Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1883-05-16

| " Al course your MOI nave any tnrOuD.e,
SO go on wild yez now, sor, am fill
Out a lot of thin blank affydavits,
Anil swear to thin II, go will.
1t Is swate, Viz, to die for wants country;
Bat, bedad, can't hilp but abhor
Since Miekey got R Kit in H. Il: n war;.
From tie Manchester Times.I
RANDIE'S ADVENTURE.
There was party of us sitting in our
cosy dining ,room-three girls and three
boys-busy preparing texts and decora-
tions for merry Christmas, which was
nearly on us, it having got to Christmas
eve. Our father was country doctor,
and we we're not at all rich; but we were
healthy and strong, and merry party
eight OF us in all 1.-TWO younger ones be.
ing upstairs in the nursery. We were
opened, and mamma oined us. Nam pa
had not been we'll lately, and the cold
seemed to tell on her very much. Roy,
our eldest brotner, ever polite, drew a
chair near the 6le for her.
Thanks" she said, smiling CRATE
fully; 81 am not going to stay. have
come to see which of you can spare the
time to go to Farmer Longton's Tor me. -
II will, mother, replied Roy readily.
II seem to be the only idle one here"
"You arc wanted, unfortunately, else.
where" said mamma, "or, I know I
could have depended on you. Your
father requires you in the surgery; there
is more dispensing to be done than he
will manage alone"
swell, Matilda and JANET exclaimed
mamma, "are you ready tor walk ? 1t
is not so fur, aud il you do not sturt soon
you will have the dark come on you. I
am quite uneasy about the turkey they
pro Iised to send, moreover, there is a
bottle of medicine for old job"
"We can not go, really, mamma,
dear" replied Matilda, raising her fair
face and golden head from the text, "For
unto us Son is born" which she was
deliberately Illuminating in gorgeous col
ors. "We are, as usual, ali behind
time now. The turkey will arrive sans
doute-you are generally nervous-and
Bankes can leave the physic stuff on
his way home. We really cannot spare
the time"
emo; impossible!" joined in Janet.
"And Ethel has cold" dellberated
mamma. The nurse girl in the nursery
was fully engaged, while our general ser
want, as she was called, was up 10 the
| eyes in work.
81 think shall have to go myself"
declared our mater, all of q sudden
There seems nobody else-Randolph's
throat is sore, and Ernest is too young.
Yes; will put my thin rs on.''
"You, mamma-you!" We exclaimed
all around. "Oh, You must not. Papa
will be angry. Matilda or Janet will sac
rifice their work sooner than let you risk
your health"
Willingly" they exclaimed.
"No, my dears, replied mamma. "You
are very kind; but think, we'll wrapped
up, brisk walk will do me good. Ernie
before dark"
"Let me 60, too, mamma" petition
ed eagerly. "My throat is quite we'll;
it is indeed, and hate being coddled up
like girl. Besides, 1t is such treat 20.
ing with you; such rare one lately"
Mamma hesitated; she did not like to
refuse. She scarcely thought it wise to
accede. saw my chance.
II am quite as we'll as you are," I
said courageously; ''and lam sure papa
would like me to go and protect yeu." A.,
me how little lknew when spoke thus
what need there would be for my help.
"Wrap up, then, Randie-well, too.
Get your papa to give you the bottle for
Job, and We will start"
A few minutes later, warmly equip
ped, mamma, Ernie and started. En-
nie was not five, but generally speaking
quite little man in his way; but snow
had fallen, ard then the ice had taken
it, frostipg it in ruts and Jumps and
bumps just as it chose. It was hard
walking, and after several falls Ernie
! discomposed US by beginning to cry.
We were walking along \ solitary coun-
try road. With the exception CT COW
cred cart and two pedestrians we met
no one. Sometimes there were more
people about, but that day it struck me
as exceedingly lonely.
81 think Ernie had better return"
said mamma, just as We were turning off
the high road down narrow lane to
Greengage Manor. Il have not much
further to 90. Randolph, you can take
care of him." I1ebelled against the de-
cree. It was very stupid Ct Ernest to
be so babyish.
"He can walk" 1 said grumblingly;
'"and l want TO 60 on with you. He
ought not to have come"
"My hands is so cold, sobbed Err
est, 'tand my feet &; burt SO; but I don't
want to go back"
Take my muff, poor little fellow"
exclaimed mamma. II quite wish We
had not come. How dreary and lonely
everything looks. l had no idea people
would be staying in their houses like
this, or think we should have followed
their examples"
We had reached a pile Of out-buildipgs,
dreary enough in all conscience, with
out soul near; but the house was be-
You'd, just round the corner, and there
woula be light, warmth and hearty wei.
come there from good Farmer Longton
or his stout CHEEKY wife.
81 believe they are ont" exclaimed I
suddenly, as We rounded the dreary pile
of buildings. There is no one to be
seen, ard no smoke coming from the
chimney" What made me so observant
just then I can not say, unless my senses
were all sharpened by our cold and lone.
ly walk. Mamma was just about to an
swer, when Ernest caught his foot
against something and fell crying bitter
~. There was nothing to be done but
to lift him up and start homeward again,
and this I none too willingly prepared
to do. ss.s. ,z....-..s.ssr
There'sa good Randolph, encour-
aged mamma, g take him home and get
warm, both of you"
Directly mamma was out of sight 1
picked Ernest up and tugged along with
him.
bad scarcely gone yard on the high
way, when I heard q Gig close behind,
and turning saw papa.
What are you. two youngsters look
ing so cold about, and why, Randolph.
are you carrying Ernest in that way ?"
IS He was 90 cold and cross, Irephed,
not caring to enter into any explana-
tinns for faar ahnn1Ils he taken homo