out of her attractions Richard helc
her in sort of awe, somehow, though she
was a little wizened old woman that 1t
could have lifted with his left hand. Bu
liked him for respecting his mother.
One day we two were sitting at twilight
talking of the future dreamily. as was on
won't
'NIy little one,' said Richard, putting
his arm about me, cit half seems too brigh
TO ever be. "
"EUer he | echoed "0h, Richard
II you talk that way il viii never be"
Richard smiled, but his face grew over
cast. felt that storm was coming
"Well2" queried, seeing that he sa
brooding aud silent.
"Darling, he said, soothingly, 81 knew
itNYould come hardly to you; but how cal
% against my mother Her poor OLE
heart Is bound up to me, Jeanette, and sh
will never hear TOTO anything that"
i'That seems to lower you, ] added II
steely voice, that seemed to cut its wa.
out of my heart like keen cold knife.
ooh, am a coward--a poltroon, crie'
Richard, wringing his hands. 81 was bor
to bring trouble on those / love. Who
who shall leave to suffer for me now