Omaha daily bee., 1899-05-07

Biscuit and once when talking about him
to her mother she mentioned what Miss
Elviry had said about cast off children's
clothes Now, as it happened there
was chestful of clothes somewhere
about the house and Mrs. Wyche made
haste to hunt them UP and sort out
as much as might be of some service to the
little waif Then, womanike, having her
mind on the matter, she insisted that the
clothes must be sent as soon as possible and
gave orders that Johnny Bapter should carry
everything the next morning.
The children, hearing of this, insisted that
they be allowed to go along, and as there
was nothing to prevent (Sherman's army
having unwittingly dispersed school and
schoolmaster) it was arranged that Johnny
Bapter should use the spring wagon, which
had two seats, so that Buster John, Sweetest
Susan and Drusila could all go along. And
as Johnny Bapter was going along that far,
he might as well take an early start and
go on to Harmony Grove to carry some
gifts of butter, flour and other supplies to
an old friend of Mrs. Wyches, whose hus-
band was in the army, and whose sources
of maintenance had been all but swept away
by the army of invasion.
The children were up bright and early,
but they found Johnny Bapter and the
wagon waiting for them, There was not
much delay after that you may be sure;
only a little wait on Drusila, who was not
likely to allow a short journey to interfere
with the play of her appetite. Buster John
and Sweetest Susan went out to the wagon
with half their breakfast in their hands.
Johnny Bapter took off his hat to them very
politely and then, when they were seated
in the wagon he took off his hat and bowed
twice.
You're mighty polite this morning,
Johnny Bapter," said Buster John. Whats S
the matter with you?"
"Well, fust i bow ter you-all, an den I
bow ter demar wafiles an dat ar ham. l
amt see no waffes in so long dat l bleege
ter bow at um. Dey may not know me, but
knows dem"
That settled it, of course. Johnny Bapter
knew what he was doing. In their exuberant
spirits the children would have given him
all their waffies and ham, but no: II amt
no ways greedy" said Johnny Bapter, SO he
only took two-thirds "An' de waffes got
butter on um!" he exclaimed. I'm mighty
glad you all tuck a notion to go long. Look
like dey amt been no war when you kin git
a tase er waffies. Git up dar, hoss! what
you holdin back on level groun' fer, when
you know I'm up here eatn' waffies? Eff
ter no church, you up an tell um dat its
des kaze l amt hear none er de preachers
say dees gwinter be wafles up dar whar
good folks goes? Eff dey'll des say 'wafiies'
I'm wild UNI, an I'll stay wild 'um, too; don t
you disremember dat
Fer John-nee Bapiter is my name
You AK my nanny, she'll tell you de same!"
This last was a snatch OF song that
sounded sweetly on the morning air. 1t
was accompanied by a shaking of the reins
that set the horse trotting at the top of his
speed, In a very short while as 1t seemed
TO the children, who enjoyed the ride they
were at Mr.. Bobs' where they were met by
Miss Elviry, who said she was delighted to
see them. The clothes, she declared, the
very thing every stitch being in the right
place, and each garment certain to fit a
t-wy-ty-some might be a little too big now
at the present time, but wouldn't stay too
big many days,
"Somethin' told me you all was a-comin'
today, | had a ringin' in my right ear, an
my nose has been a-eetchin' ever since |
got up this mornin'. / know'd | was certain
to have company, and who could 1t be, says
TO myself, but the youngsters from the
Abercrombie place."
How is Little Billy Biscuit?" asked
Sweetest Susan.
"As fine as split silk" responded Miss Ell