The Monitor-register. [volume] (Woodstown, Salem Co., N.J.) 1892-1972, 1896-11-20
Saint you afraid he'll get into some

into harm. He's regular little veteran
at keeping out of it. You could trust
him anywhere. When be first began to
run away, I had to run, too; but now
never feel worried"
"Run awayP ?" queried Aunt Hannah's
serious voice; sis 1t running away ?"
"Why. it was at first. and l had to
punish the little rogue. But now we're
all used to it, and, besides, Tomsy's SO
big"
doesn't he ever stay at homer"
90, yes, when he's asleep-alwaysw
laughed Tomsy's mother.
"But-but-doesn't he bother FOLKS
running in and out so2''
"Dear me, no! Everybody likes my
Tomsy," Helen said, confidently; She's
regular little pet all over town, Auntie.
l don't suppose there's single house he
doesn't have the freedom of-not one.
They let him run all over them, and like
it. l know, because they always say,
%, 1t isn't bit of trouble; we like it
the dear little fellowp So what harm
does it do to let the little fellow run
wild? Little colt and bossies do ="
Helen laughed lightly again, and
pinched little nimble clsfts around the
edge of her pie.
But Aunt Hannah's face looked serious
and doubtful. Maybe folks said so-why
would people risk their truthfulness for
the sake of being polite p-but they
couldn't like having a little ear-about
running in on them willy nilly so-not
always. There must be times when it
was real bother. She, Aunt Hannah
herself, wouldn't want such doings, even
if Tomsy was bright and dear and sweet.
"An' l guess I'm most as patient as other
folks, an besides, love Tomsy better, of
course. But wouldn't like it-not for
regular Diet" she thought. over her
work of polishing Helen's wedding
spoons. ex
1t troubled Amt Hannah a good deal.
She thought about it after she went to
bed, shaking her white night.oapped head
over it obviously.
81 wish Helen didn't feel So" she
murmured. sit amt just right and I'm
afraid I'd ought to tell her it amt.
don't believe she knows what bad words
Tomsy says sometimes. l heard him
yesterday-Oh, it amt right, it amt
right! Tomsy ought to be kept at home
more Somebody'll have to tell Helen
dear grill"
A few days after tits, Aunt Hannah
trotted, under her big umbrella to the
post'ofice. She wanted some postage
stamps and she wanted exercise; so she
went.
1t was lovely, clear day and she
enjoyed the walk in her beautiful, quiet
way. At the office she stopped to rest.
Somebody was in the little inner room
with the postmistress and they were talk
ing earnestly.
"He's real GROSS to me-" the post
mistress was saying. II don't know how
I'm going to stand 1t much longer. He
runs right In here and NEEDLES, but he's
so cunning 1 can't bear to send him
away-and then Pm afraid 'twould hurt
his mothers feelings, too"
II know it-that's exactly the way l
feel," the other said. 1t was Mrs. Cyrus
Green's voice.
81 tell Cyrus Pm puzzled to know
what to do. Some days it's real trial.
and, then again, some days don't mind
50 much. found him up in my spare
room yesterday, climbing out O. the
window onto the porch roof!'
"For the lands sake!''
Yes, and Persis Tremain told me he
goes down her cellar and up her attic"
'He's such nice little boy-ain't it a
pity And his mother such nice little
woman"
''Yes, tits pity, but wouldn't want
to hurt Der feelings for the world"
''That's how l feel"
"There comes the little rogus now"
"Tomsyw Aunt Hannsh's heart stood
still second or two. "Tomsy!'
He came racing blithely ips md. before
she could stop him, disappeared in the
inner room. Was it Tomsy, then, they
meantss Who'd a-believed it could be
Poor Helsn, how she would feell Aunt
Hannah called Tomsy out and went home
with his little grimy fist held tightly in
her hand-very tightly so he would lot
run away.
That evening she had long, kind talk
with Tomsy's mother, after heslittle
fellow was safely landed on NoddJn's
Island.
1t was not an easy talk for either of them
but Aunt Hannah's voice was loving and
gentle, and, though Helen went to bed
after it, with Redeemed eyes, there was a
warm, grateful spot in her heart for the
dear old auntie.
And, it is safe to say, little Tomsy, in
after, grown-up years. had real reason to
be grateful, too. The dear old Aunt
Hannahs!-1He Cultieator.