The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1883-09-21
TOMMY AND "JUMBO."


why funny brother Dick named him
."Jumbo,' after the big elephant.
He was such pretty little fellow,
and so full of fun! Whenever he found
his mother asleep in the sun he would
climb up on her soft furry back and
play with her ears and tail until she
walked up and boxed his own little ears,
as if to warn him not to be 4 saucy kit
ten. But he was saucy for all that. and
ran off with grandma ball of yarn
and tore Aunt Sally's best lace veil, be-
sides tormenting his own mother every
hour of the day.
An old apple-tree stood in the back
yard, and Jumbo-Or "Jummy," rs
he was generally called spent great
deal of his time in clambering up into
its boughs and then Immediately falling
head first on the hard ground beneath!
Then Daisy would run to him. lick his
little face, and talk to him in that soft
cat language that can be very motherly
at times. And am sure she must have
said to him: sect up, Jumbo! Be a
brave kitten, and don't cry" because
he always did get up, and he never
cried.
Both Daisy and Jumbo were the prop
erty of Tommy Derwent, who lived with
his papa and Aunt Sally in an old-fash-
toned red farmhouse way up among the
hills of New Hampshire. His dear
mamma had died when Tommy was a
little baby, but Aunt Sally had at once
d ne all She could to fill her place to the
little boy, and he loved her dearly.
Tommy had no brothers or sisters
near his own age. so he had to play
most of the time by himself, or. with
Rover, the big Newfoundland, and
Daisy and Jumbo. who were his great
est friends and allies. Indeed, all four
were constant playmates. and old Rover
often stopped on his journey across the
barnyard to give the small kitten
patronizing touch with his big red
tongue.
Away down in what Tommy's father
spoke of as the "South Meadow Lot
was little brook. so shallow and so
warm as it rippled over the stones that
he could wade in it all the morning look
ing for ''tadpoles, and not catch cold at
all. Here tommy spent many happy
hours, and here he spent one particular
afternoon that l am going to tell you
about.
1t all began with the dinner. Aunt
Sally had what Tommy called a "lovely
strawb'ry short-cake'' for dessert; but
some how she was very disagreeable.
and wouldn't give her dear little boy
but one piece. This put him in very
bad humor. and he resolved to 90 away
and spend all the afternoon in the
South Lot, an see if Aunt Sally don't
be sorry she's so cross to her little boy
when she can't find him for ever, n
ever. N ever so long!'
Filled with this great idea, Tommy
called Rover and Daisy, who were al
ways delighted to go anywhere with
their little master, and, taking Jumbo.
who couldn't always be trusted to run
after, in his arms, the procession
started.
The little brook ran cool and clear;
the old elm-tree hung its branches so
low that they dipped their faces in the
water; the crickets sang softly and
sleepily, as they do on hot July after
moons. Everything was just as usual
in the South Lot, and yet Tommy
couldn't have good time. What was
the matter? Could it possibly be that
Tommy himself was CROSSE He didn't
think so, at any rate, and only said to
himself again:
Eyes, sir! Guess she'll wish she'd
given me mother piece O. her old pie!"
And then he proceeded to look around
for something to do. But there wasn't
anything to do; it didn't seem half as
nice as usual.
Daisy lay down in the sunniest, hot
test place, and went sound asleep. Ro-
yer found cool bit of shadow under the
eim-tree and followed her example, only
waking up now and then to devour n
few impertinent flies who were taking
a promenade on his nose.
Only Jumbo and Tommy were awake.
jimmy found plenty of occupation in
chasing the little butterflies and the
tiny shadows that danced and played
with him in the sunshine. But Tommy
could find nothing to do. Generally
lie built little dams of sticks and mud,
and so made waterfalls in the brook; or
he and his beloved Jumbo played hide
and-seek in the tall grass by the fence,
while Daisy and Rover slept. But this
afternoon he cared nothing about any
of these things; even tadpoles had lost
their charm.
ugly things!" said Tommy. SCOT
too much tails on 'em! Sides, Aunt
Sally says by and by they'll be fwogs,
and who cares for fwogs wiz colds in
their fwoats! Dick says they've GOT
colds in their fwoats, and 1 guess he
knows-so! Oh, dee mel dee me! what
shall do? Guess I'd like to do some
fling to make Aunt Sally wish she'd
| let me seer'
And here Tommy stopped with a
deeply thoughtful sigh, while his eyes
wandered all around the South Lot, in
search, I am afraid, of something
naughty to do.
Suddenly he sprang up and ran with
all his speed, and with pretty Jumbo
close at his heels, untu he came to the
stone-surrounded mouth of an old well,
away off in far corner of the lot. II
had been dug long ago when this was
used for pasture-land, and even now the
clear, sweet water in it was found very
useful at times.
When Tommy first wanted to 90 and
| play in the "Souf Lot" papa objected
on account of this old well; but Aunl
Sally had said: "No, John, you neeG
not be afraid. / have great faith II
| Tommy, and if he tells me that he vii
not 90 near that well am very certain
he can he trus' d.
| Swell" answered papa, hesitating