Weekly Chillicothe crisis. (Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Mo.) 1878-19??, 1881-12-22
that croons the first strain of Sullivan's

make tne OLD nudle dance, tn0uSnI
And the boy tilts his basket against
his shoulder, and executes upon it an
imaginary roulade with an imaginary
bow. 1--WE used to have good times
at home, didn't we-when papa played
the violin and mamma the piano?" Ben
goes on.
"Don't" pleads Ruby, turning with a
great sob, from the bright promise of
the billboard.
The two children walk on in silence
for few moments-Mr. Halliburton
Todd still close behind them. Ruby
has resolutely dried her tears, but her
thoughts are still with the great sing.
ers, and the voice Of the wonderful
Swede is ringing through her memory
for presently Mr.. Todd hears her sing.
ing low:
"AngelS ever bright and fair,
Take, oh, take me to your care.'
"Well, my child" he says, in low
tone, 81 don't think that angels are apt
to have gray hairs in their whiskers
nor to wear ulsters; but there's an old
fellow about my size who would like
to be an angel just now for youl
sake"
While he is talking thus to himself
the children turn into the hall of q
tenement house. Mr.. Halliburton
Todd glances after them and sees them
enter room on the first landing. He
walks on few steps slowly, hesitates
and then quickly turns back. In q
moment he is knocking at the dool
which had been opened for the chill
dren. The knock is answered by the
boy.
a beg your pardon, my little man,
says Mr.. Todd. I am a stranger t
you; but l should like to see your moth
er if she is not engaged"
"Come in, sir" said a voice within
1t is the voice of lady. Her face is
pale and anxious, but her manner is
quiet and self-pOssessed.
at is a curious errand that brings
me, madam" says Mr.. Halliburton
Todd; "but l trust you will pardon my
boldness and grant my request. Thest
children of yours chanced to be stand
ing with me in front of the same pla
card announcing the oratOrio tonight
and l heard enough of what they sale
to know that they have rare appre
citation of good music. have come t
see if you will let me take them to thu
Music Hall, this evening"
"Oh, mammal cries Ben.
Ruby's eyes plead, but the mother
face is grave. "Your offer is extreme
ly kind, sir" she says at length, slowly
"and the thing you propose would givO
my children great pleasure; but"
"You do not know me-" Mr.. TodC
supplies. "That is true; and of cours
Il wise mother would not commit he
children to the care of an entir
stranger. Here's my card,-'Todd 4
TeHpleton, Mattawamkeag, Maine,'-
but that proves nothing. However
Pm not going to give it up 50. Let M
see; l wonder if know anybody tina
you know in this big city, Who i
your minister?'
1--WE attend, at present, st. Mat
thew's Church, of which Mr.. Brown i
rector"
"What is his first name2' John,
think"
"John Robinson Brown?"
"Yes, that is the name"
Correct calculates Mr.. TOdd
= triumphantly, with a distinct hyphel
between the two syllables Of his favor
| ite interjection; "that fixes it. Wha
luck this isl l know your ministe
perfectly. He has beenup in our wood
fishing every summer for five year:
. and we are the best of friends. Ca
you tell me his residence?"
81 KNOW" cries Ben. "He live
/ next door to the church, on Chauce
4 street."
"All right. Let the boy run up t
his house after dinner and see whetht
Mr.. Brown indorses me. I'll drop
] on him this morning. If he says S,
you'll let the children go with me t,
t night?"
t 81 know no reason" answers I'll
mother, "why they may not go. Yo
i are very kind
e "Kind to myself, that's all. But
S shall be obliged to ask your nam
s madam"
Johnson."
k "Thank you, Mrs. johnson. wi
call for the children at half-past seve
$ Good morningp
Mr.. Halliburton Todd bows himse
e out with a beaming face, and leav
d sunshine behind him. He pauses
e moment on the landing. The door
t. the room adjoining the Johnson
y stands open, and he observes that Il
il room was vacant. He steps in al
finds glazier setting a pane of glas
y 1t is pleasant room with an open fiji
If place; the rear parlor. chamber of |
old-fashioned house, and it has be,
n newly papered and painted. 1t col
n municates with the sitting room whe
'f the children and their mother live.
p as this room rented" he asks t
Y glazier.
5. "Guess not"
IL "Where is the agentp"
y Number seven, Court street."
u "Thank your Mr.. Halliburton To-
10 glances around the room again, no
u decisively, and hurries down the stail
+ What becomes of him for the ne
IL hour we will not inquire. A man
9, entitled to have little time to himse
ID and it is not polite, even in stories,
y be prying into all the doings of o
IS neighbors.
Us The next glimpse we get of him
III is sitting in the study of the rector
st. Matthew's, explaining to that gent
a, man what he wishes to do for the
III two little parishioners Of his.
ID "Just like you," cries the minist
us "But who are the childrenp"
~, "Their name is Johnson, and th
~ live in tenement house on Denis
u Is street, number forty-fve.'
to "Ah, yes. Their father was the M
n. ter of bark in the African trade, a
he was lost on the west coast "
". and u half ago. Nothing was e,
a known of his fate, excepting tina
portion Of the vessel bearing
RI, name, Ruby was washed asbC
aomauhnra in AnonIa tl;,