Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1885-07-30

rOSIy nlgnIS, anu dS ulduI uaJ 70 VI ANN'
and searching wind that kept Robin inI
j the house, Betty stood by window su-
Isily knitting. Nor did she turn froml
her work when Robin came in from theI
stable.
Now. father" she said, Il must make
/ the most of the little light left to finish
/ this pair of stockings. 1 promised to|
! have them ready this evening, and every
moment 1 am expecting the boy"
Seeing no preparations for supper, Rob
in drew chair to the hearth, sat down
with sigh. and spread his hands over
a few Goals glowingin the CRATE.
''Of all the boys know, he is the last
one would disappoint, if would dis
appoint any," continued the good VOL
man. a shadow flittiDg over her face as
she glanced at Robin lowering so lonely
lover the scanty fire. "He seems al
sthoughtless giddy fellow. but he is pune
Etual; remembers his promise and keeps
it,"
"Oh-yes-" said Robin, "punctualY
then in a querulous undertone, "noisy|
though, and kicks up the dust"
He will be here soon, am sure, 7
continued she, not getting the tenor of
Robins remark. "When l said thei
stockings would be ready this evening:
|his answer was: 1 will come for them.
Aunt Betty, between sundown and dark. /
Those were his words, and 1 think,
father" she added cheerfully, "when be!
|gets the stockings you can have your
cup of tea and a nice slice of toast"
This hinted expectation Of receivingI
the pay for the stockings and the conse-
lquent favorable results, moved Robin tos
ltnrn in his chair and rubbing his palms,
IA little, to repeat his former expression i
."Oh-yes -punctual! noisy, though, andE
kicks up the dust
The good woman pressing nearer theI
window to. catch the last of the twilight,
did not again break the silence save by
the click of her needles.
Her conjecture as to the coming of thes
hoy, however, was correct. He was evenS
then approaching, and had attained tbes
corner of the square where the courts
house looked over the terrace wall. 1ns
'one hand he carried shiny stick. inE
the other rusty tin teapot which hes
had taken up as he come along. CastingS
Ia vessel on the pavement, he drove it bys
successive blows with his stick to theI
ALLEY to the end of the wall. AS eachs
blow was delivered he accompanied its
with one line of popular negro melody,
and reserved the next line till he hadE
|overtaken the object of his pursuit,
meantime rattling his stick against thes
wall or the hitching posts planted alonkE
the curb. Arrived at the terminus ofE
the wall, he chose an eligible place forH
the teapot, fiourished his shinny stick. /
hurled the battered utensl boundingE
and Gathering across the alley and theS
pavement of the shoe store, and mingled
with the din at the top of his voice thes
remaining line of the melody:
"Oh, rock the cradle, Lucy,
And I'll sing you a little song"
Turning, now, he walked briskly up theE
alley between the printing Office and the :
Jail and knocked at Robins door. Hisk
well Drowned cheeks, bright eyes, ands
iviger of movement. told of wholesome
outdoor life. The outlines of his face
and form, and the bulged and plethoricE
condition of the pockets of his pants
and jacket, indicated that dozen years
at most, would embrace his experienced
His clothing was good but made of suchk
material as prudent mother puts uponH
a boy of an enthusiastic and enterprisineE
who, between the ages ofE
eight and thirteen, relies for his mainE
support upon one suspender. AS Master
Holland Winterly, he was known to az
maiden aunt and the district SCHOOL, {
teacher, to his mother and her girl Sid>s
ney, and to most others of his acquaint- 1
ances, as he was, Holly. In obediences
to Betty's come in, he opened the door
and entered.
"Now, Holly" said Betty. "your stock I
ings will soon be done, and l will have
kept my promise as you have kept
yours"
"Oh, you never break your promise.
Aunt Betty"
Look, said she, holding up her work, &
there are but few stitches on the nee
dies, before the light is gone l will run
them of, draw the thread through withH
the end of needle and it is done" She
turned again to the window and re-
sumed knitting at her greatest speed. B
To her last remark the boy made no re-
sponse, his attention being drawn to;
Robin who had risen and gropsd hiss
way to the cupboard. Let me tell youg
my boy" resumed Betty, still busily
knitting, "you will get your stockings
none too soon. Bad weather is coming,
and soon will be here. Last night, thez
night before, and the night before that,
there was heavy white frost. ThreeE
white frosts and then a rain, L have
heard. Then she proceeded to illustrate 8
the accurate working Of the rule. Rob
in meantime, closely observed by the 6
boy, opened the cupboard and failing to
discover what he sought by looking 3
among the shelves, put his hands into
all the darkened recesses he could reach. s
The search in the cupboard proving un>
he turned to stand upons
which there was something concealedE
by napkin. Removing the napkin be s