The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1891-01-21
Our Mons ano Girls.
Jim's Engine.


1t was long after supper-time. / am
sure of this, because Hannah had cleared
off the table and gone into the kitchen
to write letter home to Sweden; and
there was no one in the dinng-rOOm ex-
cept mouse that was lazily picking up
crumbs the baby had dropped. Besides
all this, | know in another way, too;
for the baby was fast asleep in his bed
upstairs.
1t was perfectly ridiculous for me to
call him the baby, for he was really ii big
boy half-past five years old; but every
body called him that, 80 ! must.
Mamma came into the hall; and what
do you suppose she saw there the very
first thing? 1t was nothing more nor
less than big iron engine, with red
smokestack and only three wheels. 1t
must have had four wheels one of those
days, but now it just got along the best
way it could on three. Now, that en-
CINE did not belong to the baby at all;
aud mamma guessed Just right when
she suspected her boy had taken it that
very afternoon when he was over play
ing with Jim Boggs. / tell you what,
mamma did not like that at all: so she
started upstairs with all her might.
Babyl"
But nothing stirred under the bed
clothes.
Ba-byl"
Umpl"
Are you awaken
Perhaps so; tomorrow"
8" No, now"
BY this time he was sitting up in bed,
trying to rub his eyes open with his
eight fingers and two thumbs.
Mamma was standing there with the
candle, and looking just as savage as
that particular mamma could possibly
look.
" Baby, whose engine is that down
stairs?"
"You mean, ma ma, the one with
the red smokestack and only three legs?"
YES" said mamma, "thats the
very one"
"Well, them" replied the baby, as
he settled down into bed again, "that
b'longs to jim"
" Did he say you could have it?"
The baby thought for quite a long
time, and then said: Seems to me he
didn't. expect just took it,"
Come" said mamma, putting down
the candle: "you must get right up
and take it back"
But l haven't got any clothes on,
said the baby.
"No difference, 3" said mamma. Y GU
can dress, and I'll stay here to button
your Shoes
ooh, dearl"
But he had to do it, can tell you;
and, when he came down stairs, there
was the engine quite ready to be taken
home.
Have l got to 90 all alone?" And
the little boy opened the front door and
looked out The lights were burning
in the streets, hut phewl wasn't it dark
between them?
~ tell you what" said mamma, as
her cold, stony heart softened little al
last: "Tll stay here by the window
and perhaps you can see me all the way
over" Well, and so-oh, yes, Their
the baby clattered down the front steps
aud, after running straight into the bis
lilac bush at the corner of the house
and almost going head frst over the hi!
stone down the driveway, he LOOKED
around, and there was mamma, SURE
enough, standing and waving goodbye
Pretty tough" said the baby tt
himself; but he tramped on over thu
hill and down to the fence that raj
across Jim's back yard. He craweC
through, and went on tiptoe up thu
steps to the door.
" Guess I'll Just leave it, and rur
home" said the little boy to himself
but he looked across, and there wa
mamma still standing in the window
"No, guess | WON'T" he said; and 81
he rang the bell The minute the cir
opened the door, he heard Jim crying
almost like mad upstairs. Here'i
t Jim's engine and | stole it, and | guess
he's CRYING for that, and I'm sorry, an(
I'm going home y
And the next thing they saw was {
little boy scurrying across the back yard
, through the fence and over the hill
And tell you another thing, too, tina
little chap did not stop till he was SAT-
in his mammals arms again. This
makes two times that I'm gone to bee
in only one night" said the baby
" And, mamma, I'm sorry bout tina
engine"
"That's all right now, my little man
and | don't believe all this will harper
again"
" Well, rather 'spect not"
So mamma leaned over and kisset
him softly, tor she saw his eyes wer
J almost shut up tight.
i L" Had only three legs anyway" SAT-
the baby, as he tucked the clothes clos
up under his chin, and so fell asleep
NelU York Tribune.