The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-06-16
A PAIR OF WOODEN SHOES.


1t was pleasant afternoon, and little
Rollo and his Uncle Toby were standing
on the street in Antwerp, looking at the
strange sights passing before their eyes.
The one which had led to the boy IS words
was the odd one partially described
boy and dog harnessed together, and
drawing a cart filled with vegetables.
Such scenes are not uncommon across
the sea, and Rollo had met with several
such during his tour.
The boy was rudy little fellow OF
ten. He was bareheaded, and had pair
of wooden shoes on his feet. The dog
was nearly as tall as he, and was indus
triously pulling his share OF the load.
"Come here, Wooden Shoes called
out Rollo in his Dutch tongue.
The cart came to halt, and the boy
looked il establishment at the well-dressed
little foreigner who had spoken.
"Yes, mean you," continued Rollo,
holding out his hand. 81 would like to
talk to you a moment"
"Wooden Shoes" spoke to the dog, and
in little while the funny team stood be-
fore Rollo and his Uncle Toby.
"Do you like your work 2" asked the
American boy.
"We don't get very tired,-do we,
Wasser ?" was the answer; and the Ant
werp boy patted the big dog gently on
the head.
"Whgt does your father do ?"
"He is in your country, boy"
"In America ? And why didn't he
take you along ?"
"He did not have the money. Wasser
and I are trying to earn enough to pay
our passage,"-and the boys eyes
seemed to brighten with anticipation.
"We take vegetables to the markets for
people; and when night comes, we drop a
little money-it is not very much-inso
our strong box. Every penny helps, you
know. After while we may have enough
to 60 to father in your country. There
Wasser and won't have to pull TO-
gether."
"Would you like to go now ?"
The boy clasped his hands with delight;
and Wasser, as il he had understood the
question, gave joyful bark.
"Uncle Toby and 1 are on our way
home, Wooden Shoes continued Rollo.
"We expect to sail next week, and il you
can get ready, you and Wasser shall go
along. I have enough to pay your pass
age, and I want you to grow up IN the
great country love-"
The Joy of the Antwerp boy cannot be
described. He poured out his thanks to
Rollo, and would have kissed his hand il
he had suffered.
1T may be bread cast upon the waters
Uncle Toby" said Rollo, when the boy
and Wasser with their CARLOAD of vege-
tables had disappeared. "This boy has
nothing to bind him to this land OF odd
Scenes and odd people. His only rela'
tive is in our country trying to get home
and he may need the strong arms OF his
little boy. Little Hermann shall go with
us when we go. like his blue eyes and
his wooden shoes"
It was just week later when ship
left the shores of Holland. Two boys
stood on the deck, and watched the
quaint gables and steeples of Amsterdam
fade from view; and when one turned
Z away with moistened eyes, there sounded
the tread of wooden soles.
The Antwerp boy, accompanied by his
dog, reached New York with Rollo and
Uncle Toby, and was put on the cars fol
the distant State where the father was.
"What do you think Of Wooden Shoes
now, Rollo ?" asked the uncle, when the
cars had steamed out OF the great bust
ling depot.
ST am sure I shall be proud OF him,
was the reply. she is not harnessed tt
Wasser any longer, though they are com
panions, and some day we shall hear from
both"
1t was quite long time before let
ter came, and then it was so badly writ
tsn and spelled by young beginner il
English that Rollo worried long time
with it before he made it out.
Hermann and Wasser had found the
Dutch settler In a new country, and al
were happy. The boy was going Il
school, and his letter 10 Rollo was hi
first attempt to write the new tongue.
Then came another silence, and after
that another letter, a little better thar
the first. " The wooden shoes are taking
longer steps," said Rollo to his Uncle
Toby one day. "By and by they viii
walk like man. Then won't 1 be proud
of the boy brought across the sea ?"
Several years went by at last witt
hardly a word from the Antwerp boy
Rollo wondered often il he had forgotten
him. Perhaps Hermann had moved far
Their vest, and was too busy to think o.
writing him.
81 fear you have lost the wood shoes
Rollo," the uncle said. Boys forget
sometimes, and this one may be like the
rest. Wooden Shoes and his father may
be growing proud and"