The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1881-08-25

of the garden, and can breathe again,
I want to know what ais Tower? l
didn't have time to think before"
Sure enough! What did all Tower?
That lazy old dog was barking, howl
ing and chasing around the hay-stack
down in the meadow in q frantic and
unbccoming manner, very unlike
his usually quiet and dignified conduct.
Its q rat, as likely as not" said
Jane. turning homeward.
"Wait, Jane; listenr' It was Susan
who spoke. hurriedly and low.
That isn't rat, nor hen cacklin'
neither; it sounds like q cry" said
Debby. looking sternly at the hay
stack.
at is q cry. girls! Come. Tower is
tormentin' something there, as sure as
you live"
Susan ran as nimbly as young girl
down the side-hill and across the road,
and had reached the bars and entered
the meadow before the two elder ones
had come to the road.
"Towzer, stop! Here, Towzer!'
called Susan. and Tower yelped and
barked louder than ever, while the cry
of human voice came more distinctly
at every step.
"What can it be?" cried Susaa,
brea King into run as she neared the
stack. Tower, barking excitedly, met
her, leading her quite around to the
other side, where the object of his an
noyance was found. crouched under the
stack, almost hidden from sight.
Lord pity us allr' cried Susan
who never said that. excepting under
extraordinary circumstances-and then
the tears ran over from her loving
brown eyes, and dropped down, one by
one, upon Towers head.
"A child, under the hay-stack! How
on earth did it come here, and when?"
Susan. in her pity and bewilderment,
never thought of questioning the child,
therefore she only stared, while Tow
ger, seemingly quite content with hav-
ing accomplished his object-that of
bringing the family down to the mead
ow-sat down aud painted, overcome
with his exertions, as Debby had been
after chasing the hens.
"A child!' cried Jane, looking over
Susan's shoulder, in helpless, be-
logged way.
"A boy"' calculated Debby, aghast.
Susan, hopping away the tears from
her face, recovered tone and spirits in
a flash. For bright idea, such a brill
liant idea, had come to Susan. There s
something queer about this, Debby;
there's Providence in this, mind it.
Come. boy. come right out now, we're
friends"
Debby started, and Jane laughed
nervously, while Susan assisted the big
eyed, famished looking boy to his feet.
Your dog" he gasped, crouching
close to Susan side.
"Bless you! Tower wouldn't hurt a
fly" said Susan, to assure the fright
ened child.
"He took my breakfast" The great,
hungry eyes looked up to Susan. who
said beneath her breath, Lord, pity
Us ally'
{: Tower, you THEIR said Jane,
harshly, and with desire to conciliate
the boy. ''What did your breakfast
consist of, poor boy?''
The famished lad made no reply to
this question of James, but the brown,
hungry eyes were raised appealingly to
Susan. and rested moment upon Tow
ger, before they closed, and the long
black lashes lay thick and dark upon
the white. sunken cheeks.
"Lord pity us all He's tainted
dead away" cried Susan, as she gath
cred the frail boy in her streng.
motherly arms; and, without a word
to as.onished Debby and Jane, she
strobe like determined general across
the meadow, with Tower quietly at
her heels, up the hill, over the cool
porch, through James clean kitchen.
dropping bits of hay at intervals, on
through the darkened sitting-room, to
the quiet little bedroom beyond, and
deposited her burden upon the white
bed. Then she ranges. really ran.
to the kitchen closet, and returned-as
Debby laughingly told the story years
after-with not only the camphor and
brandy bottles, but also the salt and
pepper, together with the sa.eratus and
mustard cups, just as Debby and Jane
entered in amazed silence.
"She has taken him to the sitting
room bedroom said Jane. surprised
beyond measure, at the same time con-
ceiving a great admiration for this lit
tie Susan, who could always think and
perform twice, before Jane or Debby
could arrive at even the shadow OF q
conclusion.
"It was the nearest bed. Jane, and
such a com ortable spot; when had
fever'n ager. why, | quite enjoyed
lynn here" apologized Susan, as she
was about to deluye the wan-faced boy
W tn camphor and brandy, which Deb
by, with a strong hand, prevented just
in time. Debby. you see, had reached
a conclusion or two, and she was now
ready to act with the foremost, as she
always was after once deciding.
Hes comm to, Susan; never mind
all that stuf you've brought in here
from the closet. This bow is starved
out, that's all; he doesn't want your
campfire, and mu ,tard, nor salt, neith-
err, but you just weaken a bit OF the
brandy, and Jane, you be quick and see
if that broth smell isn't most done, or
boiled itself to death, and bring bowl
full in here; take one OF the blue bowls,
Jane, they've got a comfortable,
healthy sort of look, OWN to their
StA4oAiA oA1Ns AASAO AOWs OVuuyS SW0ke
low this weak brandy"
Susan was bending down over the
white face, smoothing the brown hair,
and smiling a succession of sunbeamy
smiles, right into the face and heart OF
this outcast. A wan smile answered
her; and the weary eyes looked up a
moment at Debby, gratefully, as he
swallowed the weakened brandy, but
they returned to Susan's face again,
and rested there.
II don't suppose. Debby, we know
how to deal with CHI ldren exactly, new
er havin' had any around" said Susan,
mournfully and apologetically; at the
same time, one plump hand was tender
ly smoothing the boys hair, while the
other clasped one of his thin hands.
which was not very clean, either.
"Never mind, Susan, we know how
to feed 'eia, any way; and reckon
that'n reach their hearts as soon as
anything. Right, Jane; you've brought
one of the blue bowls, haven't you?
That broth SINE Is amazin' good! Now,
then, Sonny
A.