Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1882-11-08
THE MAN IN TIE MOON.

THE MAN IN TIE MOON.
"He might have come from the moon,
for all / know" said Deborah, rather
Grossly. She was sprinkling and fold
ing the clothes for t0-mofrow's ironing,
and she wanted to get them done before
her beau should come, to take her
to drive, and the tramp had hindered
her and now Jack was asking ques-
tions.
Deborah often declared that IL ever
she "hired out" again, it would be
with folks that didn't allow their chill
dren to ask so many questions as the
little Mudgetts asked. She was ali
wore to skin and bone with them"
AS Deborah was very buxom and
rosy, she evidently intended that re-
mark to be taken in iigurative sense |;
but the children tUere trying, with their
endless questions-especially Jack, the
Oldest boy, who never believed any
thing.
Stella, the youngest girl. believed
everything. She never had the slight
est doubt that all the wonderful things
related in the Arabian Nights, Grimn's
COLLINS and Mother Goose actually
happened. Stella was Deborah's favor
lite. She was her Uncle John favorite,
too, and Uncle John was Of great con-
sequence, because he was the Captain
of a vessel, and had been all around
the world. He was expected home in
a few days from long voyage, and all
the children lay awake nights storing
up questions to ask him. He always
would tell Stella stories, when he would
not tell them to anybody else, because
she never asked him if they were true.
She asked him everything she could
think of, but she never thought of that.
Jack had only asked Deborah who it
was that had knocked at the door !;
what he wanted; of what country he
had seemed to be a native if he was
well dressed; what he had on sif he
had been drinking if he had a bundle
with him; if he wanted to stay all
night if he wanted anything to eat |;
if he got anything if she asked him
in; what she thought his name was /;
if he had red nose if his hair was
curly and where she thought he came
from. And he didn't think she ought to
be cross, rs if he had asked many ques-
tons
Jack could ask questions when he
tried, but he had not got fairly under
way then.
Stella came into the kitchen with her
doll, Cinderella, under her arm, just as
Deborah said that. The little girl was
going to sprinkle and fold Cinderella 8
clothes, which were always washed on
Monday, and ironed on Tuesday, just
like anybody's. But she forgot all
about the clothes when she heard Deb
orah say there was possibility that
the man came from the moon. Stella
was very much interested in the moon.
AS she firmly believed it to be made OF
green cheese. and also that one man
lived in it, her interest is scarcely to he
wondered at.
"Oh, Deborah, was it really the Man
in the Moonp" she cried.
"Well, / shouldn't WONDER" said
Deborah, and she laughed little,
though she wds cross. "Come to think
of it, he did inquire the way to Nor
witch. And he seemed terrible hungry,
as if he had come long journey"
"Did you give him anything to eatp"
asked Jack.
81 gave him piece of bread that he
could eat if he was hungry. l amt
a-going to pamper up tramps with my
best victuals that I've wore my fingers
to the bone a-cookin' Of" said Debo-
rah.
mo cheesep Oh, Deborah ~ said
Stella, reproachfully.
OF course the Man in the Moon was
accustomed to eating cheese, since his
dwelling-place was made of it-and he
might miss it very much. 1t was Stel.
las opinion that Deborah ought to have
thought of that.
And why, oh, why, didn't Deborah
ask him to come in To think of com.
ing SO near to seeing the Man in the
Moon, and missing it 1t was very
cruel OF Deborah.
"Did he look much like ordinary peo-
pie, Deborahp" asked Stella.
Come to think of it, he favored a
pirate. as much asIanything," said Deb.
orah. Though that might "a ben
OWN to his havin but one eye, and
that one kind of squinty."
do you think he was cross man,
DeborahP" asked Stella, after a mo.
ment of deep meditation.
81 don't know nothin' about the dis.
positions of folks in the moon. I've
got all l can do to contend against the
tryin' dispositions of them here below"
said Deborah.
There amt any folks in the moon p
said Jack, diving his head into the
clothes-basket, and turning a somer.
sault. IF there was they'd all be like
busted balloons there isn't any all
there. Stella believes everything"
"It's boys that don't believe nothin'
that comes to the gallows," said Deb.
orah, severely.
Meantime, Stella had slipped into the
woodshed, to see il she could catch 9
glimpse of the mans retreatine figure
from the door.
Oh joy! there he sat at the end Of
the wood pile, only few rods away.
Stella went into the pantry, and got
huge piece of cheese; then she rar
cut, and sat down on a log, opposite
him. She was at quite distance from
the house, IL was growvg dark, ant
the man did look rather cross. bu
Stella was never afraid of anything
excepting thunder and curly dogs
Everybody has his weak points, ant
those were Stella's. She did not ono,
think Of being afraid of the Man from
the Moon, though she did hope that HI