Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1889-07-26
Teddy and the Wolf,
BY TUDOR jerks.

/ you get away from the clly, ana stay
away. | will not answer for the conse-
quences.
| OF course there could be no hesitation
after that. and Mr. Rowland, Mrs. Row
land and Teddy packed up their keepsakes,
sold everything else, and transferred them
| selves to Bartonville.
! Here the breadwinner of the family
bought slender stock of goods and open
ed a small store.
"You will see how I shall prosper" he
said to his wife "My city experience
will give me a great advantage over the
other tradesmen. l shall be more bust
mess like. and if you and little Teddy will
only thrive as well as I shall make my
trade thrive, we will not regret the sitting
city,"
! So far as Mrs Rowland was concerned,
| there was nothing to complain about.
! After two months in the new home she
had grown rosy and bright; as rosy and
pretty as Teddy himself, and he was by far
the finest fve-year-old in town-even his
father admitted it.
But alas, for the thriving trade. Mr..
Rowland had put all his money into the
hoes and rakes, axes and brooms, which
stood looking so clean and trim before the
door. They stood bravely to their posts,
and equally faithful were the rolls and
boxes indoors But hardly strange foot
crossed the threshold to mar the freshly
sanded floor; only few villagers from
curiosity strayed aimlessly in and out
again, to make their purchases elsewhere.
MANY. in welcoming the new conner, had
reminded him that competition was the
| life of trade" but he was beginning TO
think sadly enough that it was also the
death of trade, at least in some cases
The rent. the butcher, the baker, the can
dlestiek- maker bad taken the few dollars
saved ''to get a start" Mrs. Rowland
darned and criss- crossed Teddy's red stock
ings into ridges and Jumps; she had turned
and fixed" her new dresses until she felt
that her worried little brain needed turn
| ing and darning, too. But their money
was gone, and the thriving trade had not
begun.
Mr.. Rowland tried to be hopeful, but his
set lips grew into grim hardness, and
he talked less and less of his prospects
as the future became more and more un-
certain.
Teddy found no fault He admired his
well-mended stockings, and pitied those
who lacked the picturesque variety OF
contrasted patches. Soon after the sun
was well above the hills, Teddy's bread
and milk made its daily visit to his bowl,
and Teddy never thought of asking awk-
ward questions in the case of either
mystery.
One morning the discouraged store
keeper went to the bank to draw his last
small balance.
"Going to close your accounts" asked
Mr.. Prentice, the president, who always
was particular to speak to his customers.
''For time, only, hope replied Mr..
Rowland, bravely, counting the few small
bits of paper with thoughts far away from
any considerations of arithmetic.
"You must not withdraw your patron
age" said the president, as he turned and
turned and walked back into his cosy of
fee.
Mr.. Rowland was unusually silent dur
ing the evening and even forgot to tell
Teddy his regular story before putting him
to bed. The little boy noticed his fathers
depression, and kept very quiet. When
his mother began to look meaningly at
the clock, Teddy came and said good
night and went to bed without a word OF
objection.
'fPoor boy! he must be tired out, said
Mrs. Rowland when she returned to the
ROOM Then she sat down to do her stock
ing basket.
But Teddy was not tired; he was think
ing. He was wandering what troubled
his father. Teddy did not mean to lie
awake, much less to listen to the conver-
sation between his father and mother.
The door was ajar, and he could not help
noticing that the usual reading aloud was
omitted nor could he fail to hear a word
or two now and then. What he heard
convinced him that he was right in think
ing his father out of sorts and worried,
and also made him sure that he knew
what the trouble was. He heard his father
saying:
$50 you see, Anna, there's no need for
me to 90 to the store | might just as
well be here with you; at least l could be
at work in the garden, and then there
would be something done toward keeping
the wolf from the door"
Teddy heard no more, for he fell fast
asleep. But when he awoke next morn
ing his mind was made up, and soon after
his plans were matured.
'Are you going to the storeP he asked
his father with some surprise, when the
goodbye kiss was given.
Eyes, Teddy; somebody may come in,
and l must be there replied the father as
he trudged slowly down the gravel
walk.
Teddy watched him anxiously and then
turned brisklv toward the house. The
first thing to do was to get his bow gun.
He did not remember where he had put it,
but that did not disquiet him-he would
ask his mother.
Mamma, where is my gunf' asked
Teddy in perfect confidence.
"Where did you leave itf" asked his
mother, little absent-mindedly. Teddy
leaned up against the kitchen table with
one small finger in his mouth and tried to
think. But he hadn't an idea. At length
Mrs. Rowland said:
''You were playing African hunter yes
terday, and borrowed your fathers big
boots. Go and find the boots, and per
haps you may find the gun, too
Teddy climbed the attic stairs, two
steps to each STAIR and was so impressed
by his mothers suggestion, that he almost
resolved to consult so clever mother about
the terrible wolf.
But Teddy was accustomed to rely upon
himself, ana had so often been told to try
his own powers before seeking help, that
he concluded to keep his own counsel.
Now that he had the gun, he sought the
next thing needed fol. his plan. This was
something that had not occurred TO him
until just as he was parting his hair that
morning, on the third trial, for Teddy lik-
ed 'the little paf to the top of the head
very straight indeed.
Mamma, can l 60 and get something
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