The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1899-09-02

hOuot 11lS. lnOlhlOn NOulQ give his
mother a bonnet: she seemed such a
kind lady. He had seen her one day at
the Ferry, and she smiled and patted
his head as she asked: Whose little
man are your
His twinkling eyes fastened on
white Bantam hen scratching away in
the dirt not far from him. A bright
idea dawned on him; he would take
Mrs. Thornton his bantams, then the
bonnet would be a certainty. All the
afternoon he Rugged the delightful
thought to his bosom; at night he cap
tured his chickens and slowed them
under a coop out of sight, and the first
thing in the morning he was up and
away over the fields by the short cut,
his pets under his arm.
There's the raggedest little boy here
to see you, ma'am," said the maid,
when Mrs. Thornton came into the
breakfast room. Hes got two chick
ems"
Let him come in here" Mrs. Thorn
ton said. Her heart was tender toward
all children.
A sudden terror seized Bobby when
he was ushered into the beautiful room.
The lovely lady held out her hand to
him and he moved cautiously over the
floor, his bare feet sinking into the car
pet at every step. 1t seemed dreadful
to him to walk on such pretty flowers.
do you want to sell your chickens,
or did you just bring them to show
meY' Mrs. Thornton asked.
"Yessum," answered Bobby. For a
bunnet."
Mrs. Thornton looked puzzled. az
don't believe know what you mean"
with red roses ON it," she said"
Bobby waxed holder at her pleasant
smile. ITS fer mother, SOS she kin go
to meetin'."
A light dawned on his nearer. you
want to sell me your chickens to buy
your mother bonnet, is that it?"
Bobby nodded. AN she wants red
roses on It,"
Does your mother know about it?'
Nom. It's to s'prise her"
Bobby had surprise himself, then.
The lovely lady caught him in her
arms, rags. chickens and all, and kissed
his rosy cheeks. You blessed child"
she cried. "Sit down and tell me all
about it." SO Bobby, nothing 10th, went
over, as we'll as he could. the talk of
the day before. Mrs. Thornton smiled
and sighed, and then kissed him again.
"Now," she said, when the story was
ended, you must eat breakfast with
me-"
When the meal was over she ordered
the carriage, and she and Bobby drove
to the little red house on the hill,
where CONSERVATION relgned because
no one knew what had become of him.
Mrs. Thornton went into the kitchen
and up to Mrs. Polk, holding tight to
Bobby.
1--WE brought your boy back to you"
she said. Were you frightened? Did
you think he was lost?" and then she
stretched out her hands. How l do
envy you" The piteous look that came
into her face went straight to Marthy
Folks heart.
They cried for a few minutes IN each
others arms, while the seven Polk chill
dren looked on in amazement. The
DdDN, uOl Dtluk dCCuSlOllltu 10 SUCH
proceedings. began to whimper, and as
the mother picked it up she drove the
rest of them out the door and closed it
on them.
Land above knows what I'm crying
fer" she said, busting a chair for her
visitor, "when I'm that thankful no
harm had come to the child, but chill
dren have strayed off in the swamps
before now, an l s'pose l was wrought
up some on that account"
Hes a boy to be proud Of" said
Mrs. Thornton, when she had related
the history of Bobby's visit to her, al
though some of his revelations she
wisely kept to herself. 81 wish you
could have seen him standing there
with his chickens in his arms, so anx-
ious to part with them to buy his moth
er a bonnet"
Hes got the tenderest heart, Bobby
has" said Bobby's mother, IAN [
guess he's heard me complainin' about
the hard times we have to get along.
Pears like a body oughtn't to worry
over not gettin' any new clo'es when
they're blessed with the good children
we are; every one says they are the
best set along the river road. But
used to be powerful dressy before
was married; since then the young 'uns
have taken the money So" APOLOGIZE
cally.
81 don't believe you know how great
ly you are blessed" Mrs. Thornton's
face wore that piteous expression