The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-01-24
DOCKS.

AS for me, 1 wanted Robinson Cru
soc; that large, fine edition down at
Hemmens' book store, with the colored
pictures. wanted it for my own-not
to return to somebody else when L had
read it through. What was one read
ing for such book as that?
Dick didn't want Robinson Crusoe.
Not bit; nor any other book. The
less he saw of book the better he
liked it.
He was my brother; my twin brother,
too; but we weren't any more alike
than-well, than two honey suckle bios
SONS, one yellow and the other red, on
the same stalk.
What Dick did want was one of black
Tony's pug puppies. Tony was Mr..
Lesseps' hostler, and he was raising the
dogs to sell. Mr.. Lesseps was our next
neighbor, and his little Alice was the
sweetest blue-eyed, golden-haired beau
ty that ever ran with her arms reached
out to meet two admiring young play
fellows like us. Dick thought all the
world of Alice, but | do believe he saw
even more loneliness in the tawny vel
vet hide, the pug muzzle, the turbid
blue eyes of either one of the little fat
trio cuddled asleep a greater part of
the time ON the straw in Mr.. Lesseps'
stable.
Robinson Crusoe was two dollars and
half. The best puppy was two dol
lars and half. They might as well
have been million. How were we
two youngsters to have five dollars
pocket money all at once? and how
long would it take US to save itp
Our father had only the year before
bought our summer home in the coun-
try. He was busy merchant in New
York, and knew very little about farm
ing. Mr.. Lesseps' place was beauti-
full and elaborate, for he had owned it
a long time, but ours was still in the
rough, and there remained a great deal
to be done in every part of it, blowing,
grading, planting and what not.
Father used to come out and spend a
day or two in the week with us, and
how he did enjoy getting on his farm
clothes and going around watching the
work and supervising his men here and
there, seeing things come more and
more into shape.
But was telling you how much Dick
and | wanted five dollars. We wanted
it so much that one morning when
father had gotten on his buster and was
waiting for the carriage to come round
to take him to the station, we went to
him; and Dick, who was generally the
spokesman for the two, acquainted him
wi I L,.4
the petition in my eyes seconded the
motion.
You ought to have seen fathers face.
"Five dollars! Well, well! that's tall
want for little shavers like you! What
do you want to do with five dollarsP''
We told him. He listened to us,
looking from one to the other as we
severally expatiated upon the merits of
our considerati.
"Well, now, let's see," said he. CT
have to work for my five dollars; and it
needs great many to take care of you
two little chaps, and all the rest of it,
don't you seeP''
Yes, we saw.
And would we "be willing to work
for our Ave dollarsP''
Yes, yes"
"Well, what do you want to do
mostP" he asked. his merry eyes twink
ling. "Will you pull weedsp''
eyes, sir,' we eagerly responded.
"Come along them" he said; and
taking us each by the hand he led us
into the lawn yet to be, now merely
grass-grown pasture-feld, and up to a
tall plant with great leaves, and a
plumy head of green seed-vessels stir
ring softly in the summer air.
"Therer says father. Nov there
are about ten thousand of these things
on the place, and for every one you'll
pull up I'll give you penny; so YOU
can be rich, boys, if you like, both of
you. You can buy all Tony's pups.
Dick and Hal here, he can get books
enough to start library. Hey? How's
thatP''
Well, we thought that was delightful.
We thought we could have our hearts,
desires say next morning; and father
left us, looking back and laughing from
the carriage to see us pulling with all
our might at the big dock.
We might as we'll have pulled at one
of the stone pillars of the carriage
porch. We looked at each other in
disappointment; and we also looked at
our hands; they smarted already,
"This one is so big" says Dick.
,, let's find little ones that will come up
easy"
1t wasn't hard matter to find them
all we wanted; but, alasl the littla