The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1886-04-29

house, Wnefe Upclo i I'm makes faces
at me, and old Mrs. Hatch's hand
shakes so that she spills her tea ali
over the table" a,. t4'.s %
But the afternoon wore on-Sat-
afternoon, always Che busiest of the
week--and Mrs. Calf, the matron be.
gan to be uneasy about the youngest
inhabilant of the teHnheuse.
'tShe can't be drowned, for the
brook isn't deep enoagh." said Mrs
Calf. "Bat 1 s'pose strange child
could be lost in them woods. I'm
Almost sorry now let her 60. FL
she isn't back bydark Ill sendF oolisl,
Frank after her. I guess he's got
sense enough to bring her home il he
finds her. ~ @-....f., ~. r.
Uncle Zeb and Aunt Ruey Water.
son were sitting at their supper--a
pot Of weak tea, some bread and
butter, and dish of stewed peaches
when the door opened softly, and
in came little girl of Eve years old,
with sunbonnet flung back from
her brown curls, and her apron full
of pale pink arbutus.slender stemmed
wild flowers and blue vioIetS
Aunt Ruey started back.
ATS Neliy!" said she, startled at
the wonderful resem blance to the
fail face that was now confined and
buried. - d. -ss 49,. 'f"4'
Lord save us!'' gasped Uncle Zeb.
who, like most men. was not without
spice Of the superstitious in his
nature. ''Den't 60 nigh her. Ruey,
maybeshe ain'treal. .......
Yes, I'm Nelly" said the child,
emptying her flowers into the old
lady's lap. ave brought you some
Easter flowers -.
And she looked solemnly around
her at the fire in the deep chimney
place. the shining copper kettle, the
blossoming rose tree in the window,
and the red reflections of sunset on
the wall. csa s:2 fa. Z#.Ei.-- ~.
LA sakes!" said Aunt Ruey, look
ing heIplessly first at the flowers and
then at the child, "where did you
come from?' - s.. ra' ..' ..
"From the townhouse," said Nell.
But temorrow is Easter Day. l
counted it up from the calendar that
hangs under the clock shelf in Mrs.
CATS room. Mamma said ! was to
come home on Easter.
Uncle Zeb put out his coarse,
wsiskled hand and touched Nell's
hair as softly as if she had been
piece of Dresden china, in danger of
breaking. : ss.ssls,lsss. - : -
She's a pretty little creatur, aims
shea" said he. "Come here, child.
Will you give me kiss?''
eyes, answered Nell, putting her
coral lips Mp to the old mans wither-
ed face,and climbing unceremonious-
ly upon his lap. "Now give me some
bread and milk" ..: ..3. -.' e.
'tWell, 1 declare, Zebl'' cried his
sister. "Ef you don't look queer with a
little child settin' oh your knee!''
Uncle Zeb wriggled himself this
way and that. 'l1.."s."'t rs.'. "..2 4
Il don't know 'zactly how it looks"
said lie,"but tell you it feels mighty
slick. Amt she got eur Nelly's eyes
right over ag'in? Get her some
bread and milk, Riley. Easter! Is
is really Easter tomorrow You and
me. Rue, we hain't been to church in
a powerful long time. Let's try how
it seems tomorrow. Ye s'pose we
could make the little gal up bed on
the old trundle in the west room ?"
"You ainv going to keep her?'
said Aunt Ruey, with eager, ques-
tionlng eyes full of certain Joy.
. Uncle Zeb stroked the soft, brown
Well. I Dunno" said he. ut seems
'mosta pity to send her back there,
doesn't itP' : az,r.ra t...# f-%2 !
Aunt Ruey reflected. '@a Afi
'I've most a mind to try how i
like her." said she. II allus was
partial to cats. and it does seem a
we'll behaved child needn't be much,
more trouble about The house than a
eat" ...., ...-@ ~.
And when she had brought in
blue edged bowl full of milk and a
gcodly slice of bread, she actually
gathered up the fast willing flowers
and put them in cracked pitcher on
the mantle. ~aslfl e.5..i ~
"La!'' said she, as she turned
around, eff the poor child hasn't fell
dead asleep. with her head agin your
Zeb sdee."
81 guess you'd better undress her
and put her to bed" said Uncle Zeb,
gently laying down the limp little
figure, with its cheeks flushed with
slumber. Wen go right up and put
The j'ints of the old trundle together.
you and me.'sb EDS tb8dila ,est5. 4
Aunt Ruey wasa little awkward
with the buttons and strings. 1t was
a long time since her stir old hands |
had wrought such work as this; but
Nell never woke up. lEsa
"She does look dreadful pretty |
there, fast asleep" said she. "I-It
guess we'll keep her, Zebedee.'
az guess We will" said the old
man. ssgsl.o4 vi aaa4
"Folks'Il call us dreadful silly"
"Let 'esA." said Uncle Zebedee.
When Foolish Frank, from thei
came, to know .tef they |
hadn't nOwliar seen little girl"
Uncle Zebedee informed him that
they had decided to keep little Noll
Arbush. ,ii ~ tsg..ssts, 20 ss4ns II
s ssEh Pr said Foolish Frank. 1sFor |