The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-08-10
Peter, Peter, pumpkin cater.
John John, tho plpcr'SSOn,
Joe, Joe, studied his toe.

Mol They only asked each other oc-
Caslonally: "Ali, WE'LL Ard how Is
Mother Antoine's lad getting onP"
Alas, he went daily from bad to worse,
Mother Antoine's poor little lad. The
son OF a consumptiVe, he suffered at
one and the same time with phthisis and
the ricketts,, and when he did not cry
from the excessive pain OF one malady,
his little body was racked by q dry,
bloody cough, which brought two bou-
quets OF dark violets to Ills wan, thin
cheeks.
During his infancy, although hecfept
a little, he was more often on his back,
nevertheless he had had periods Of re-
spite, when he was well enough to
walk a little. Then the grandmother,
who, in spite Of her years, worked as
best she could, took sim out into the
pure mir aud bright sunshine, begging
enough as they went along TO purchase
the needed remedies which lasted for
several weeks. But living in that mis-
cradle garrett opening on the court from
whence arose the insldious odor Of sew
or gas, what hope was there for perma'
manent recovery
Mother Antoine was barely able 10
CLEAN enough to keep them from dying
OF hunger. What wonder then since
December Mother Antoine's lad had
not risen from his bed; and Il was prob
able he would never rise again.
The last time he went out was lust be.
fore Christmas. That day, mutfling him
up wellin a great comforter made Of her
old shawl, and pulling her only two
pairs OF stockings over his little feet blue
with the cold, Mother Antoine led him
along the boulevards, past all the beau.
tiful toy shops brilliant as fairyland
with the glittering playthings.
This vision OF fairyland so impressed
tho wonder and Imagination Of the little
invalid that II was ever before his eyes.
He talked OF nothing else, and opening
his tiny mouth very wide in bis ecstaCy,
he spoke oft with longing and regret,
stretching out his poor, emaCiated arms
towards the mirage OF all these maryels
indellibly stamped upon his memory.
But among all these treasures, In a
certain shop near the Place de l'0pera,
there was a superb punchinello, painted
In brilliant Colors and sparkling all over
with bright tinsel, almost as tall Us the
lad himself, who, when you pulled the
string, gayly shook bis bells and FLASHED
his Cymbalg, raising his arms and kick
Ing out his legs, and at the same time
looked at you with tho most comical
grimace in the world.
"0h, how pretty he was, how pretty
L. .,,aatU ATaNhaH AnkRtAaiu lad Allan
used to cry. u suppose Q punChinello
like that costs an awful lot Of money,
Aud Mother Antoine always replied.
" will buy you one Just like that,
dearie, when we are riCher.n
"And when will that BET"
"Soon, my pet, very soon"
"And then l shall have the punchi-
nello2"
ayes, yes, you shall have 1t"
"Do you know, granny, l am sure that
| l had him nov I'd get well right
away
And this idea took hold OF the lad un-
Ill II became an obseSslon. Asthe poor
urChin grew worse, when tortured by his
pains, when the abomlnable cough shook
higwasted form until II seemed as II II
would send the breath from the frail
body, then, o, then the longing was In.
tenslhUd almost 10 aBpetity. II was eyi.
dent tho desire for the plaything In
creased his suferingg, and that In truth,
the possession OF the toy would assuage
his pain as by enchantment,
And Mother Antoine realized oil this,
Forced TO promise him the punchinello,
sho told herself thlt she ought 10 keep
that promise, there were no Other means,
save that, BY which 10 keep her chefub
alive ayes, he shall have tho punchls
nello,h she said, "and then he will be
enfed, Poor woman, she ended by DO.
iIeylng also in that foolish hope.
Yes, no shall have u, But how? Did
not he himself say With tear Of hope.
lessness In his eyes, that u cost d great
deal, a punchinvllo like that II was an
expensive toy. Twenty francs At least,
perhaps more, Where should she find
90 much gold2 Size who did nor know
the color OF silver even, and who only
saw from time 10 time some large sous
mixed among tho aims she received.
Twenty itancSl Aioftune. =.
She pawhod what wfetched clothes
had been given her when the winter
began, She sold the bread and meat she
mad obtained with 30 much pain and
trouble, fosvfvlng only enough lof the
little one while Bhgt herself tasted,
When the lad ate all alone he SAID 70
Ihofi HAre YOU not hungry granny !"
ONn VI ekH SvnNId anlVgnf. WtheV tnAllg