The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1884-02-21

vicinity; there was no life-saving sta
ton there, and they wanted none-for
reasons of their own.
So Doll got the milk, and after he
had made the fire burn took the little
creature on his lap and tried to feed it.
He wished ii had been a kitten, for
then it could have fed itself; but it
winked its great blue eyes at him, and
spluttered and choked until he was
scared out Of his wits. 1t wakened his
father, who was now grooming with
pain, and to quiet it Doll thought of a
way of feeding entirely original with
himself-he dipped the end of q towel in
the milk, and the child sucked it.
| 1t was slow work, but it succeeded,
and Doll had the happiness of seeing
| the hungry little creature satisfied.
Then he fondled and caressed it, just
as he would have done kitten, and its
warm breath was sweet as it snuggled
| against his rosy cheeks. All day long
this wns repeated, and at night he built
a big fire, and drew his bed beside it,
keeping the child still in his arms.
The next day he warmed water and
tried to battle il; but, between the soap
suds and the kicking and screaming, he
was glad to wrap it up again in one OF
| his own coarse but clean garments, and
quiet its cries.
Still Doll was supremely happy in
his new possession. He had often
wished for brothers and sisters, but
this was much better; it was all his
own, and he took the tiny fist in his
grasp with fatherly fondness, only one
thing marring his JOY, and that was
Pop.
Poor Pop was very i'll; all day long
he moaned and moaned, and refused
food; nothing but little clam Juice
passed his lips; and Doll began to
think something must be done. What
the something should be he did not
know, but he would try just as he had
done for the baby.
When he went over to Granny Cranes
for his next pennyworth of milk he
asked her for some boneset, and she
gave him q big bunch of the herb.
This he stepped in hot water, and gave
his father to drink. Pop certainly did
get better after he had swallowed a big
pitcherful; but there seemed to be
something the matter with his legs, and
| Doll did not dare to touch them; so
there was nothing to do but travel off
five miles away, and ask DIR. Perkins
to come over. 1t would have been too
great trial for Doll to leave the baby,
so he didn't do it; he just bundled it
up in an old piece of bed-quilt, and
started on his journey. Fortunately
he did not have to go the whole way,
for he met the Doctor on the road.
The gig was going slowly, and when
Doll stopped it stopped, for the Doc
tors horse knew when to do this quite
as we'll as his master.
$50 something's the matter with Pop,
eh?" said the Doctor. well, I'll come
down that way before | go home.
What have you got there-clams
mo, sir.
well, 1 was in hopes you had some
they're wanting them at home"
I'll bring 'em sure, Doctor soon as
you take a look at Pop" answered Doll,
in great hurry to get off, and scud-
ding away as fast as his legs could carry
| him.
THAT was an odd sort of o bundle he
carried" thought the Doctor, as he
tickled his horse with his whip.
lie still thought it odd when he was
gently but firmly handling Pops poor
bruised body, finding one leg broken,
and the other one almost as badly hurt.
Doll was crouching over his bundle
| In the most remote corner of the room,
unaware that the Doctors keen eye was
watching him. He thought the Doctor
wouldn't find out what it was, but his
little charge was hungry, and he could
not prevent its crying.
Hello, Doll that's queer kind of q
kitten" said the Doctor.
faint no cat" said Doll, indig-
nantly.
"What under the sun is it, then ?"
There was no use in trying to conceal
it any longer.
Its baby, that's what it is, an it's
mine; amt it, Pop?" said Doll, holding
his treasure closely, but still proud to
show the little fair head, and fists like
crumpled rose leaves.
"A baby Good gracious Where did
you get that, Doll?"
81 didn't find it-Pop did; but I'm
going to keep it till it's called for"
at IL be long while fore that's
done, said Pop, feebly. ut was the
only one could save-all the rest went
down. There were three men an a
woman, an 1 might have saved her bat
for the baby. She couldn't hold on
long enough, though, an the wind was
orful."
"Ah! 1 heard there was schooner
ashore the other night"
THAT was it.
81 must make inquiries. And this
child-poor little thing twill have to
go to the county house"
mo, it sha'n't," sobbed Doll. "Pop
says I may keep it. It's his find, an
nobody wants it. L say, Doc, I'll bring
you clans every day if you'll let 1t alone
with me-"
Nonsense, child! How can you
bring up baby?'
al can, an will" said Doll, proud
and defiant.
The Doctor laughed, and turned
toward his patient, who, laying his
hand on his arm, said softly, Let him
be, Doc; it's Christmas, We know, an
amt got nuthin' else ter give him."