Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-10-19

alvavs laugh at the remembrance OF
onr Art acquaintance with Toddles- we
mere COMING home from funeral, Jes-
aics and l. and laughed then In spite
III the eolernity of the occasion. III II
had been nv own funeral. think. under
tha circ0matsuces, could have excused
anv one for laughing, the picture was 80
co,r;caI. We had been belated. and the
street. lamps were beginning to CLEAN AZ
ne Ieft the Greenwood cars. An April
shower was falling, and We had several
blocks to walk.
"H We had only brought an umbrei-
la,n sighed Jessica. -r
"It's too late for regrets, my dear, !
answered philossphically, az l tucked
her under my arm.
aPiease. rnissis, here's 'brelier," said
n amaIl. shrili voice at our sioe. VIC
HOOKED. and there stOod-Toddles- soon
n roIy- poly little figure. Such rounu
little head Such great, round, honest
ewes, For a moment we could see no
thing bat ToddIes, and then We saw tne
. ,breller.n Actually don't think there
were more than two bows IN that wnoie
n,nhreIla that were not as bare as 50
manv tent-poIes, and through the open
snaces the rain was dripping on the
rnddy. upturned face, making stra9-
oIinc maths across its grimy coating.
Of course we did not yet know tnat ].
Was Toddles, bat Jessica straightway
stonned-Jeesica has weakness ior
hoys-and asked In her blandest tones,
1Whaf,a your name, little mani ana
vhen he answered "Toddles, we saw
AZ once its fitness, and both OF us
Iau0hed. Toddles laughed, too, IN a way
that made all his dimples 20 70 playing
hide and seek" and just then. as II
for the express purpose OF giving "a
An opportunity TO become better ac-
ouainted with him, the rain suddenly
ceased. ,,., ,
aWhere do you live, Toddles"
al doesn't live no'ars, sir; / jes stays
nights at Granny Stubbs.
"Why do they call you Toddies' my
boy?" -, rosa,.. nok;ne
his puffy little fists into the pocket
holes of pair OF ragged PantalooI
that hardly reached below MS kneos
Apparently he had been pot INTO ,neI
at least year before, and mad peel
growing out of them ever since. NJ
lie cotton waist that utterly refused
their companionship, and one forierl
suspender, completed his PICTURESQUE
costume, and made me, for the mrs
time in my life, regret that ! was not al
"But, Toddles," I said, beginning Il
feel interested, what does your motne
call your
Toddles looked down at his toes.
AZ Amt got no muvver. That's VIII
Is so raggy. Pete Jones, he's got
muyyer, and she mends his'n eyer
night. 'Tain't nice not to have n
muvver.n
There was a queer little quaver in tn
child's voice that touched Jessica's INC
therly heart, and with her daintil
gloved hand she patted the haties
head.
Indeed 1t isn't, poor little fellow.
she said, with a quaver IN her ow
voice.
NOV, Jessica, don't 90 TO CROWN
sentimental" said, with some severit,
"Most likely he had 1t all by heart, read
for the occasion"
"Oh, Bobv' said Jessica-I never ca
teach Jessica that il isn't respectful
call me Bob. She was just then pushin
baek the matted locks from Toddle'
wide forehead, and hadn't heard wor
that had been saying. Don't 20
think now. Bob, that IL he were NIGEL
dressed he'd look like-like-p
was easy to see where Der thoughts wer
Il is wonderful what memories mother
have. Why, it couldn't have been le'
than Eve years since our baby Fred WI
taken away, and yet only the day befol
l had seen her crying over one OF b
little stubbed-out shoes.
II can't soc the resemblance at pre-
emit, my dear. but there's no tellir
what soap and water and clean clsth'
might do"
"Oh. Bob! could We? Do you thin
nobody would claim him."
Mercy, Jessica, you don't mean III
exclaimed, aQhast at being taken
such dead earnest.
sit would be 10 nice II We coul
Bob" and she clasped both hands abo'
my arm in that heseeching way Of he
that nobody can resist.
Toddles," said, "would you like
20 home with usf''
Toddles was staring up at us, with b
round eyes growing rounder every m
ment, and seemed thoroughly be n
dered.
"Well, we'll, wellr' laughed a famili
voice--and there stood Sam. Sam
Je0sica's brother. nevor saw anoth
man 30 fond of a laugh. Ii there
ANYTHING funny to be seen or heard, Sa
il always ON hand. But, though he W
grasping both his sides, and shakil
IN hA MA
straight at Jessica, and didn't seem
see Teddles ut all. I looked. too, Al
would You believe lt?-there sto,
Jessica, holding MP that roofless NJ
brella a. unconcernedly AZ IL il b
besn covered with the finest silk.
was fortunate that the shower was ovs
though the little woman was so absorb'
with ToddIes that don't think she kns
whether Il was raining or not. Sam.
the second glance, took In the whole .
fair and laughed 10 iInmoderately til
Jeesica had to stop him.
Don't you sec that you are frighte
ing the child. Sam? There, never min
dear. You shall come home with 4
and b my own little boy"
Toddles shyly aid his hand into hel
"Can have my 'breller, too?"
asked.
had Just taken II from Jessica al
was about 10 throw 10 into an alley.
"No, no; he's my hossyr' cried q
child.
Well, cone along. Toddles, and
carry your hossy," l said, impatient
the delay and vexed At theslaring crov
that began 70 gather around us. Sa
walked on with IA, making sport of q
whole. proceeding.
"NoW, Sam, be stillr' said Jessie
ITS no moro than simp'e Christi,
charity 10 take in this poor little va
derer."
You are the ones that viii be tax,
IN. or miss my guess said Sam. ~
wished 40 good might.
hut another form of opposition N
u at the door.
"Och, shure, and it's meeelf II not
afther fetching the oncivilixed lit
haythenw saia Ellen, IN Jeasica vs
tuIed 70 suggest the propriety OF pu
ting the newcomer into tie hath-tub.
Every we'll, Ellen; Just turn on Il
water and III tend 10 him mysslf,s ca
Jeasjoa, meekly.
Ellen IL no moro proof against tn
meek way Of Joesica's than am; an,
nippine 1oddles by the shoulder, 81
maSobod him 10 the bathroom. with,
Jeasica speedily followed. leaving me
myoelf and the newspaper. Befor
vas through the first column, howeve
thu 0iun0r-boll rang. and prAaertlv