Sharp County record., 1880-05-20
BROTHERS FOR SALE.

DhO "" SnDs
MOLLY was six years old; plump,
roly-poly little girl with long, crimpy,
golden hair and great blue eyes. She
had ever so many brothers; Fred, a
year older than herself. and who went
to the kindergarten with her, was her
favorite. Molly was very fond of swing
ing on the front-yard gate; forbidden
pleasure, by the way, This is the pre-
face to my story about Molly.
One windy, sunny day the little girl
was ''riding to Boston" on the front
gate; she had swung out and let the
wind blow her back again half dozen
times, and she was happy as a captain
on the high seas, enjoying the swaying,
dizzy motion.
Every little girl-and many boy
has swung on gate, standing tip-tOe on
the lower bar, leaning the chin on the
upper bar; and as the gate swayed out
ward, watched the brick pavement
rush under foot like a swift stream,
all the time dreaming she was steam
boat.
In some such position, with some such
thoughts, | suppose, was our Molly,
when Strange cry reached her ears.
Brothers for sale? Brothers tor
sale? Got any brothers for sale?"
"DOt plenty" said Molly as the
gate swung plump against the oldest
great man.
He was very tall, wore huge fur
cap, and great coat that reached from
his chin to his ankles. The pockets
were evidently so full that they bulged
out on all sides, and his red belt was
stuck full of every odd toy imaginable.
He had, besides, an enormous pack on
his back.
Molly's eyes, always wholly devoted
to the business of seeing, observed all
this.
But she only remarked, "What makes
your face so ruStU?"
Perhaps he didn't hear her; ANYWAY
he repeated his cry, brothers for salep
Got any brothers for sale?n and was
moving on when Molly's piping voice
screamed after him Tell yer yes; dot a
plenty"
This time he stood still.
"Dot one, two, free manv's ten
fink. Tommy, he's naughty, calls nv
rag dolly a meal-bagErlI sell him.
He's drefful wicked boy; he snaps
beans at the teacher and gets awhippine
every single day."
"Ill take him." said the big man.
"How much shall l pay you-what shall
| give you for him?"
Z" A han'kercherwith some pertoomery
on it."
Eyes, yes, here you have it, he said,
and taking great bottle from his belt,
and little blue bordered handkerchief
from one pocket, he sprinkled it pro-
tusely with some real cologne and gave
it to the delighted child.
Anymore brothers for sale, little
girl? Pm in want of some boys?'
eyes, sir! You can have JOHNNY.
he tears up my dolls and mamma lets
him wear my bestest Sash-and the
baby, he gets the collie and screams
and Harry, he won't bring in the wood
for mamma, and he eats up nv CANDY
and has cookies for supper an / don't,
and-n
"rll take 'em ALL" grunted the bio
man.
"rll sell Harry for doll with truzy
hair and d black silk and EARRINGS and
some chloe late ca'mels," said she, with
the air of an old trader.
"What luck!' he laughed; and DIVING
into another pocket, he brought forth
handful of candy and filled Mollv's
apron pockets, then taking off his GREAT
cap he shook down lovely doll, with
truly hair indeed, long and curlv
dressed in a black silk with train and
pull-back just like mammals.
"And whatll you sell Jonathan forp',
"Johnny, you mean-you can have
him for a kitten, sir.n In an instant
the fur cap was off, and little mewino
kitten was produced, for her WONDERING
and delighted gaze.
And the baby-he wouldn'tbo worth
much to me-" "