The record-union., 1897-11-01
The UNIVERSAL BALM" BOY,


They are having a good time in the
front yard, Allen and Kate and TOD
CaSs and their cousin, Janet Thomas.
Janet and Kate and Allen ranged in age
from 3 to 16 years, and Tod was three
and half and they, with their fathers
and mothers, were, as usual spending
the end of their vacation at their grand
ia theirs.
They had delightful times here at the
farm The day before their grandfather
mad taken the four young people to
the agricultural fair, six miles away,
and to-day he had taken their grand
mother and parents, and the children
were enjoying themselves at home, with
nobody but the hired girl to restrain
them
Tod was everybody's pet. Grandpa
Bidwell worshiped him; Janet loved
him. He was round and chubby; he
hated hats, and his little face was
tanned several shades darker than his
tOusled hair. He was. He was light of
heart and his happy little tongue was
never still. He had one fault-in the
eyes of his adoring relatives-one only.
He would run away.
Just now he was swinging on the
gate, wedged between two pickets, and
chattering to himself.
What's dat?" said he. looking up
the road with SO intense an interest that
the others looked to.
The object of their attention ap-
preached. Certainly it was remark
able. 1t was buggy, drawn by an old
white horse. Apparently the buggy was
as old as the horse, but there was red
umbrella over the seat and on each side
a staring red placard announcing
.Talcotts Universal Balm in huge let
ters.
The driver was a boy, an i'll clad
boy. with an oddly serious face. From
a box at his side he took bottle with a
red label.
Ladies and gentlemen said he,
'tcan l sell you bottle of this wonder
full mixture? Talcott's Universal Balm.
1t is marvellous discovery. Has no
rival. A most excellent, stimulating,
healing panacea in cases of cuts, burns
and bruises: also rheumatism, gout,
swollen or enlarged jon is, sprained or
dislocated limbs and inf1ammations of
all kinds. Three bottles warranted to
cure absolutely. Price % cents bot
tie, warranted to contain a full half
pint of the balm
The boy gave the speech slibly, me-
chanically, and all on one key. Yet
there was anxiety in his face: he kept
watch of his listeners, expectantly.
Allen burst out laughing. Allen was
the wit of the two families, and he knew
it, unfortunately. I'VE haven't any CT
those things said he, "but we've got
the Group, all of US. Will it cure croup?"
Kate laughed, but Janet looked seri-
Gus Don't make fun OF him. she
whispered.
The boy was equal to him. Cures 1t
in a minute!'' he said
And we've got congestion of the
northwest auricle of the lungs" said
Allen. IF you can cure that"-the boy
touched up the old horse.
SAY" Allen called after him, will
your Balm cure old age? If it will
you'd better dose your horse with it..
DON'T said Janet again. The boy in
the wagon looked stolidly before him,
and the old horse ste9Ded off.
Something stirred in Janet's heart.
With quick impulse, and without a
word, she ran to the house and up to
a minute. and out in the road beside the
gay Universal Balm" wagon.
Here she said breathlessly, "wait!
I'll take a bottle" She held out a quar-
ter
The boy stared at her. His face
changed. He leaned toward her, smil-
ing back into her kind eyes. A little
redness rose in his sallow cheeks.
l, Il. .ht1f 7
you don't really want it. I'll tell you
the truth'-he bent nearer-'it amt
worth a penny, 1t won't cure any
thing. 'Twouldn't cure q mosquito
bite"
Never mind said Jane; I'll take
it." Their eyes met. There was pity
in one face and q depth of gratitude
in the other Thank you" he said
again. and his voice trembled a little.
He put one of the red-labeled bottles
into her waiting hand.
''Helloi Bought some balm?" Allen
shouted when Janet came back. Kate
was laughing, too
Janet took il upstairs. She was glad
she had bought il. But she knew Allen
would never stop bothering her, and
she hesitated about going down stairs
Just then She sat down at the WIN
dow. 1t was warm. and presently she
felt dozy; and she rested her head on
her arm, and dropped off to sleep.
She was awakened by somebody
shaking her vigorously. 1t was Kate,
with a face pale with distress.
'Tod's lost" she said. He's run
away again, and he's got so far we
can't find him. We've been TO all the
neighbors, and nobody's seen him
ALLEN was off in the back lot fish
ing. and / was reading on the piazza.
I thought Tod was with Allen. and AL
len thought he was with me. It's been
two hours. and 10, I'm afraid some
thing has happened to him," said Kate,
with a sob in her voice.
They ran down stairs. Allen was
waiting for them.
He went down 10 Tillotson's store
the last time he ran away" said Janet,
"to see the squirrel In the cage; don't
you know? Perhaps he's there now"
20. he is, He must be. Let's go;
hurry" cried Kate
They did hurry; they did not stop for
their he's. Trey made rapid time down