Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1890-09-18
MMY'S SHOW.
A Matinee That Gave u wood-Sawyer
Good Dinner.

Good Dinner.
1t all began with Tommy's being
taken by Uncle Jack to Signor Blitz's
matinee.
The very next day the nursery was
turned into hall, with Margie's half
dozen dollies seated in a staring row,
and places of honor reserved for Margie
herself, for mamma, brother Hal, Ber-
tina, the nurse maid-any body, in fact.
who would be so kind as to watch
Tommy play at wizard"
Tommys rosy face wore very solemn
expression as it rose behind the little
table which he had draped with a back
cloth, and furnished with a mysterious
collection of balls, rings and handller-
chiefs collected from all parts of the
house, not to mention Margic's canton
flannel rabbit and his own pretty stuffed
canary.
And Tommy's performances were so
remarkable and unexpected that it was
no wonder that mamma whispered quite
loud enough to be heard upon the stage
that 1T 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 grew
tired, and went to one of the rear win
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
Hn swine ha
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 been there with her
when Gretchen was ill.
just behind Gottlieb, in a 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 it-a great piece OF
black bread, of that he was sure, but
nothing more except morsel of cheese,
or small bit of dried meat
eff I was truly wizard" said Tommy
softly to himself II know what would
do. l would change that dry stuff in
Gottlieb's basket into the incest dinner
that ever was cooked.
Then bright smile tuggej at the
corners of Tommy's mouth, drawing his
.x,%~
into the middle of his round cheek and
setting his brown eyes dancing under
their long lashes.
Away downstairs he flew to Martha,
the cook, who was busilY baking GIN
gerbread hearts in delicious atmos-
phere of spiciness.
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 entry-door, crept
up behind old Gottlieb, who what with
the noise of the saw and his own deaf
ness, would hardly have heard 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 black bread tumbled
on the floor, UNDECIDED by any body ex-
cept Carlo, the dog, who shifted at it
and turned away in disdain to
his place by the fire.
Ham sandwiches, buttered rolls,
cookies, lovely frosted
cake, and great, rosy apple! surely
nobody but truly" wizard could have
placed so much in SO small a space!
The basket was safely replaced, and
not moment too soon, for just as the
log which Gottlieb was saving, fell into
two parts, the clock in the church tower
struck twelve, and the old man laid
down bis saw with little sigh of re-
lief.
When he had made seat for himself
upon block of wood he set the basket
ON his knees, bowling his head mo-
ment before opening it,
Meanwhile Tommy had flown to
bring mamma to the nursery window,
while Martha peeped cautiously through
a half-closed shutter.
Gottlieb lifted the lid. His jaw drop
ped in surprise, and his old face turned
pale. Tommy squeezed his mammals
hand with all his strength to keep HIM
self from shrieking aloud in his delight
The color came back tc Gottlieb's
cheeks, and raising her eyes, he gazed
at every door and window.
There was no one at all to be seen,
Tor Tommy and his mamma had hidden
behind the curtain.
Then a lovely smile overspread the
DID mans face. He took off his shabby
zap, and while the wind fiuttered the
hin, white hair on his forehead, he
ooked up toward Heaven with moving
Ups.
But Gottlieb ate only the sandwiches,
,ne of the rolls, and the smallest piece
If gingerbread. All the rest he put
back into the basket
HE is saving the best for Gretchen.'
whispered Tommy, the wizard. Mary
r Stansbury, in Youths Companion.