The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1885-03-28
"BUT THEM"
A Queer Name for Little Girl, and How
She Came b. 1t.


A Queer Name for ! Little Girl, and How
She Came b. It.
1t was queer name for a little girl,
and it was not her real name-that was
Lizzie but everybody called her But
Then"
"Course my real name is prettier, but
then, Ike the other pretty well, q" she
said, nodding her short brown curls
merrilly And that sentence shows Just
how she came by her name.
If Willie complained that it was q
miserable, rainy day, and they couldn't
brightly:
YES; but then, it's real nice day to
fix our scrap-books,
When Roo fretted because they had
so far to walk to school since they had
'moved to this horrid out West" his
little sister reminded him:
But then, it's all the way through
the woods you know, and that's ever
so much nicer than walking on pave
ments."
When even patient Aunt Maria pinned
little because the rooms in the new
house were so few and small compared
with the comfortable Eastern home. a
rosy face was quickly lifted to hers with
the suggestions:
But then, little rooms are the best
to cuddle all up together in, don't you
think, auntie9"
Better cal her Little But Taen,'
and have done with itn' declared Rob.
half-veXed. half-laughing. No matter
how bad anything is, she is always
ready with her but Them and some
kind Of consolation hitched on TO the
end of it. >
And so, though no one really intended
it, the new name began. There were
good many things that the children
missed in their new and ruder home in
the West. Money could have bought
them even there, but if the money had
not gone first, their father would
scarcely have thought it necessary to
leave his Eastern home They had done
what was best under the circumstances.
still the boys felt rather inclined to
grumble about it one winter morning
when they were starting off TO the vii
Hage on an errand.
just look at all the snow going TO
waste, without our having a chance to
enjoy it!' said Will; land the ice too
all because we couldn't bring our sleds
with us when we moved
But then you might make one YOUR
self, you know. 1t wouldn't be quite
so pretty, but it would be just as good"
suggested little But Then.
Exactly what | mean to do as soon
as can get money enought to buy two
or three boards; but | havn't even that
yet, and the winter is nearly half
gone"
IF we only had sled to-day, Sis
could ride, and we could 90 on the
river" said Rob. OTIS Just as near
that way, and we could 90 faster"
1T is 3 pity" admitted the little girl,
with a momentary clouding of her
bright face. ':But I've thought of
something old chair in the shed!
If we turned it down, its back would
be most like runners, and So"
"Ilurrah! That's the very thino!N
interrupted the boys, and the old chair
was dragged out in a twinklinC and
carried down to the river. Then away
went the merry party, laughing and
shouting, on their smooth road between
the snowy hills, while Gyp followed,
frisking and barking, and seeming to
enjoy the fun as much as any of them.
( ''Now Wen draw our rig up here
close under the bank, where nobody
will see it, and leave it while we 90 up
to the store" said Rob, when they had
reached the village.
Their errand was soon accomplished,
and the children ready to return; but
as they set forth VIII pointed to a dark
spot little way out on the ice.
Whats that? 1t looks like a great
bundle of clothes"
1t was a bundle that moved and
moaned as they drew near, and proved
to be girl little larger than Lizzis,