The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-01-13
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One cloudy winter morning, not
less than twenty years ago, there was
an unusual commotion about GER
tain little old house standing far up
on the st. John river.
Within, Mrs. Grace sat before the
great fire place in the fore room, so
bundled up in shawls and blankets
and hoods that she could hardly
stir. In warm corner of the hearth
lay three or four hot bricks. well
wrapped in newspapers, and two
homemade robes were hanging
across chair to warm-everything
indicating preparations for a long,
cold Journey. Without, Mr.. Grace
was hitching the old red mare into
tie thills of the still older red pung,
that looked as if it might have come
over in the "Mayflower" His round
good natnred face wore a troubled
expression, ara he jerked at old
Dolly's bit once or twice in an un-
gentle way which wasn't like him.
self.
The small part Of Mrs. Grace's
face that was visible among the
folds of her home knit hood showed
the same look of anxiety, and her
voice trem bled a good deal when she
smoke to :'ne children and gave Char
ly her last directions. There were
four of the children-Dean and EN-
ma and Joe and Charley-though
Charlv was not one of the Grace
children. Mrs. Grace had taken hel
"a wee, lame mite-when there was
no one els to take her, and she often
declared she couldn't and did mi
love one of her own little ones better
than she could and did love Charly
Emma and Dean and Joe were
round, rosy little bodies of three and
five and seven years, blue eyed and
yellow hair. Charly was eleven and
she was neither round nor rosy. Hel
face was thin and her eyes were bis
and shadowy. And Charly wa;
lame. There was a pair of tiny
crutches always by her chair.
Il could not think of going" saio
Mrs. Grace, ''if Charly vas not the
wise, patient little mother | know
she is. / never was so worried II
nv life. But what can | do?"
1t was hard question to answer
indeed. For the night before hao
come a letter from a sister in a dis
tant town, saying that her mother
the children's dear old grandmother
was very i'll.
"Come at once" the letter read
1t was little to be wondered at that
the tears filled poor Mrs. Grace's
ewes, that her lips quivered and hel
voice shook.
II couldn't do tiff it was not fol
trusting in Charly SO" she repeated
time and again, in tones that brought
a pretty glow to Charly's thin face
II know you will take good care Of
them. dear. There is bread enough
baked, and | have left the jar Of
doughnuss in the closet"
"You must have what Charly
gives vou," said Mrs. Grace. "and
attend TO what Charlv says. | lock
ed the pantry door so you can
bother her by running in and out
Now "
She looked at Charly as the outel
door opened.
"ill do the best | can," said Char
ly, bravely.
know YOU will, dear. Be good
children. all of you"
There's wood enough piled up IN
the entry to last you" said Mr.
Grace. a little huskily. I'VE will be
back day after tomorrow night
sure. All ready, wife.
And in few minutes old Dolly
was jogging at her best pace down
the snowy level of the river. 1t was
thirty long miles to Dunbar Corner
81 wish they were home again,
said Joe.
"They will be before you know
it" laughed Charly. Now, I'll tell
you a siorv."
So the three little ones cuddled
around Charly's chair before the
open fire, while she told them the
wonderful story of the Three Tiny
Pigs" and from first to last they
listened breathlessly, though they
had heard the same story many
times before, no doubt. Charly had
wonderful gift for telling stories
Mrs. Grace often declared.
And Charly had a gift for some
thing besides story telling. Wher
the story came 10 an end SIZE smll
ed.
Bring me my box. will you, joey
please ?" Charly asked.
Her poor little limb was so veal
and misshapen that it was with diff
ficulty she could move about, ever
with the aid of her crutches.
Joe obeyed, climbing up on th'
wide four posted bed in the corner
and taking from a shelf above it {
square wooden box with a sliding
cover. Dean and Emma knew wha
was coming then.
"Dive me the kitty" pleaded I'm
ma.
"And me the mooses," said Dean
They're deers, goosey.' said Joe
with little scornful sniff. Let m,
see all of 'em, won't you, Charly 2
| Charly smiled in the brightes
way and pulled off the cover. Shal
| tell you what were there? Th'
; daintiest little images under tn
sun, carved all in wood, and th'
largest one scarcely four inches high
1t is true they were the work OF
lsinele awkward tool, in untaugh
Fingers, but if you had seen them,
,.o,, couId not holm pvclain