Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1896-02-24
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
CONSEQUENCES.

Time passed on, without much to
make one day from another, as they
went by.
Nelly still continued to earn scanty
living for herself and child, at the Ill
paid but not over-laborious work she
had engaged in, and to which she was
more reconciled, from the fact that it
left her at liberty to be the companion
and instructress Of her child, SO far
as her own capacity went.
Little Ida was, if not q remarkably
apt, at least q persevering scholar, and
the more determinedly gave her mind
to the learning to read, that she knew
Tom had hand in the making Of the
books; indeed, she ascribed to him a
share in every printed page which met
her eye.
Their friendship had increased with
became more inventive in excuses for
being so constant a visitor. Now it
was a curtain he conld put up better
than Nelly could, he was sure; now he
had discovered q lock to be repaired;
now he had a patent method for cur
ing the chimney OF smoking, or he had
found a bit of board that would make
a first-rate shelf; but the happiest hit
Of all was the canary He had brought
the most choice songster OF the little
colony to GosWell-street. in q cage Of
his own construction; it was indeed q
happy moment for Ida when she saw
the pretty creature domiciled over her
own little corner by the window, and
learnt that it was to be her property
henceforth.
Not a day could go by but Tom
must inform himself on the state Of
the canary's health; there was seed to
bring, too, and the cage to clean out,
which Tom, artful lad had stipulated
he should be permitted to do.
Mrs. Greious had, by some means,
discovered the object OF Toms fire.
quent absences, and protested against
it with her usual show OF vehemence.
She went as far as to invite Mr..
Thatcher to the house to tea, when
they openly treated OF Toms pros
poets III the presence Of that young
gentleman, who must, by some means,
have made q deep impression upon
the mind Of the placid barber, as he
subsequently impaired to q friend, in
confidence, his conviction that that
boy OF Greious's would be lone too
many for some Of 'em, one OF these
days"
The birds, too, were voted such
nuisance that they were consigned to
a back kitchen, but on Tom discover
ing that the single young man ledger
down stairs had presumed to feed his
colony in his absence, he protested
against it SO vehemently, declaring
his determination to take a loft, away
from home, and keep his birds there,
if he "mightn't have 'em in peace and
quietness in the old place." that the
cage was restored to the kitchen, with
the proviso that Tom should resume
with more regularity that half hour in
the evening which he had been accus-
toned to devote to errand-fetching
or posting letters for the dodgers.
So peace, or, at least, an amnesty
was purchased.
II don't know what she should be
so set again me gong there for," Tom
soliloquised '"There can't be no
harm in them; Mrs. Franklen is Just
as good as can be; and the little
thing, why, if mother would but take
to her she might come to our place, if
her mother could be brought to let
her; and she'd be ashandy-ah, deal
more than many twice her size; but [
don't know how it is, whatever l do
never is right with mother, unless it's
work, work, and tear and rush from
morning till night I've been at it
hard enough, goodness knows, these
three days; but, please the pigs, I'll get
down there tonight, and what a treat
I'll have for Idly too-won't she jump
and Taught do like to see her laugh"
Tom was returning from one of his
journeys with proof of which he had
spoken to his little companion. Pc
culiar to these errands was q sort Of
trot he adopted with jolting
onous whistling accompaniment, and
between the pauses generally some
half-spoken meditation as the present,
often a curious tumble Of the subjects
that happened just then to occupy his
mind.
He was contemplating slight in
crease of the very limited pay he re-
ceived at the printing office, and which
he hoped to persuade his mother to
relinquish all claim upon, as fund
for his own private use.
Doubtless his small companion and
favorite had a share in the brilliant
schemes of which this prospective &C
QUESTION OF money was to form the
nucleus. But Tom had no such vivid
imagination that the mere exercise Of
it should bring the object of his
thoughts into sight, muchl less hearing,
that he heard the voice of the child
close behind him cry out in tones of
distress
ooh! there's Tom! there's dear, good
Tom! please tell him, please let me
Tom! Toni"
ITO BE CONTINUED.