The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-01-11

1
| almost to appreciate it. He had beer
| offered a white mouse for it more thar
! once.
| For two long months the Little God LEI
, him along The primrose way. The poo
| fellow thought it was the main road; h
had yet to learn it was a by-path. Blu
the Little God was not through with him
! Her brother, an uninteresting fellow a
, first, had improved on acquaintance, AM
| though he scoffed at Dicky's devotion t.
his sister-thinking her a great baby-h
had come to consider him a friend. On
/ day, late in April, he led Dick out to
! deserted corner of the grounds, and 70
| The sum of a small red top and blu
glass eye that had been a dolls mos
winning feature consented to impart t
| him a song Of such delicious badness tina
il had to be sung in secret. He had jus
| learned it himself, and the knowledge Q
it admitted one to sort OF club, who's
members were bound together by tn
vicious syllables. Dicky was pleasant
uncertain of it's meaning, but it containe
words that custom has banished from TIL
family circle. They crooned II fearfully
! WITH ldCSS dNeIlcu IIOIl lut HOuo6y
an exhilarating sense of dissipation.
Yellow belly, yellow belly, come an TAX
a swim!
Yes, by golly. when the tide comes in!
AS he slipped back to the house alone
practicing it furtively and foretastin
the joys of imparting it to Peter, the sta
lleman, Cecilia appeared suddenly fror
behind a large tree. She was all smiles
she was not afraid of him any more
Dancing lightly on one foot, she wave
her bonnet and began to sing, bubbIin
with laughter. Horror! What did n
hear?
Yelly belly yelly belly, comm take
Irwin,
With. by
"Oh, stop! Cissy, stop it! You musn'
sing that!' he cried wildly.
She looked elfsh.
why not? Dicky thingth it." she sal
with happy smile.
She had heavenly habit, left fror
babyhood, of referring to her interlocuto
and occasionally to herself in the thir
person.
but girls mustn't sing it," he warne
her sternly Don't you dare to-its
! secret"
She danced further away.
"Dicky thingth it. Thithy thingth it,.
she persisted, and as he scowled she pur
sed her lips again.
Yclly belly, yelly belly
| .sT
desperately. Il won't if you'll keep still
So there! l tell you l WON'T"
She stopped, amused at his emotion
! All ignorant of his sacrifice, all careles
of his heroic defense of her, she onl
knew that she could tease him in a
entirely new way.
And the Little God, knowing that Dick
would keep his word, and that Pete
would never get the chance for the scan
dalized admiration once in store for hin
strutted proudly away and polished up hi
chains. His victim was secure.
Her brother, on learning the facts, sug
Sested slappfng her weIl-good heaH
ens!-and having nothing more to do wit
her, for a mean, sneaking tattle- tale
Here was an opportunity to break hi
bonds. But to those who have serve
| the Little God it will be no surprise t
learn that it was on that very evenin
that he made his famous proposal to tn
assembled family, namely, that he and &c
celia should be really engaged like he
Uncle Harry and Miss Merriam, and in
little while marry and set up housekeep
ing in the guest chamber
That's what Miss Merriam is going t
| do bo ayplo al 4tapd Ticc,,c n
is sorry, too; it doesn't leave her an
place for company but the hall bedroom
But they've got to have the room, sh
sposes.'
THAT will do, Richard You are no
to repeat everything you hear. And 1 al
afraid l need the guest chamber. VIVA
should we do when Aunt Mamie comes? ?
"Oh, Cissy could have her crib right i
the room. She wouldn't mind Aunt Nan
ME he replied superbly. ''She Away
sleeps in crib, and she always will
bed scarcs her-she's afraid she'll ia
out. | could sleep on the couch, Xix
Christmas time!'
But in the manner of age the wild
world over, they merely urged him t
| wait
1T was that very night that he reache
the top OF the wave, and justified tn
Little. Gods selection
He came down to breakfast rapt an
quiet He sailed his oatmeal by mistak
and never knew the difference. His sis
ter laughed derisively. and explained hi
folly to him as he swallowed the las
spoonful but he only smiled kindly q
her. After his egg he spoke.
Il dreamed that it was dancing schoo
And l went. And l was the only fello
there. And what do you think? All tn
] little girls were Cecelia"
They gasped.
you don't suppose he'll be a poet. d
you Rich? Or n genius, or anything" hi
mother inquired anXiously.
Lord. no." his father returned
should say ne was more likely to be
Mormon"
Dick knew nothing of either class. Bl
the Little God knew very we'll what h
was. and was at that moment making OF
his diploma.