Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1893-09-14
vhen. therefore, Mrs Gresham

~ SoAsSySu W AOmmy the lOeo OF Sucu
depth of loneliness and desolation as
to rouse intense pity in his manly little
bosom, and fiinging both fat arms about
her neck. he exclaimed: II love you,
lots"
Tommy was winning, original lit
tie youngster, and he and the lady
grew to be fast friends; he paid her a
visit regularly every q ne day, and was
RECALLED with sweets while he sta ed
and laden with blossoms on his depar-
ture. Later on the days grew longer
and hotter, and one morning Mrs
Gresham confided to Tommy that she
would not be in the garden any more,
that she was going long way off over
the ocean and wou Id not return till
Christmas This piece of intelligence
caused our young he 70 to howl with
dismay, nor would he be comforted
with the promise of such a Christmas
present as he had never seen in all his
little life.
So pretty Mrs. Gresham sailed away
over the blue sea and tired to forget,
and Tommy was left without a COM
panion for his morning playtime.
As summer advanced the low rooms
house grew very hot indeed. so hot that
Mamma Van Antwerp let the children
stay out of doors till late in the even
ing, when the rooms grew habitable;
and Tommy, peering through the rail-
ing one night made the astonishing dis
covery that there was "a man over the
fence" 1t was Mr.. Gresham, who had
taken to smoking in the gardens after
dinner, thinking reverently of his moth
er who used to share his evenings
among the beautiful blossoms, and sad
~ of the young wife from whose love
and sympathy he had hoped 50 much.
1t took Tommy only q moment to de-
cida to investigate the present situa-
ton AID to open communication with
the new occupant of the garden. He
swung himself over the fence, ran up
the walk, and addressed the master of
the premises cody. with: Hello! I'm
Tommy Van Antwerp; what's your
name?''
Mr.. Gresham laughed ut the comical
air of his questioner and replied:
''Well, my young American, 1 am
Robert Gresham, at your service"
'Who dave you this name?" pro-
pounded Tommy quickly.
Mr.. Gresham was a Presbyterian of
the Presbyterians; and one cause OF his
domestic troubles had come from the
fact that his wife was an ardent and
active Episcopalian. He recognized
this last question as a piece of their
catechism; and he answered rather
shorty: 81 am sure don't know
II know; it was your 'ponsors in bap-
tism; my mamma banked me last Sum
day cause didn't pay 'tentlon when
she teached me it Idess your mamma
didn't 'panlS you enough when you was
little or you'd know it."
perhaps not. 1 should think you
would need generous supply of that
kind of discipline"
Tommy did not understand the words,
but he grasped the idea. '.Yes." he said,
cheerfully, Il Diet banked most every
day; I'm pretty bad"
What did you get a spanking for to-
day?"
Tommy drew nearer and lowered his
voice confidentially: 81 wants to wear
pants, and my mamma said had to
wear out all Fred's old kits first; and
/ went to the drawer where she keeps
'em, and took the scissors and cut 'em
up into teenty tawnty bits. There was
a whole lot of 'em, and my mamma
banked me awful; but dess I'll have
pants when this dress is worn out"
Mr. Gresham found his small visitor
amusing. "You are a case"
he said, laughing, ''as sure as my name
Is Gresham"
Her name was Dressum, too" said
Tommy refiectively.
Whose name?"
"Ilers, the lady with the pretty eyes
and the shiny rings She's gone off,
amt coming home till Christmas.
b'lieve you're her papa, she said she
hadn't dot any, are you?''
Mr. Gresham was sensitive as to the
disparity in age between himself and
his wife. NO" he said sharply, "I'm
her husband"
Light began to dawn upon Tommy.
Have you dot any little boys or dirls?"
mo, thank you; one like you would
be more than torment"
Tommy nodded. II see, my papa's dot
lots of boys and dirls, and so he's my
mammals papa, too, and you haven't |
dot any, SO you're only her husban'. |
You don't love her neither" he con-
tinued, with fierce glance from the
big blue eyes.
''On my word, youngster! How do
you know?"
"Cause she said she hadn't dot any |
papa nor mamma nor any one to love |
her. Ilove her, but I'm only bad lit |
2,.,uN.