Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1898-10-06

err nauS,ng by the tongue Oh inc wagon.
"Uth hath ad muffin to eat all 'cr day"
'Ccpt some cold potatoes, correct
cd tho child with the baby. "And her."
tapping the baby's curly head, "her had
TO have most of them. Jimmie and mo
let her eat all her could. cause hers
been sick. "
"Gct tho kettle for me, Jimmie, I
said to the lispcr. "You shall soon have
some hot tea to warm you, It's fino
supper we'll have when it's ready"
"Willic'll get 'cr kettle" quoth tho
lisper, who now seemed to be master of
the situation Got FER kettle, Willie.
I'll poke er yog
In few moments the kettle hung on
the sarshta over tho fire, the steam
slowly curling up into the leaves of the
elm tree.
thrust pronged stick through
thin piece of bread.
"Will you toast this for me, jim
mic?" / asked.
(which toast FER Bread" was tho
lispcr's response. Then turning to Will
lie, all smiling now in the freight, he
held out his short little arms
"Gimmc FER baby, Willie. Now toast
y nice piece for 'er rye" The obedient
Willie toasted the bread, holding his
hand up to keep the glow from his face
while laid out the supper and looked
to the tea, and the lisper busted himself
with the baby, which now perchcd on
his tiny knee.
When it was oil ready, we gathered
close to the impoverished table, the
seat of wagon that had been used as u
resting place by tie campfire until thus
pressed iuto our service. With the baby
now on my knee | did the honors OF tho
simple repast l found that the baby,
despite the cold potatoes with Which its
brothers generously fed it, still could
honor our supper with an appetite
worthy of better occasion.
Warmed by the fire, its hunger ap-
pcasCd, how tho Romany chavi could
grrglo and crow, could wink and
chucklo and laugh, too, in most bc-
wildcring way!
Dick 'or chavi," smiled the lisper,
lavishly spreading great pieces of butter
over his toast with his thumb, while his
other hand was lost to the wrist, i'm
mcrsed in the pint cup which held his
tea Dick 'cr chavi, Willie. Hers
blinking her eyeth. Amt her our own
pretty sister,"
He withdrew his hand from the tin
cup to pat the baby atrec;ionatcly upon
her head, the baby Growing and gurgling
all the mere, much pleased by her
brothers. attention and by the ten chat
ran down from her curls TO the tip OF
her little dark nose.
Gu" laughed tho baby, throwing
her arms around my neck in fashion
truly abandoned
"What is your nGme:" Willie the
elder boy, suddenly asked, looking up
in my face with wis,ful expression.
you're not the man that lcllcd OF
with the pot of luvver what Two heard
my dad tell about! My dad said he was
tho pleasantcst gentleman villa; ever ho
see. Lord, my dad said he had all the
money there was in bank cause no
hrol;ed open the safe with n crownar AID
lellcd away with the luvver--morc II
the price of hundred horses, my dad
said. You amt him. are you;"
To my great regret truth compelled
! me to make answer that | was not tho
pleasant gentleman who had leiled of
with the pot
Il cant remember him very we'll,
but my dad said he used to travel with
us sometimes when tho dirty musk-os
was a.aftcr him. lie could raklier, and
he gived me sweets and such. Are tho
muS,iros after you:"
Il hope not" said, glanciuE over
my shoulder to hide the smile that
came TO my lips
"THtcc a:u',h none thcTn, -chisporei
the liSper 10 rr2sSure me 18th been
watching When lth seeth the muskros,
It'll Just ruined away till It'll got other
side FER big house. Then It'll throwed a
stone round the corner and Eth ruined
and RUINED "
Here the Eaby crowed with delight,
and her brothers laughed like merry
Romans to think that the lisper had
thrown n stone ut n policeman.
Gimme 'cr baby" Jimmie begged,
we'll pleased with himself and his
pruwess.
my daddy's taller'n you," Willie
said, looking me over ms he took up tho
thread of the conversation, "and the
muskros been after him, But my dad
never minded. He Just hitchcd up tho
horses EASTERN blazes and drove off like
lightning That's what he said, and
they never ketchcd him ut all. Did
they, .Jmmie;"
NO" Jimmie replied, rolling the
baby over ON its back while he patted
is stomach forgetfully, They tn reyer
ketched dad"
II thought you might be the man
what lelled off with the pot cause he
always had sweets in his pockets, "
Willie remarked, staring at my swollen
pockets with longing.
'Ath you got any sweets in FER pot
ets:" questioned tho lispcr, now light
coming into his eyes.
Willie, hold 'er baby. It'll think 'er
rye ath some sweets in it'll potet,
He gave the baby to Willie, and be,
ing thus unincumbered and FREQ crepl
close to my side with smiles enough tc
cogen bushel of sweetmeats from the
sternest of .grocers
Soon his tiny hands had rummaged
the swollen recesSes, bringing forth Q
little heap, above which the baby crowet
and gurgled gleefully, while deeI
peace spread over the countenance o.
the lisper, and Willies eyes opened
wide.