The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1881-10-15
become of him, aud Miss Polly would


bag. He had but two cents more than
enough for single car.fare, which car
ried him only halfway home; and then.
leaving the car, he again trudged along
with the heavy bag.
Directly he hailed an empty lumber
wagon, that came trotting by in the
direction he wished to 90, and the driver
nodded, EYES"
The streets were slippery with mud,
and, as Dave was raising the bag to toss
in on the lumber-wagon, his RICH. foot
slipped on one of the polished car-rails,
and down he went on his hands and
knees.
The bag falling on one side we'll
matched both of Dawes mud-plastered
knees. The driver, good.naturealy.
held in his horses, and a second trial
landed the muddicd boy and bag on the
wagon.
In view of this last misfortune, Dave
decided to enter the house by way of the
back-gate and kitchen; and thus, while
cleaning some of the mud from his
clothes, he could privately explain to
his mother what had become of Miss
Polly's bag.
"Hush! Tell mother I'd like to see
her out here Moment said grinning
Dave to the astonished cook, who, with
uplifted hands, stood staring at him.
"Mercy, child" exclaimed Mrs. Burt.
when she came. "How and where did
you get into such plight?'
When Dave had tod his story, Mrs.
Burt declared she must repeat it to Miss
Polly, who had grown quite nervous
over the non. arrival of her baggage.
In a moment Miss Polly could be
heard coming toward the kitchen, talk
ing eXcitedly, and she was arranging
her bonnet and shawl as she came
along.
"Therc was a brown-silk dress Ihavc
not worn these five years. Miss Polly
could be heard explaining, ''tive pairs
of new hose, my gold pin, with cora!
center, my Bless the dear child!'
(here Miss Polly opened the kitchen.
door and caught sight of mud-coated
Dave). care any of your bones broken.
David? Arc you sure? The scamp!
And they wouldn't give up my bag.
eh?"
mo; but there s. the other bag"
Dave pointed to the bag, the muddy
side of which lay uppermost, drying be-
fore the range-grate.
"Mrs. Burt, l wouldn't have such
dirty piece of baggage in my Kitchen"
said Miss Polly, 1rowning at the bag.
"Allow Bridget to throw it out or set it
out in the yard. There's no knowing
what's in it-what disease it might
bring into the house!'
Bridget was proud of her neat kitch.
en-, and, without waiting for further
hint. she caught up the bag to carry it
into the coal-cel|ar.
But, as she did SO, the clean side of
the bag was displayed to view.
Goodness me!' Miss Folly ex-
claimed, catching at Biddy's arm, "lhat
is my bag!"
Then she sat down in chair and
stared at Dave in a way that made him
feel very uncomfortable.
r" Is it possible said Mrs. Burt.
"that you have been carrying Miss
Polly's bag all over the city, trying 10
exchange it for one that wasn't hers?"
"But we found it under the left-hand
counter" protested Dave under the
soda.water counter, just where the man
left his bag.''
mo; just where l left NINE" said
Miss Polly, firmly; land the right-hand
counter, as l remarked to the oldish
gentleman. looking toward the blue
and-red bottles in the front window
"But this is a new bag" persisted
Dave; land yours had--had stains on
it,
'No, David, my child" said Miss
Polly. "My old bag did have stains on
it, bnt this is a new one, which your
ma would send me to take the place of
the old one. And I'm thankful that it's
no worse than q little mud on the out
side. ~. B. Marshall, in Golden Davs.