The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-05-15
BROTHERS FOR SALE.

BROlHERS EOR SALE.
MOLLY was six years old; a plump,
roly-poly little girl with long, crimpv,
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; q 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, L suppose, was our Molly,
when strange cry reached her ears.
''Brothers for sale? Brothers for
SaleP Got any brothers for sale?"
"Dot plenty" said Molly as the
gate swung plump against the oldest
great man.
He was very tall, wore O. 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 TuStu?'
Perhaps he didn't hear her; ANYWAY
he repeated his cry, brothers for salep
Got any brothers for sale?" and was
moving on when Molly's piping voice
screamed after him Tell yer yes; dot a
plentyr'
This time he stood still.
"Dot one, two, Free manv's ten ]
fink. Tommy, he's naughty, calls my
rag dolly meal-bag-I'll sell him.
He's drefful wicked boy; he snaps
beans at the teacher and gets awhipping
every single day"
''rll take him." said the big man.
Chow much shall | pay you-what shall
give you for him?''
GA han kercher some pertooD1e,,u
on it,
Yes, yes, here you have it, he said.
and taking a great bottle from his belt.
and little blue bordered handkerchief
from one pocket, he sprinkled it pro-
fusely with some real cologne and cave
it to the delighted child.
''Any more brothers for sale, little
girl? I'm in want of some boysP'
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 my candy
and has cookies for supper an don't,
df1d-"
"rl take 'em ALL" grunted the big
man.
"Pll sell Harry for doll with truly
hair and black silk and earrings and
some choc' late ca'mels," said she, with
the air of an old trader.
"What luckr' he laughed; and diving
into another pocket, he brought forth
handful of candy and filled Molly's
apron pockets, then taking off his great
cap he shook down a lovely doll, with
truly hair indeed, long and curly,
dressed in a black silk with train and
pull-back just like mammals.
And what II you sell Jonathan forP''
Johnny, you mean-you can have
him for kitten, sir" In an instant
the fur cap was off, and little mewing
kitten was produced, for her wondering
and delighted gaze.
And the baby-he wouldn't be worth
much to me -
"Well, he is to me-but I'll sell him
for red cardinal sash and little sister
bout as big as lilly White"
"Whewr' he exclaimed, "you most
take my breath away! but here's the
sasha beauty, tool don't happen to
have any little sisters with me feeling
of the outside of his pockets, peerinS9
into his pack, and even taking off the
great cap and shaking it as if little
girl might be folded up in that. "No.
really l haven't little sister about me,
but don't you cry; I'll bring one round
to-morrow-and now l must be picking
up these brothers-where are theyPn
Baby Willie is in the backward in
his carriage and Johnny and Harry are
playing tooneral with him." said she,