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

6tt6fty 0l5d4fue0 tue Use OI kuiic hHo
fork, while his appetite was positively
alarming.
do stop him, Jessica, or he'll die on
your hands, / cried. in disnsy.
Poor child do let him have enough
for once said Jessica, compassionately;
and Toddles went on eating.
After dinner Jessica brought out from
her treasury of childish keepsakes box /
of blocks that Baby Fred hsd played |
with once: and while Toddles amused |
himself with them | tried 10 show to |
that deluded wife of mine the absurdity |
of her undertaking; but what woman |
ever yet listened to reason where her
heart was interested!
Anyway, let me keep him, Bob, IN |
ill he's called for or advertised" she
pleaded.
Just a. you please, madam, | said.
benignly, "but If any mischief comes
of it, remember that i warned you In
the beginning
Jessica smiled contentediy, and little
later | saw her with Toddles at her knee
teaching him 10 say Oar Father.
The first intImation we had OF Tod
dles's existence the next morning was
"Git up, hossyI- as we entered the din
ing room, and there Was Toddles astrIde
his cherished "'breller," with the ex-
trem!ty of my robe de mutt sweeping the
floor behind him.
"Yeu blessed darling cried Jessiea,
catching him in her arms.
It's odd how naturally womsn's
heart goes out to child. What sne
found so enchanting in that round little
lump of humanity | couldn't for the life
of me comprehend: and when she lifted
him no for De to kiss, | took refuge IN
the paper and pretended not TO see her.
"Just wait till he gets some new
clothes, and then papa will be proud OF
him." she said, With closer hug.
And when came home TO dinner. that
evening, there was Toddles transmogrl-
fied-radiant in a suit IF Scotch plaid,
with red-barred stockings and buttoned
boots, as triumphant as a young sprig
of fashion fresh from the tailor's hands.
ANY father might have been proud of a
| little four -year-old like that; and before
fairly knew what was about, l had
him in nay arms and was kissing the
dimpled face. / Was glad that Jessica
had her head turned away at the mo
menf for did not care to have her see
how soon the boy had conquered; and
after that he always came running to
meet me with a kiss. Jessica was very
proud OF him, and took him with her
everywhere. In fact, think she had a
nervous dread of letting him out of her
sight, and it was amusing to see the way
| in which she studied the daily papers.
For six months, at the least, never had
a chance to look at one till she had first
examined the list of advertisements.
Gradually. however, her fears subsidized;
and, being called one morning TO attend
a sick friend, she ventured to leave Tod
dies for few hours in Ellen's care.
Unfortunately abe was detained until
nearly night. Toddles had been in her
mind all day, and she came home with
a great longing 70 have his arms about
her neck. But no TOddles was to be
found.
"Och, shure! and he was a-ridin' his
'breller in the yairy, a-watchin' for his
mither," said Ellen, and that was all she
could tell about 1t.
Jessica was almost wild, and just to
comfort her advertised in all the papers
but, to tell the truth, l had little hope OF
ever seeing him again.
might have known how it would
end" said Sam, maliciously. "Thest
young Arabs don't take kindly to civil
lied life"
Il But one evening, as Jessica sat cryinG
softly behind the advertising sheet, the
door opened and in walked Sam witt
Toddles on his shoulder-the veritable
original Toddles, ragged and dirty, witt
his 'breller" under his arm. Jessici
, sprang forward and caught him to bel
breast.
"Mercy, Jessioar' cried Sam, "do wal
till he's cleaned up! You'll catch tn,
smallpox or something"
But Jessica was already raptHrousl.
kissing the begrimed little face.
"She stoled me, she didr' said Tod
dies, theoretically, "and she looked al
my pity oloes; but she's beaded now
and she can't git me any more never"
II seems, as we afterward learned, tina
Toddles was the child of "poor but hon
,. est parents" who at their death had lef
, him to tho tender mercies of Cram.
Stubs. Granny Stubbs, being only
fellow lodger, had no special interest II
Toddles; aud, not having found him
very profitable piece of property. she'
no tears over his sudden disappearance
but, CHANGING to see and recognize hiu
in his new suit on that unlucky day O
; Jessica's absence, she had ponnced upol
! him and carried him off to her der
; chiefly, IL would seem, with a view +
= taking possession of his clothes. Wha
|, might have been Toddles's fate, had b
) been left to the gentle care of this oil
> woman, IL is impossible to tell; but tn
3 stern messenger that came to Cram
3 Stubbs was the angel of deliverance :
4 Toddies; and as soon rs his little brai
! comprehended that he was no longer i
!. her power, he made his escape to tn
4 street to look for his lost friends. Sar
I recognized him by the umbrella, who
!. Toddles, through all his changes of for
4 tune, refused TO abandon; and so pitt
: fully had he entreated to be taken to hi
4 "muvvsr" that Sam, hard hearte
! wretch that he is, could not resist hi
4 childish appeal.
That was ten years ago. Nobody ha
!. disputed our right TO him since; and a
/. sit here in my study tonight, hear
8 strong young voice reading to Jessica il
the next room, and thank God for on
boy. But his name isn't Toddles an
: more. rather liked oddles, but hi
mother insisted On calling him Robbie
4 30 nov he Is Robert Gray, Junior; an,
the only trace left of his pre- Gray-it
q existence il a tastered umbrella, whicl
Jessica cherishes with tenderness tina
4 is altogether iacomprehensible to on
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