The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1889-03-28
BENNY'S FAiTHFULNESS.

BENNY's FAITHFULNEss.
How No Bravely Cared for Ills Little
Sister.
1T don't seem as though l ought to
leave you, Benny"
"Ho, mother! such a big boy as mcn'
..But little Kitty"
.Ho! could take care OF her il
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 a 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 work in the lum-
Der camps, and might be home almost
any time, for the winter was drawing
to a close. But il sudden storm
should arise, they would be without
any thing to eat.
II don't dare to risk IT, she said.
1T is such mild day-thawing, don't
you see. Bcnny?-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, / WON'T called Benny aft
err her. as they stood in the doorway
waving their hands.
Nov I'll give you some good coast
ing, Kitty" said Benny. .We'll SO
down the hill just kitin'."
He brought his sled and they had a
merry time. The little frame house
was built on high bank close by the
lake. AT the topof 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. boz
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 u been hard walking as the snow
got soft, and four miles is n walk and
no mistake. But you're never lonely
with me, Kitty. No indeed. I'll tell
you some stories"
II do believe it's getting cold again.
said Benny, stepping out to take look
for mother. .Whcw-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 cold
breath from every snowy bank and icy
lake.
Il hope mother won't try to get
back tonight" said Benny to himself.
ITS most as bad as last winters biz
gard. only not showing
I'VE dont mind bit if mother
doesn't come, do we. Kitty" he said.
IN 60 and feed old Brickdust, and
then well have supper
''See what I've got. Kitty he cried
in great glee as he came in. Il thought
every ear Of corn was gone but | found
this way down in a corner I'll pop
some for you. Kitty. Won't that be q
regular frolic?"
Kitty fretted little as she grew
sleepy. but Benny coaxed and peltcd
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 roured about the house.
AS the fierce wild gusts beat more
and more heavily upon it, he Won
dercd if his mother was safe, and what
he should do if the house should blow
away.
I'D just hold on to little Kitty" he
whispered, as he crept closely to hel
side.
I'm so cold. so coldr' cried Kitty
when she awoke in the morning.
Never mind, Kitty! I'll make I
good fire."
Benny's fingers grew stiff as he bull
1t. but he did not mind that when tht
fire blazed and cracked.
''Hear it roar. Kitty! Won't we bt
warm nowp" He brought her near it
and dressed her while they talked
about mothers coming back.
.'But--how it does roar! What's thu
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, fannet
by the cruel wind. Fire! Fire!"
But no help was near. lie 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 upo
her, wrapped the bedclothes about her
and seated her on bunch OF hay. II
looked wistfully across the lake at tn
little village.
III we were only over there! Whe
will mother Gomez"
The surface Of the lake sparkled i
the sunlight. The snow was froze
into crust as solid as ice.
If could only draw Kitty o,
there!' he said; but he knew that
such wind both might be lost.
He tried to fasten the sheet over th
window to keep the wind from Kilt!
hut it blew about so that he conl
hardly hold it. and just then a hrigf