Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1896-02-06

Sharp, He's a very provoking boy, III
say that, but he's not years old yet
and nobody must lay their hands on
him but myself"
90 ay. an he's to set leave to
hlacken my Wa an destroy folks fun
er9al serkS an a kin kind O mischief
an we daurna SAY boo till him. daurna
say COR hugs is cor ain! What he? |
fancy ven be tellin's he's gentle
mans son next at daurna be meddled
wi, An wha are YOU that Wilma cor
REX Your BARNS like ither honest folk
VIVA kens what you are or whaur you
cam trae2 What for shouldua your
BARN be lickit like ither folks when
he does wrang? Deed, hoo are we To
ken if we're widow ava? We've only
your word for that. Ha, har
With this parting shot the Nirago
went out chuckling. her anger some
what soothed with the utterance of the
malicious suggestion.
White as sheet, Mrs Marin lifted
her skirt from the trembling child. led
him into the room and sitting down
took him up on her knee and held him
rassionately to her BOSOM
lis the wild woman awa'?" the boy
whispered, fearfully, with his face hid
den on her breast.
Yes. dearie. she's away" said his
mother.
Thus assured, he Venturcd to turn
and look up. first With one eye and
then the other, finally sitting suddenly
upright and looking perpcxcdly into
his mothers face.
What way are you cryln', mammio?
Are We feared at the wild woman?"
The tears were. indeed, trickling 81,
lently down Mrs. Nairn's face She
tried to rcrly to the child. but she
could not, the words turned to sobs.
"Mammie, mammie, don't cry; don't
cry" cried the child, winding his arms
about her and himself bursting into
tears
"Mammie's dear Alec." murmured
the mother, pressing him to her con
vulsively, while the tears rained down
on his tlaNen hair; "mammic's dear,
wee Alec"
"Alcc's bonnie mammic! Aces bon
ME mammie! Alec like you mammie;
don't cry"
NO. dear, mammie won't cry any
more and Alec is to be good now, too
there nowhere now"
She wiped her own eyes and his also,
gave him a piece of bread and butter
with sugar on top.
Tell mamma what you picked the
watch down for, Alec" she said coax
ingly.
Il wanted to get out the bonnie wee
wheels"
Yes, but my wee Alec, the wheels
weren't yours, nor yet the watch. You
mustn't touch what's not yours"
What for, mammie?"
Would YOU like somebody to come
in and pick all that fine piece, so YOU
couldn't eat it,"
NO"
well, then, you must learn to be Il
good boy and don't touch a single thing
that isn't yours. And don't run into
the houses and NEEDLE with the things
you see. 1t makes mammic cry. Nam
ME wants Alec to be IA good boy"
"Mamme," said the boy, looking up
with his clear eyes into her sad face,
where's my daddie? Johnnie Sma'
and Jamie Smith have daddies. Where
is my daddie?"
Mrs. Marin turned her back upon the
child, opening the cupboard door and
looking in for a preteXt. She stood
with the door-knob in her hand for
a few moments and then shut it quick
ly, some one had come into the shop
and she left him to enjoy his piece
alone,
Alec. however was not TO be cvaded
so in a minute he was in the shop
rcitcrating the question.
"Wheres my daddie mammieo"
The customer who was at the counter
was a checry-facod, affabIe girl-~a
Sunday school teacher buying some
wool
Poor little laddie" she said, pitt
fully, come here to me, Alec.
A lee came around the end of the
counter and the girl took him up in
her arms.
Poor wee boy Don't you know
your daddie is dead and gone to heav-
en-" she said.
rs he? Where's heaven" queriod
Alec, wonderingly.
up there up in that bonnie blue
sky-look," explained the girl.
The child looked up through the
window thoughtfully, forgetting to eat
Il can't see him" he said at length
and she set him down with the re-
mark:
Aren't BARNS queer creatures? They
speir sic questions at body Really,
they would gar body think some
times"
Alec had slipped out through the
open door, piece in hand while his
mother served the customer, who, not