The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1880-04-22

monster. Then and there I formed a
plan that should bring her peace and
comfort, and the boy welfare.
"Next day the small tourist was,
fresh at the old cry of cha-lets' and
'ice-keam' and want choclit'; but I
could regard him calmly, for I had my
plan. 1 watched for the chance Of
carrying it out, but none offered until
we reached the pretty town of Brieg.
Approaching the place, we passed
wheat fields strewn thickly with the
brightest corn-flowers. These Robbie
coveted. Want towers! want fowersr
he yelled.
ARRIVED at Brieg, where we were to
stop overnight, 1 proposed taking Rob-
bic back into the fields we had passed
to pluck the flowers.
"He mounted my shoulder with con-
descending tyranny, and trotted along
half mile, talking merrily, then set the
little chap down among the wheat and
peoples and bluets. He grabbed right
and left, until he had as many as he
could hold, then 1 proposed to carry
him back to mamma. He wouldn't 90.
He would sit down on the damp ground
and kick and dirty his face. He raised
a cry for more fowersv then, Robbie
want ice-keamr then, 'choclitr then a
grand medley of all the cries together.
"a moment I looked toward Brieg,
to make sure we were not followed,
then held Robbie firmly by his shout
ders, looked into his blue eyes, and
said, 'Now, my little fiend, I'll give
you something that's good for YOU
There was slight disturbance of
Robbie's dainty embroidered skirts, a
short, sharp, cracking sound among the
wheat stalks. Five minutes later
carried back to Brieg a silent little boy
with a pair of very astonished eyes,
rather pinkish about the lids, and gave
the pretty fellow, with his hands full of
flowers, into his mothers arms.
"All the rest of the day Robbie was
angelic. Silent, obedient, not a word
of chalets' or 'choclit.' But he was
curiously observant of me, following me
with his eyes everywhere.
"'What good boy Robbie is!-a lit
tie angel said Mrs. Randolph.
"'Never saw him behave decently
BEFORE remarked Russell.
"At supper he ate his bread and milk
quietly. and watched me over every
spoonful; then he kissed everybody
goodnight and went off dutifully to
bed, holding his mammals skirt.
GAS happened to pass Mrs. Ran
dOlph's room, and the door stood wide
open, l stopped to remind her that we
were all going for walk; but she had
her back toward the door and didn't see
me. So 1 stood moment watching
her. The child was undressed, all the
yellow curls tumbling on white night
gown; his pink feet bare; his eyes wide
and thoughtful. The mother was en-
joying the unaccustomed peace. She
kissed the boy and made him kneel at
her feet.
"'Now Robbie say his prayers
81 never saw anything half as
lovely as the mother and child that
night:
"God bless mamma
"'Mamma,' he repeated.
And uncle and auntie.'
"'Uncle and auntie.'
"'And Mr.. Lane, the nice gentle
man.
''She put my name in her child s
prayers! Why, Ford, my heart gave a
great exultant bound; but suddenly it
stood STILL
Mamma said Robbie's shrill little
voice, that nice genelman gived me
sumfin.'
"'What, my darling-flowers?'
"'Sumtin else.'
'Chocolate?'
"'Sumtin else.'
"'What then, my lamb?'
eel Dunno and he looked puzzled;
then frightened up with, but I show
90, mamma
'The little man was conveniently
dressed for the pantomime he under
took, and to do him Justice, it was thor
oughly well done. He began with my
guilty glance toward Brieg; he delivered
the words. Now, my little fiend, give
90 sumfn that's good for Co., with tragic
effect; then he whisked up the night
gown, and applied (though more lightly
than his modeD the time-honored rem
edy for naughtiness. He added, And,
mamma, 1 kyed vewy loud, and then I
feeled more better"
"There was a moments hush. Mrs.
Randolph Rugged Robbie to her breast.
crept down stairs, astonished at the
capacity in the child for retaining an
impression, but feeling l had made a
great success.
"Later she came down. We had all
agreed upon a walk, so we went along
by the blossomed fields, but Mrs. Ran
dolph was perfectly silent.
81 argued good from this, and felt
elated. Russell and his wife saw some
thing out of the common in my manner,
1 think, and considerably walked apart
together. l felt that must speak out
my heart, so began:
Although we have known each
other but few days, you must feel, as
l do, ours is no common friendship
"She made no answer.
80 Adelaide I went on, madly Il
was but forty; the night was heavenly
bright; she was beautiful Adelaide,
l love you. May hope to win you?'
"Adelaide stood still instantly, turned
upon me, and fixed me with such look
as never met before nor since.
sc Wretch! she said, you raised
your hand against my child, my Robbie,
my angel. You called him a little fiend.
1 despise, detest. utterly abhor you. I'd
marry demon sooner
''Ford, she shone white with anger.
As soon as l could catch my breath,
tried to argue.
50 See how good he was afterward.
A little wholesome discipline is
"'Don't speak to me- she struck in.
Never dare let me see your face again.
Never dare
''She walked on brisklv to the hotel,
I meekly following. She swept up
stairs, flinging me back a Judith look
full of righteous wrath.
81 told Russell the whole matter at
once.
"He whistled, then laughed long
and loud. BY Jove!' he said, the
boy had never had whipping, and
didn't understand it. It's pity, Lane,
that you can't bring him up; but AIDE
laide is fierce where that spoiled brat is
concerned. I'm afraid there's no hope
for you.'