The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1880-05-19

LIVED IN q Sn0c. Ion IKE tnat.
"'Who killed cock robin, thenY
Don't like that
"'Well there was good little boy, and
his name was Robbie, and he was sleepy, and
"'No, amt sleepy; don't wantergoter bed :
and so on for an hour or more, until my
blood boiled to think of that gentle, loving,
mistaken little mother under the heel of that
baby monster. Then and there / formed q
plan that should bring her peace and COM
fort, and the boy welfare.
"Next day the small tourist was fresh at
the old cry of chalet and sice-keam' and
want choclit;' but could regard him calmly
for had my plan. 1 watched for the chance
of carving it out, but none offered until we
reached the pretty town of Brieg. APP
preaching the place, we passed wheat fields
strewn thickly with the brightest corn flow
ers. These Robbie coveted. Want fOwersl
want fowersp he yelled.
arrived at Brieg, where we were to stop
at night, proposed taking Robbie back into
the fields we had passed TO pluck the flowers
"He mounted my shoulder with conde-
scending tyranny, and trotted along half
a mile, talking merrily, then set the little
child down among the wheat and peoples and
bluets. He grasped right and left, until he
had as many as he could hold, then 1 pro-
posed to carry him back TO mamma. He
wouldn't. He would sit down on the damp
ground and kick and dirty his face He
raised a cry for more howersP then Robbie
want ice-keamp then, 'choclitp then grand
medley of all the cries together.
ga moment / looked toward Brieg. to
make sure we were not followed, then / held
Robbie firmly by his shoulders, looked into
his blue eyes, and said: Now, my little fend,
I'll give you something that's good for you,
There was slight disturbance of Robbie's
dainty embroidered skirts, short, sharp
cracking sound among the wheat stalks
Five minutes later carried back to Brieg, q
silent little boy with a pair of astonished
eyes, rather pinkish about the lids, and gave
the little fellow, with his hands full of flow
ers, into his mothers arms.
"All the rest of the day Robbie was angelic.
Silent, obedient, not word of 'chalets' or
'choclit.' But he was curiously observant of
me, following me with his eyes everywhere.
"'What a good boy Robbie isl-a little
angelP 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 spoon
full; then he kissed everybody goodnight
and went off dutifully to bed, holding his
mammals skirt.
"As l happened to pass Mrs Randolph's
room, the door stood wide open, 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 / stood a 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 enjoying the
accustomed peace She kissed the boy, and
made him kneel at her feet
"'Now, Robbie, say your 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 gentleman
"She put my name in her child's prayerl
Why, Ford, my heart gave great exultant
bound; but suddenly it stood still.
Mamma said Robbies shrill little voice,
that nice gentleman gived me sumfn2'
"'What, my darling -howers7'
"'Sumfn else'
'ChocolateY
"'Sumffn else
"'What then nv lamb?'
al dunno and he looked puzzled; then
frightened up with, but show 90, mamma
1.-THE little man was conveniently dressed
for the pantomime he undertook and to do
him Justice, it was thoroughly we'll done
He began with my guilty glance toward
Brieg; he delivered the words, Now my lit
tie fiend, give 90 sumfn that's good for 90
with tragic effect; then he applied Though
more lightly than his model) the time-honor-
ed remedy for naughtiness. He added: And
mamma, kyed vewy loud, and then l feel
ed more BETTER
There was a moments hush. Mrs. Ran
dolph Rugged Robbie to her breast. 1 crept
down stairs, astonished at the capacity in
children for retaining an impression, but feel
ing had made great success.
Later she came down. We had all agreed
upon walk, so we went along by the bios
somed fields, but Mrs. Randolph was perfect
ly silent.
al argued good from this, and felt elated,
Russell and his wife saw something out of
of the common in my manner, l think, and
considerably walked apart together. felt
that must speak out my heart so began:
"'Although we have known each other
but a few days, you must feel, as 1 do, ours
is no common friendship.
"She made no answer.
"'Adelaide,' went on madly-I was but
forty-'Adelaide, love you May / hope
to win your
Adelaide stood still, instantly, turned upon
me, and fixed me with such look as l never
met before or since.
"fWretchT' she said, you raised your hand
against my child, my Robbie, my angel. You
called him little hend. 1 despise, detest,
utterly abhor you. I'd marry a demon
sooner
"Ford, she shone white with anger. As
soon as 1 could catch my breath tried to
argue.
" 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 ceagain. Never
dare
''She walked on briskly to the hotel,
L r