Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1885-11-06
LITTLE MITTS.
Told BY an English Toll. Gate Keeper.

dows OF NY little house by tho toll.
gate shook and shuddered with the
weather-acue.
After midnight there came ina hard
some man with a soft voice. ilewant-
ell to wait for 5hc early morning mail
coach, he s.lil.
He was showily dressed, with great
glossy plume on his peaked hat. On
his velvet cloak, with cherry-ripe lin
ing, was silvery lace. He was very
easy and frank, and he pleased me
much.
"You must be lonesome here, old
gentleman, he said in a musical
voice, "since you say you have no
wife or child II you had a little pratt
tier here, guess YOU would be good
to it2''
"Of course would, returned, and
then we both dropped into drowsy
silence, and listened to the low wood
chuck-likc singing OF the greenwood
sap.
was the first to speak. "Mister,"
said !, at is none of my business, but
excuse INC il ask what is your occu-
PATTON
"Oh, ce-tn;nly," he replied. IL am
travelias Wizard, a conlurer n ira
gelian AZ times. | live upon the
whims Of the public
Soon after stretched out and was
Just going of TO sleep, when | heard a
queer noise, noise like the cry OF a
child, where my filagreed gentleman
sat
What is that sir?" inquired.
II am doing it for my own diver
sion" he explained, so | won't drop
TO sleep and losethe coach am also
a ventriloqust. | can initiate pee
wish child 90 perfection.
"Go ahead, said !.
"Soon." said he; and presently; If /
ever heard "A tired child. it seemed as
il hear one then, and the last re-
member. before fell asleep, was hearing
faint cries, growing fainter, OF "iatper!
"mother
When opened my eyes again, the
gray face Of dawn was at the window,
the snow wis clicking upon the door,
the coach had come and gone and gone
too was my fantastic gentleman.
But there was something strangely
warm near my face and neck.
"Scatv lcried. thinking old puss had
crep: near. as the room grew colder
towards morning.
But instead OF "A cat, there lay tn,
brightest little Girl. in n blue hood anc
mink wrap the littlegirl'my Tine gen
tlen,an had Al. the while under ms
cloak. whe, lac was pretending to be
ven:riloqui>t.
"IIooray" ] shouted. nervous anC
bewildercd.
what doorname?" demanded Blue
Hood.
"Calcb NIiti eng, ! replied. as meei
before tins balpe a. if it had been Pres
dent 90 the Turnpike Company.
Caleb Mi tHia, Caleb Mittens lspe'
the little ming Then | must b
Little Mittcns-I.ittle Mitts; doc mus
call me Little Mitts.'
"All right Little Mitts 1t is" sal
"Doo is doing 20 be dood?' turtle
inquired Little Mitts.
promised to "be dood, and froi
that moment and this promise tn
child chung to me like II slender VII
with ,lecpcrS.
She went nearly wild over the o.
ditles OF the old dollhouse, the snu'
colored cai the brass-headed andiron
and particularly the tall moon-face'
old-iashioncd clock.
al know" she clipped, wy dc
make tina. clock stand up and fold
4 1, | "a m hppn
and it's got to stay there and coui
eyer so many before it can come dow
and play" j.,
Held he. 20 the window. 10 see &
snownakcs sitting steadily down.
go Mittensl" she exclaimed, layi
her pink palms togcthcr like mat
sea-shc,lr. "Scc. sec, The world is Il
ing ND with white flies and millers.
I'm the window light had a IAN
view other pretty tace.
Upon the matter OF eyes, natu
seemed TO have been undecided, for
eve was sky blue and the other a go
black. One day asked her about
"'Tos." explained Little Mitts, 81
mamma nus blaze eyes, and my pa
black, and was my mammals a
papa's Girl both"
But beyond the color OF the ey
and "a grca, big, ever so big, hot
among high iicc., hermemory did !
40 i'm The recall OF the events OF
mysterious babyhood.
From tho first time she saw the t.
bar swung. il became to her sou
OF boundlcss delight. causing her OF
TO shout and dance with a glee Il
was almost n rapture.
a Every passer through the gate,
man or animal, interested her, and '
interviewed by her. Once n sh,
berder camc up, with several hund
heads. whcreupon she ran to me,
diant with surprise, and shouting
30 Mittcns, come out. come {
auickl There's whole big lots Of q