Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1891-01-08
Little Prince Dusty

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All at once these cruel cries were
changed to yells of dismay, as, whack!
whack! whack! a shower of singing
blows fell upon Dicks shoulders Uncle
| Phin, who had followed Arthur as fast as
he was able, had arrived just in time to
save his .'lil marse" from any severe
| injury at the hands of his enraged
cousin. and to administer, with stout
stick, the thrashing that the young ras-
! cal so well deserved
In less than minute cowardly cousin
Dick and his frightened followers were
scampering away towards the house,
where they proposed to lay their side Of
the case promptly before their mother.
Cynthia had gone after her beloved
kitty, and brave little "Prince Dusty"
who had flung himself into Uncle Phin's
arms, was sobbing as though his heart
would break.
"Soh, Honey, sohl Don't you cry
now" murmured the old man in sooth-
ing tones. Member dat while you is a
Dustin by name, you's Dale by breed
man now, a young gen'lmin, an it
won't nebber do fer SIGH as you is to cry
like lilly gal. Sob now, Honey, sob. :"
Neither OF them heard the quick, de-
termined step that approached them
from behind, and so occupied was poor
troubled Uncle Phin in soothing and
comforting his charge, that 1t was an
easy matter for Mrs Dustin to snatch
the trembling boy from his arms. Then
she marched rapily away, without a
word, but dragging her victim relent-
lessly after her.
Uncle Phin half started to his feet
when he first realized what was happen
ing, but sank back again with groan,
and murmured: "De good Lawd, hab
mussy on His lamb
Then he bowed his frosted head on his
knees and the hot tears trickled slowly
between his black fingers.
While he thus sat helpless and de-
spairing, poor Arthur was taken to the
house and there whipped until the
apple tree switch broke and his Aunt
Nancy's strength was exhausted. Then,
telling the boy that this was lesson
for him to remember as long as he lived,
she babe him go to the wood-shed, which
was his sleeping-room, and stay there
until she should release him.
During this undeserved punishment
not cry had escaped from the boy nor
had tear found its way to his eyes.
He bit his under lip and clutched his
hands, but not a sound did he utter.
He remembered what Uncle Phin had
just told him. He was almost man
now, and no man, especially Dale,
would cry for whipping. So, though
the little face was drawn and white, and
the boy trembled until he could hardly
stand, he held out to the end as bravely
as ever . martyr under torture, and
when he was thrust into his cherries
shed he sat on the edge of his rude bed
rigid and fearless. His mind was in
furious whirl, but above all was the
overwhelming sense Of injustice and
outrage.
Finally he sprang to his feet, crying:
81 hate you'll l hate you'll / hate your
and then, hinging himself on his bed,
he gave way to burst OF passionate
weeping.
"ohl mammal" he cried. my own
mammal Why don't you como for me
and take me away from this dreadful
placer | can't stay here any longerl
Indeed can't, mammal Obi come for
me; do comel Please, mamma, como
for me, and take me to whore you arep'
For nearly an hour the forlorn child
cried for the dear ones who had left him;
then his sobs gradually died away, and,
utterly exhausted, he fell into q troubled
sleep.
In the meantime little Cynthia, who
only found her dear kitty after long
search, met her father coming home
from his work, and when he inquired
what was the matter with his daughter
and who had made her cry, she told him
the truth of all that had happened, SO
far AS she knew IL. Mr.. Dustin had be-
gun to suspect that Arthur was ILL
treated by his cousins, and as he
listened to Cynthia's story his face grew
very stern, and he said: This matter
must DO looked into"
When they reached the house and he
was told that Arthur had beer severely |
punished for trying to kill cynthia's
kitten and for fighting with Dick who
had rescued it, and that Uncle Phin hsd
beaten Dick. Mr.. Dustin's anger could |
not be restrained. He said:
"Wife, am afraid you have made =
terrible mistake and punished an in
nocent child for performing a noble act
II what Cynthia tells me is true, and |
believe it is, Master Dick is the boy |
who tormented his little sister and
would have killed her pet. Master Dick
is the coward who thrashed little fell
low three years younger than himself
for bravely rescuing the victim Of his
cruelty. Master Dick is the one who
told lie to hide his own wicked
ness and cause his cousin to receive
the punishment he himself deserved.
And Master Dick is the boy who - ach-
ng for the whipping that / shall give
him before he is many minutes older.
SIN regard to nv dead brothers child. |