The Arizona sentinel. [volume] (Arizona City [Yuma], Yuma County, A.T. [Ariz.]) 1872-1911, 1889-04-13
BENNY'S FAITHeULNESS.
How He BraveIy Cared for His Lit
Of

OlStcrs
"It don't seem as though l ought to
leave you, Benny"
''Ho, mother! such big boy as me!''
''But little Kitty"
''IIo! l could take care of her if
there was half dozen of her."
Still mother felt uneasy. She went
and took another look into the little
cupboard to see if she could wait lit
tie longer. But the small bit of bacon
and the meal in the bag did not look
any larger than they had looked be-
fore And she knew that there were
very few potatoes left.
Father was away at workin the lum-
ber camps, and might be home almost
any time, for the winter was drawing
to close. But if sudden storm
should arise, they would be without
any thing to eat.
II don't dare to risk it," she said.
''It is such mild day-thawing. don't
you see, Benny?-that can easily walk
around the lake And Uncle Robert
will bring me and the things back in
his sleigh. You can take Kitty out on
your sled to-day. And don't you let
her out of your sight.
Il won't, 1 won't" called Benny aft
er her. as they stood in the doorway
waving their hands.
'Now I'll give you some good coast
ing, Kitty" said Benny. 'We'H go
down the hill just kitin'."
He brought his sled and they had
merry time. The little frame house
was built on high bank close by the
lake. At the top of this Benny started
his sled and it went "kitin'," sure
enough, down, down, down, and far
out on the deep snow which lay over
the ice But at length the snow, under
the beams of the afternoon sun, be-
came too soft, and Benny took Kitty
| into the house.
Now, we'll watch for mother, Kit
ty. She can't be here yet, though. 1t
must a. been hard walking as the snow
got soft, and four miles is walk and
no mistake But you're never lonely
with me, Kitty No indeed. Pll tell
you some stories"
II do believe it's getting cold again, !"
said Benny, stepping out to take look
for mother "Whew-I guess It's!
Takes hold and bites"
Benny gladly got out of the way OF
the wind. Old Boreas and Jack Frost
had taken little vacation lately, but
had surely begun to attend to business
again. They were flying over wood,
hill and prairie gathering a cold
breath from every snowy bank and icy
lake.
Il hope mother won't try to get
back tonight" said Benny to himself.
ats most as bad as last winters biz
zard, only not showing"
1--WE don't mind a bit if mother
doesn't come, do we, Kitty?'' he said,
'Tll go and feed old Brickdust, and
then we'll have supper.
.'See what I've got, Kittyp he cried
in great glee as he came in. II thought
every ear of corn was gone, but found
this way down in corner. I'll pop
some for you, Kitty. Won't that be a
regular frolic?"
Kitty fretted a little as she grew
sleepy, but Benny coaxed and peUted
her until the pretty, curly head sank
on his shoulder. He carried her to the
bed and kissed her very tenderly as he
covered her.
How lonely the little fellow felt as
the wind roared about the house.
AS the fierce wild gusts beat more
and more heavily upon it, he Won
dered if his mother was safe, and what
he should do if the house should blow
away.
''rd just hold on to little Kitty" he
whispered, as he crept closely to he1
side.
.I'm so cold, so cold" cried Kitty,
when she awoze in the morning.
Never mind, Kitty! I'll make
good fire."
Benny's fingers grew stiff as he built
it. but he did not mind that when the
fire blazed and cracked.
Hear it roar, Kitty! Won't we be
warm now?" He brought her near it
and dressed her while they talked
about mothers coming back.
"But-how it does roar! What's the
matter?"
Benny ran out of doors. With hi:
first glance at the low roof his hear
stood still. No wonder it roared
Half the roof was in blaze, famed
by the cruel wind. Fire! Firer'
But no help was near. He seized
Kitty and ran with her to old Brick
dust's stable. One or two other run
he made into the burning house, bring
ing out all the clothing and bedding
he could find. Then the roof fell IN
and nothing more could be saved.
He put Kitty's cloak and hood upol
her, wrapped the bedclOtbes about her
and seated her OH bunch of hay. H
looked wistfully across the lake at tn
little village.
IF we were only over there! Whe
will mother Gomez"