Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1882-10-06

"Take care, Barneyl You'd better
not touch them. You have knocked
me about often enough, but you'd best
let them alone"
There was fire in the eyes under the
old soluched hat, before which Mr..
Barney drew back.
Both children were crying by this
time but the father took a hand OF each.
Come DIlly; come baby" and with
out word or look to his companions
he passed out into the street.
1t was very silent walk.
Toddle's tears were dried as soon as
the stranger, whose loud voice had
awakened his baby terror, was out of
sight.
But poor little DiIly's heart was sore
with disappointment and fear. She
had failed in the scheme that she had
thought promised so fairly. No hood
nor shoes had she seen after all her
bravery in venturing into that dreadful
store, and who could tell how angry
her father might be?'
She stole shy chances up under her
hat, but she saw only sober, down.
cast face, and he said nothing not even
when they reached home.
He hunted up some fuel and made
better fire, and then sat down before
it with his head betw cen his hands, and
left the children to their own devices.
But two weeks later billy completed
the story confdentially to Freddie
Burr.
"See here y she said, pushing the
toes of a pair of stout new shoes
through the fence.
"Where did you get 'em?" asked
Freddie.
"And see here !" continued billy
boiling up for an instant to show the
hood that covered her yellow hair, and
touching it significantly with her fin
ger.
where did you get 'em ?" repeated
Freddie.
"My pa worked and bought 'em, and
brought 'em home; and they didn't
get into nobody s BARREL" explained
billy with great pride and little regard
for grammar. Then she passed her
face close against the fence for pro-
longed interview.
"You see, the billenium has come
to our house"
"The what ?" questioned bewildered
Freddie.
"The billenium. It's a pretty long
word" explained Oily, complacently,
"but it means good times. Anyhow,
that's what ma called it, and l guess
she knows. 1t was just the way, Fred
die Burr When you told me Mr.
Barney had all our good things down
TO his store in barrel, just went
right down there and asked him for
'em-me and Toddles. "
"You didn't !" exclaimed Mortified
Freddie.
did too ?! declared Oily with an
EN- phatic nod. "Well, he wouldn't
give me one of 'em and he was Just as
cross as anything. So, then, my papa
got up from the stove and walked
home with US. He didn't scold bit;
but he Just sat down before the fire.
this way, and thinked and thinked. AT
last he put his hand in one pocket. but
there wasn't anything there; then he
put it in the other pocket and found
ten cents, aud he went out and bought
some meat for supper. Then when
ma came home he talked to her, and
they both cried. l don't know what
for, less it was cause we couldn't get
the things out of the old barrel. And
ma Rugged and kissed me most to
death that night, she did. Well, my
pa got some work the next day and
brought home some money; and now
he has found place to work every
day. He bought all these things, and
he says his little boy and girl shall
have things like other folks. SO, now,
you'll know what the billenium means,
Freddie Burr, when anybody asks
YOU; and you can tell them Oily
Keene splained it to you."-Independ-
ent