The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1891-06-17
ALFRED HORNS DAUGHTER.
The Many Trials an Innocent Rag Baby
Caused Small Boy.

The Many Trials an Innocent Rag Baby
Caused a Small Boy.
Alfred Horn was seven years old, but
you would have thought he was seven
teen at least to have heard him talk:
there was nothing he resented quite so
much as being called "a little fellow"
or "Alfie," and he never omitted an OPP
portunity'of telling that he was Alfred
Horn, jr. lie had worn boots for two
years, and had actually begged for a
coat with tails
You would never have Suspected such
a manly young fellow as this playing
with dell, would you? But he did let
himself down to it, and that isswhat my
story is about.
Alfred had neither brother nor sister,
but he was very social and longed for a
playmate. His mother did not like him
to associate with the boys in their vii
lage, so he was shut up mostly to the
society of Carlo, his water spaniel,
which was, a. beautiful creature with
long silky, ears and spotted, curly coat
of white and yellow, and Billy, cat
with fur as black as ink. except one
white spot under his chin. which made
Alfred's father call him Reverend.
Alfred's father was a merchant, and
had lately taken partner, Mr.. Grill,
into his firm; this gentleman had bought
house on the street next to Mr.. Horns
and'the back-yards joined. You may be
sure when they were movingin Alfred
was very much interested in all of the
operations, and sat on the back fence
most of one day. Much to- his disap-
pointment, he did not find out that they
had among any Of their bedsteads or
tables dog or cat, but there were
three little girls.
In dayor two they came into the
yard to play with their dolls, They
looked very pretty to Alfred. burt sup
pose they. would not to the little people
of to-day, for it was forty years ago, ant
though their dresses looked very mucl
like the dresses of today they wor
pantalets, that came down to thei
shoes, and their curls instead of bein {
tied back with ribbons hung, over the il
faces, almost in their eyes,. Alfred w;l'
not at'all bashful, and Undetermined t.
get acquainted without delays; so he ii &c
string to Carlos collar by viii cl
to lead him, took Billy unc lei
his; other arm and started t,
crawl through the fence. Nov
Carlo and Billy wera general
the best of friends, and what in tn,
world possessed them to, quarrel jrIs
then nobody ever could tell, but jus It a
Alfred had set foot on the other sad
and Carlos paws were on the bar cad,
to follow, the dog gave ferocious bari
and Billy darted away with hu mpe,
back and eyes blazing like eme RAIDS
The little girls all screamed and RAJ
into the house. Alfred was m.ornfie
enough. He boxed poor Carlos ears S
soundly that he hung. his head. fslde
his tail between his legs and, did'nc
look up for half an hour. Billy climbe
upon the barn and sat looking, at thel
: with very iniared air. By and by til
little girls stole shyly back, add Alfre
told them very politely that Ais do
would not hurt them, and as he locke
so meek they finally ventured TO com
up and pat his head. Then they a
grew quite talkatixe, and he found tn;
their names were Mary Jane. Mann
! and Lottie. At first he thought the
looked exactly alike, but soon he four
!, that Mary Jane was very sober al
honest; that Mamie laughed all IL
time, and that Lottie hsped-qui
difference, you see> The dol
rejoiced in the names of Geraldin
Susannah and Belinda. Alfred a
mired them as much as it was possib
l. for boy to do. l fear you would n
have thought them pretty or ''lovely
d isn't that your word? They were ma
of cloth. with the hair and eyes al
e mouth painted on, and they did sta
dreadfully. But these girls loved the
n lust as well as you do your dolls wi
,r their blonde hair and bright black ey
that open and shut.
is After this, Alfred spent much of
0. time in Mr.. Cribs yard, and Can
u made himself useful by drawing Belin
il and her companions in little wage
and Billy so far redeemed himself as
TX submit to being dressed in hat a
lie coat and riding behind the dolls in I
capacity, suppose, of black footm'
ne much to the loss Of his ministerial
Of nity. But Alfred sometimes felt hi