The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-06-18

ride, and taken them each In turn,
except Grandmother Horn, when, AZ
Alfred was about to put her into the
should 60 instead; IL was the place for
old folks at home. she said. Alfred was
not willing that Grandmother Horn
should be deprived OF her rights. and
they began to quarrel. II went on from
bad to worse, till Nannie's face was
like u flame. and Alfred unhitched Carlo
and started for home. 1T looks silly
for a great boy to Ike playing with a
doll. anyhow" said Mamie. Tho
thilly." lisped Lottic. Now. Alfred
liked Mamie the best Of the three, and
the words struck home. for he had not
yet lost his manly ideas, and to he
twitted by girl is huniliating indeed.
lie never went out of his own yard for
three days, and lost all affection for
Grandmother: in fact. grew ashamed OF
her. and denied 10 visitors that she be-
longed to him, but said she was Aunt
Elvira'S, which was dreadful. for Aunt
Elvira was very grave and proper young
lady. who was shortly to be married to
a minister. And nj last. tn get her ont
Of his sight, he carried her mp in the
garnet and shut her into valise of his
fathers.
Five years passed. Poor Grandmoth-
or was quite forgotten. Alfred was
twelve years old. quite ambitious at
school and on the best Of terms with
the Grill girls. Carlo was getting old,
and did not do much but lie in the sun.
Billy had died two years before, much
wcpt over Alfrcd's favorite amuse-
ment at this time was keeping store in
the barn. where he had a veritable
counter and shelves and carried on a
thriving trade. being patronized by the
whole school. lie sold shavings for
gingcrsnaps. and sawdust for sugar.
and newspapers for silk and calico, and
he had three jars of genuine candy.
which brought him as much profit as
anything. lie still liked Nanny Grill
best. though she was a fearful tease.
Once. when she and Mary Jane came
to buy candy-three cents worth
he rolled up five sticks, and
Nan suspected why. but Mary Jane
was slow. and insisted that they
should carry it directly back and
tell him that he had made a mistake.
So they did. and Nan said, mockingly:
II thought Won learned to count, ALI.
long ago" Alfred colorcd to the roots
of his hair, and said it was all right,
but honest Mary Jane sturdily laid
down two more cents. and Nan looked
as though she enjoyed his confusion.
1t happened about this time that Mr..
Grill was going on a journey. and wanted
an extra valise. have one up in my
garnet that is just the thing, and will
sell it to you for a song"
Run over and get it, All"
The valise was brought to the store
and opened. and their lay Grandmother
Horn in all the dignity of her cap-bortler
and vandyke. The gentlemen burst
into loud laugh. "Alf. this belongs to
you. believe But at the first glimpse
lightning He looked on the time that
he spent in playing with dolls much as
an old man looks on the follies Of youth.
well. ] have paid for this, at any
rate. said Mr.. Grill. and locked it up,
and carried it home to his girls. They
recognized il at once. 1T will be just
the thing TO plague ALI with" said
Mamie.
The next morning, when Alfred went
out to open his store. he found grand
mother lying serenely upon the counter,
with a paper pinn cd on her Vandyke.
| bearing these words:
Grandmother Horn, the beloved
property of Alfred Horn, Jr., after be-
ing lost for a period of years is now re-
turned to her Borrowing owner by the
hands of friends"
Aired was wrathy enough. He took
| poor grandmother to the woodhouse,
mutilated her horribly with an AK,
| and stuffed her into the ragbag, and
he did not speak to one of the Grills for
| two weeks. II. ID. Underwood, in n. Y.
| Tribune