The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-03-01

One cloudy winter ming not less than
twenty years ago, thee was Al unnsual com
motion about certain III tie old house stand.
ing far up on the 81. John River.
Within, Mrs. Grace Sat before the great
| fireplace Ia the fore room, NJ bundled mp 10
thawls and blankets and hoods that she could
scarcely STIR. In . warm corner OF the hearth
| lay three or four hot bricks we'll wrapped ia
newspapers, and two home made robes were
hanging across chair to warm, every thug
indicating preparations for long cold jour.
| ney. Without Mr. Grace was hitchng the
| old red mare into the thills OF the still older
red pung that looked az II IL might have
come over IN the Mayhower. HIS round,
good nAtured face wore q troabled expires
sion, and he ierkod at old Dollya bit once or
twice In an ungente way, which wasn't like
/ hmtelf
The small part OF Mira Grace's face that
was visible among the folds OF her home-knit
hood showed the same look Of anxiety, aud
her voice trembled good deal when she
spoke 10 the children and gave Charly her
last directions. There were four OF the chill
dren, Dean aud Emmy and Joe and Charly,
| though Cbarly was not one of the Grace
| children. Mrs. Grace had taken her. wee
lame mite when there was no one else 10
take Der, and che often declared she couldn't
and didn't love one Of her own little ones
better than she could or did love Charly
Emmy end Dean aud Joe were round, rosy
liiile bodies OF three and five and seven
years, blue eyed and yellow haired. Charly
was eleven, and she was neither round nor
! rosy. Her face wac thin, and Der eyes we're
big ard shadowy. And Charly WAS lame;
there was pair OF tiny crutohes always by
her chair.
~ couldn't think OF golngn said Mr..
| Grncc. III ChNly wasn't the wise patient
little mother know she 10. / never was so
worried In my life. But what can DO p
Ii Was a hard question to answer, indeed.
For the night before had come letter TO
Mrs Grsce from her sister In distant town
sayir & that her mother-the children's dear
old grandmamma-ua3 very, ve,y I'll.
Come ut once" the letter read; aud II wal
n week cd when Mr. Ringgold, wh) lived
two miles above them, bat WAS yet their
| nearest neighDor IN the sparsely .setled 70.
gioD, brought 1t from the post.ofii %. five
miles below. IL was little 10 be wondeget
at that the tears filed poor Mrs. Grace's
eyes, that her lips quivered. and her voice
| snook.
L couldn't do II II IT was not for trusting
in ChnIly So she repeated time and again
in tones that brought a pretty glow 20
Charly's thin little face. III know you'll take
coed care OF them, dear. There's bread
enough baked, and I've lett the jar Of dough-.
nuts Ia the closet .
"Oh, good againi' cried Joe. Can't we
have all We want2 Won't IL be fan, Charly p
"Iou must have what Charly gives you, y
said Mrs Grscs, and attend 10 what CharIy
tags. I've locked the pantry door 80 yon
can't bother her by running in aud GU
Now" She locked at Charly as the outer
door opened.
'Pll do Just the best cam" said Charly,
brayey.
i know you Will, dear. BE good children
oil OF you.'
There's wood enough piled up In the en-
try T. last you,' said Mr.. Grace, IA little bus
kily. I'VE shall be back day after TO NOR.
row night, sure. All ready, wife" And q
few moments later Old Dolly was jogging al
her beat race down the enowy level of the
river. 1t was thirty long miles 10 Dun6ar
Corner.
II wish they were home again. said Joe.
They will be before you know it,"
laughed Chsrly. Now I'll tell you q
So the three little ones cuddled around
Cha lys chair before the open fire while she
told them the wonderful tale of the "rhree
Tiny Pigs" and from first to last they lis
tened breathlessly, though they had heard
the same story many times before, no doubt.
Charly had a wonderful gift for telling SO.
ries, Mrs Grace often declared.
And Charly had gift for something be-
sides storytelling, When the stories came
TO an end she smiled.
Bring me my box, will you, joey,
pltaer ChaIly asked. Her poor little limbs
were 80 weak and misshapen thatit was with
difficulty she could move about, even with
the aid OF her crutches.
She obey(d, climbing up on the wide four
posled bed in the corner, and taking FROM a
she'll above 10 square wooden box with 4
sliding cover. Dean and Emmy knew what
was coming then.
"Dlve me he kitty" pleaded Emmy.
"And me the moostsh said Dean.
They're deers, goosey." said Joe, with
little soornful snih. Let me see al OF 'em
won't you, Charlv2'
Cherly smiled in the brightest way, and
pulled oil the cover. Shall tell you what
were there2 The daintiest little images IN
der the sun, carved all I'm wood, and tho
largest one scarcely four inches high II II
true they were the work OF single awkward
tool in nntaueht fingers hut II Won had seer
them am sure you could not have helped
exclaiming with Joe and Dean ano Emmy
'Ob, Chariy, how pretty they arel"
They were exceedingly true TO life, too
There was the old house cat, which Emmy
instantly appropriated, why you could al
mOst bear her dTowsy plrr; AVID there wer,
Deans "moof es'' with treir delicate branch
ing horns, and pair of II bbits eating clover
and q cunning, creeping baby, and Their,
was old Dolly herself, standing with droop
ing head and Topped ears-iszy Doll.
"rd know her anywheres," laughed Joe
Charly laughed too, and fingered her treas
ures lovingly. Her CHEEKS glowed and hel
| eyes were starry.
do you think they're nice r' she asked
'Ae nice as some they have in the stores "a
Christmas time, Joeyr
Nicer" returned joe, in tone expires
siye of great wisdom aud experience, "a
whole heap nicer"
WELL" pursued Charly, I'm going IL
make ali / can, and when get enough ri
send them TO sell. MIS-. Ringgold said the,
ought to be bali a dollar apiece"
"O-oh' cried Jee. quite taken absck b.
this pros pect of IN boun ded ealth, "Whasl
you 90 with SO much?"
II know" putin Dean. You'll get cured
won't yon, Charly7"
The quick tears sprang to Charley's dsrl
eyes. II will, IL can" said she, and SD,
pulled Emmy to her. and hid her face in ths
bsby's yellow curls Maybe can't 4"
Mr.. Perks tad you could IL you could gC
| to see DIR. Lester. He can cure everything I"
"But it'll cost great lot OF money-may
be $780," said Charley. I'D have to max.
200 of these, Joey"
"Well, you amt going to wait that long,
declared Joe stoutly. Father says just al
soon's tho old farm pays anything, he's 90
ing 10 take you to Fredericton to see DIR
Lester. Maybe twill pey next summer
we're going to have Is COW then. And We
haven't been here long enough yet, yor
know
"Tbarll be real nice,n said she. Nov
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