The Wichita tribune., 1898-09-10
expected to see him agaln

q oaa'--'s-~sand- -InL1A~ 1 nave So1.A~nelgh
make UP for the loss or Johnny, soplo''
mamma, comfortingly; but Lyndon re-
fused to be comforted.
Il can get along daytimes," he
whined "but evenings ! shall be so
lonesome"
"You never saw Johnny then"
laughed mamma.
mo, because he went to bed early,
and | couldn't have seen through the
curtains if he hadn't; but | knew he
was inside, and that made the differ
ence."
Lyndon's mamma worked for a
dressmaker downtown, and she was
often obliged to be away evenings.
These were lonesome hours for Lyn-
don. Sometimes he went to bed early,
but usually he would sit at the win
dow, weaving odd fancies about the
passing strangers on the street, or OF
the twinkling stars overhead.
For few dreary days all that met
LyndOn's eyes as he looked out at the
next house were bare, curtainless win
dows and big placard Ito Rent"
Then he spied a tall man and rosy
checked little woman walking about
the vacant rooms, and the next morn
ing the placard was gone, and he
! rightly guessed that the house was
rented. After awhile he saw women,
with mops and pals and brooms, put
ting the rooms in order for the new
tenants. and later some furniture ar
rived. and Lyndon recognized the tall
man as he gave directions about the
! disnosition of the goods. He wondered
| iP there were any children, and when
the children began to come he won
| dered if there were any end to them.
After considerable counting he made
ont that there were a big boy, little
boy. and boy about his own age; a
big girl, little girl, middling-sized
girl and twin babies. Such a merry
troop as they were!
Lyndon had a sore throat the day
they moved, so he could not go out
doors. and he watched them from the
window. There was plenty to see
Men we're carrying in beds and tables
ara chairs and trunks. the biggest boy
was helping with the smaller articles
the bov about Lyndon's size was cut
ting up antics on the front terrace and
getting in everyone's way, while the
eldest girl had the other children in
the sitting-room, where she seemed
to have her hands full to keep them
within bounds.
When Lyndon's mamma had gone
back to the dressmaker's, after tea
and he had washed the cups anC
plates, he peeped out to see if there
were lights at the next house. Oh
10y! The gas was brilliant and not ;
curtain to hide the pictures. He wa!
not lonely that evening. He could SCI
the father and mother putting thing:
in order. and the little ones being I'm
dressed and made ready for bed. II
was SO interested in his new neigh
bors that he was astonished whel
mamma and nine o'clock came, Neye
had an evening seemed so short. Blu
the next afternoon Lyndon bade good
by TO his evening sightseeing, for ever
curtain was in its place Still. afte
tea he could not forbear look, an
there were the windows just as the
had been on the preceding night! Nc
a curtain was down! Every momeu
he expected that somebody would shu
out the pretty pantomimes, but no on
did.
Those were only the frst of man
hapcy evenings, ard as for the days
why, Lyndon + mamma said thai ahot
: all she heard at her hcnle-comings VIZ
: what "the Perkins boys" said, al
what "the Perkins girls" did; for II