Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1881-07-20

otNOO bnti
Sure enough, there before him lay
table after table, adorned with spotless
linen, and spread tempiinglY not only
with flowers and fruit, but with plenty
to cat.
How should little Bonny know that
this was the day when the grand new
Metropolitan Hotel first opened to the
public? How should he know that there
were all the mighty men Of the city
merchants, editors, ministers even
with their wives, met together by in-
vilation to celebrate the dedication
dinner? You see, they had not inyited
bonny; nobody expected him; so at
first nobody noticed him as he slipped
nolselsssly Iu.
The tables seemed so full Of people
that Bonny had TO walk up the room to
find place. A queer hush fell on the
clatter and the chatter. People dropped
their forks. They watched this little
figure with the sunny hair, the happy
face, the snowy shoes, the tumbled
check apron, that dragged after it the
well-nigh forgotten red cape, and at last
mounting into an empty chair, said,
with a sigh of satisfaction, and in a
very clear voice, Il want dinner,please.
Bonny glanced round him. He
thought everybody looked pleased, and
catching the eye Of a lady who bent
toward him, he smiled back a shy,
friendly smile.
This lady vas the first 10 speak to
him. She crossed eagerly over and
SAID: May I sit beside you, dear' |
knew a little boy once with yellow hair
like yours
Bonpy never noticed that she had
tears 10 her soft eyes now.
Il like your hair BEST he answered,
half timdly, half frankly. The lady's
hair was very dark, and she wore in II a
splendid yellow flower.
But, please, l am so hungry. Nav
have dinner?'
Before the lady could answer,
stout gen tleman came hurrying up.
well, we'll. let's see about this he
began, in rollicking tone. Shake
hands little stranger. SO you came to
my dinner, did you?'
Bonny dropped his head. He was
rather afraid of the lOud'voiced man;
bat the lady, whom he was not afraid
of, said rsassuringIy:
This is the man who gives the dinner
little one; this is his hou.e he'll be
very good TO you, never iear''
So Bonny looked up then, and replied
simply:
1 camel was hungry, and came.'
Tie host cleared his throat, and said,
heartily, while he patted Bonny's curls +:
Well, dlnn't expect you, that's a
fact; but we'll give You just rs good a
dlnuer for all that. A dinner I'm
warrant you We will. And upon my
word, ladies and gentlemen, rather
think the Metropolitan Hotels honored
10 have the chance
Never, never had Bon ny imagined
such a dinner AS he ate that day. The
lady who sat by his side cut up the
chicken, and helped him to choose
among the lavish dainties that the host
kept insisting on having brought Tor
HIM 10 taste.
Hungry! 1t seemed to Bonny that LIE
never in this world could be hungry
again.
His innocent heart ran over, and he
told his new friend the lady all she
asked him about his sick father, his
tired mother. the little house that was
like the kettle that all boiled away, an d
the big family that crammed it so iull
when gathered together. But one
thing neither the lady nor her husband
who filled Bonny's pocket with pennies
nor the host could succeed in fndin g
out from him.
This was, where the little fellow
lived, and how to return to his home.
Street and number he knew naught
about. What was his name ? 'Bonny
Laddie.' His fathers? oh, John.
What kind of work did his father do?
oh nothing, father is sck.' He had
no clear ideas associated with any call
ing except with Nlckil's, as they foun
by questioning.
That Nickie sold papers, and that
Bonny would when he was bigger, be
| was very positive about.
well, then,' suggested the host,
'we'll try the newsbOys. Wen Just
have Laddie standing by the doer when
they go past, and maybe he can pick
out thi, brother Of his from the lot.'
The company sat for a long time
round the tables. Bonny kept still
listening aud wondering, though he un-
dersioOd little of the speeches and the
toasts. Once all eyes were again
turned toward Bonny.
\ gentleman rose and said, Ladies
and gentlemen, beg to propose the
health of the FIRST guest Of the Metro
politan Hotel, an be lay fast asleep I
his chair.
lie was rosily awake again by the
time the newsbJys were crying thell
evening papers.
Come and watch for Nickie. coaxet
the hos aud with Bonny's small, warn
hand in his own, he stepped out On the
granite slab in front OF the hotel.