Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-01-25
SWEET CHARITY.

of a week. and now, on the third day
of her absence, Mamma had been
driven to bed by q sick headache and
the children were taking care OF them
selves. Fred, the eldest boy, was romp-
ing about the room, using his smallest
brother, Charley, for q ''w~heelbarrow."
Five-year-old Sammy was trying to
turn q somersault in n corner. He
could not conquer the impression that
he was going to break his neck, and
therefore after gaining Il perpendicular
position his courage invariably failed
him, and he tumbled back each time on
the side he had risen from. Gerty and
Esther, with an idea of surprising their
mother with their good housekeeping,
were %scrubbing the playhouse floor,
and at intervals of about two minutes
shouting to the wheelbarrow party a
warning against upsetting the basin OF
water. They were ''being good" to
the best of their ability, but it must be
conceded that mamma, who was trying
to get a little sleep in the next room,
did not find their good behavior very
soothing to her head.
Presently the w~hcelbarrow ran
against the table, bumped its head, and
set up a howl of mingled rage and pain.
Fred, Selling Gerty's cleaning cloth,
applied soap suds to the bruise, and
fortunately Charley's eyes were too full
of tears to admit the soap, else he
might not have been easily pacitied.
Comparative quiet was at length re-
stored, but the fun was over.
"What shall we do?' asked Gerty,
d~iscontentedly.
"Let's play tag" suggested Sammy,
whose pleasures generally took a some
| what violent form.
"No. let's don't" said Esther, ''be-
cause I'm tired. We might paint"
80, paiaat!!" groaned Fred. ''Thats
just tame enough for girls" Though,
in truth, he liked the entertainment
very well himself in his serene mo-
ments.
81 know what" said Gerty. ''We'll
make butter-scotch."
''Come ahead" shouted Fred, and
catching up three-year-old Charley, a
down to the Kitchen, followed precipi-
lately by the rest of the children.
81 say, Bridget" gasped Fred, as he
set down his burden on the kitchen Ia
BILE, 1--WE want to make candy. Now do
be good and let u.s."
"PIease, Bridget" begged the others.
Bridget had been long established in
Mrs. Farnham's kitchen, and possess
ing a somewhat unusual share of dis
erection in connection with her Irish
good nature, had acquired considerable
authority as we'll as popularity with the
children. ''Sure, now. and I would"
said she, reg%retfully, "but that | was
just layin' on me things to 60 to the
savin's bank, as yer mother said l
might, and I'll be too late If I'm after
waiten for ye."
go, but you needn't wait" answered
Gerty, promptly, "just weigh out the
things and butter the plates, and we'll
do the rest. Well be Just as careful,
and not let it boil over, nor burn our
selves"
''We won't, honest" pleaded Fred.
"And I'll keep Sam and Charley
straight"
"Just try lis this o%nce,' urged Esther.
"Tll lift Off the kettle,' added Fred.
Thus besought. Bridget finally con-
sented, and having seen the work safely
begun, left the children with repeated
injunctions not to spill the candy, nor
burn the baby, o set fire to the house.
Making candy entirely on their own
responsibility proved to be uncommon
ly good fun. 1t was ''tried'' by all at
frequent intervals, and at last Gerty, in
the character of chief cook, pronounced
it done. All watched as earnestly as ii
success depended upon their breath
less attention, while Fred poured the
delicious golden-brown liquid from the
kettle to the plates, after which he
took it out of doors to cool on the snow,
and returned impatiently in the kitch.
en-. Presently a knock at the basement
door was heard, and each little house.
holder, filled with a sense of personal
importance, rushed to open it. With
out was q cold, gray day, and a raw
east wind met the warm and fragrant
candy-steam as the children threw open
the door. There stood a boy of twelve,
perhaps, poorly clad, and with some
thing pitifully pinched about his 'ex.
preston.
"Do they want their gutter cleaned
out herc?' he asked, not very conf
IDENTITY, and Fred answered in behalf o.
his constituents that they did not. The
boy turned Il little, as if to 90, then hes.
itated. and for some reason the chill
dren seemed unable to close the door
upon him. Something queer seemed
to be happening to that boy. The color
came slowly and painfully into the pale
face and tluttered strangely there,
and his eyes grew suspiciously large
and moist. He neither spoke no,
moved until Fred with abrupt but moi
unkind curiosity broke the silence with
well, now, young fellow, what ails
you:"
"You-you've got something: to eat??'
came eagerly, yet with an effort from
the strange boy.
"Well, | should hope so," answered
Fred. Haven't you?"
mot since yesterday morning"
Instantly the Mortified children had
him indoors, and he was shortly warm.
ing by the kitchen fire, and telling in
answer to q volley Of questions that his
name was Joe Allen, and he hadn't an,
folks but a big brother Tom. who haG
gone somewhere ten days ago to lool
for work aud never come back yet; anc