The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1890-09-25


hut" commented Tod.
There's no place SO nice as home,"
sagely added Bud.'-Frank II. Staufycr,
in Interior.
TOMMY'S SHOW.
4 Matinee That Gave q wOod.Sawyer .
Good Dimner.
It all began with Tommy's being
taken by Uncle Jack to Signor Blitz's
matinee.
The very next day the nursery was
turned into q hall. with Margie's half
dozen dollies seated in staring row.
and places of honor reserved fos Margie
herself, for mamma, brother Hal. lser-
tina. the nurse maid-any body, in fact,
who would be SO kind as to watch
Tommy play at wizard"
Tommy's rosy face wore very solemn
expression as 1t rose behind the little
table which he had draped with back
cloth, and furnished with mysterious
collection Of balls, rings and handker-
chiefs collected from all parts Of the
house, not to mention Margie's canton
flannel rabbit ana his own pretty stuffed
canary.
And Tommy's performances we're so
remarkable and unexpected that it was
no wonder that mamma whispered quito
loud enough to be heard upon the stage
that lit actually made her feel creepy
to have real wizard in the house,"
But the most exciting time must come
to an end, and Tommy at length grow
nd 70 If ,.ytv
dows overlooking the alley, and watched
old Gottlieb. the wood-sawyer hard at
work on great pile Of logs which Tom
my's papa had ordered cut into lengths
for the library fire.
The old mans face was thin and
wrinkled, his hair was quite white, and
his back crooked with long bending
over his work. lIe could not swing the
saw so rapidly as once, but he worked
on steadily and patiently. only stop
ping occasionally to take breath, and to
pass his brown hand across his hot fore.
head
Gottlieb and his little granddaughter
Gretchen lived all by themselves in a
small room in one of the tall tenement
houses, where Tommy's mamma went
sometimes to visit her poor people.
Tommy had once bccn there with her
when Gretchen was i'll.
just behind Gottlieb, in corner Of
the wood-pile, was his little brown-cov-
cred dinner-basket.
Tommy had SO often watched Gottlieb
at his luncheon that he could easily
guess what was in IL y great piece OF
black bread, of that he was sure, but
nothing more except a morsel of cheese,
or small bit of dried meat
IF was truly wizard, said Tommy
softly to himself, Il know what would
do. | would change that dry stuff in
Gottliebs basket into the incest dinner
that ever was cooked.
Then q bright smile tugged at the
corners Of Tommy's mouth. drawing his
rosy lips into bow, digging dimple
into the middle Of his round cheek and
setting his brown eyes dancing under
their long lashes.
Away downstairs he few to Martha.
the cook, who was busily baking GIN
gerbrcad hearts in a delicious atmos-
phere OF sriciness.
Martha was fond of Tommy, because
he was respectful, and never bothered"
SO she listened quite willingly to some
thing which he whispered in her ear.
Five minutes later. Tommy had
slipped through the cnt'y-door. crept
up behind old Gottlieb, 10, what with
the noise OF the saw and his own deaf
ness. would hardly have card the tramp
OF a regiment Of soldiers. and, snatch.
ing up the brown basket, disappeared
inside the house.
In the kitchen, all was hurry and ex-
element, for suppose only suppose
that Gottlieb should miss the basket!
The half-loaf Of blacl bread tumbled
on the floor, UNDECIDED b, any body OK
cept Carlo, the dog, wh, shifted ut it a
moment, and turned away in disdain to
his place BY the fire.
liam sandwiches. huttered rolls.
gingerbread, cookies, lovely frosted
cake, and q great rosy apple! surely
nobody but truly lizard could have
placed SO much in SO small a space!
The basket was safely replaced, and
not moment too soor, Tor just as the
log which Gottlieb was saving, fell into
two parts, the clock in the church tower
struck twelve. and tac old man laid
down bis saw with little sigh of re-
lief.
When he had made seat for himself
upon block of wood / Q set the basket
on his knees, bowling his head a mo-
ment before opening it
Meanwhile Tommy had flown to
bring mamma to the window,
while Martha peeped CT utiousiy through
half-closed shutter.
Gottlieb lifted the lii. His jaw drop
ped in surprise, and hi, old face turned
pale. Tommy squeezed his mammals
hand with all his siren 9Th to keep him.
self from shrieking alo ID in his delight.
The color came back to Gottlieb's
cheeks. and raising her eyes, he gazed
searchingly at every Tor and window.
There was no one at all to be seen,
for Tommy and his man ma had hidden
behind the curtain.
Then lovely smile overspread the
old mans face. lie toof off his shabby
cap, and while the wind futtered the
thin, white hair on his forehead, he
looked up toward Heavnn with moving
lips.
But Gottlieb ate only she sandwiches,
one Of the rolls. and the smallest piece
Of gingerbread. All tho rest he put
carefully back into the basket.
..He is saving the hest for Gretchen!"
whispered Tommy, the wizard.
A. p. Stansbury, in Youths Companion.
Tho Longest Day.
1t is quite important, when speaking