Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1907-07-11

get so hot!"
| Be careful. Aired"
Alfred, are your feet wet?"
It's time to go to bed, Aired"
Oh, that last was the aimit. There
he had to go to Oed, while Jimmy
and johnnie sat up and played mar
bles on the curbstone 10" a good
hour right under his window. a.
The Pride of the Household" was
IN state of revolt. Couldn't he ever
manage to get I'd Of his parents? IN
story books fathers and mothers sold
their children, VIII, couldn't he sell
his parents.
Once he offered to sell tommy Otis
his father, because Tommy hadn
any, you see, but it didn't work, for
in the first place Tommy hadn't any
money-and then besides he hadn t
any use for Alfreds father.
Jimmy and Johnnie said it was too
! bad-they'd like to swa7. But you
couldnte manage about fathers SO
easy-it couldn't be done.
Then, Alfred, as a last resort, turn
ed to God. He prayed that God would
| just let him out for a few minutes
and play alone, and that he might be
delivered from Mademoiselle. She
never did anything cut fuss little
boys anyway.
But God paid no attention to his
prayers, and the everlasting naggiug
went right on.
Suddenly a great idea struck him.
He'd run away, and be AN orphan"
all by himself. He heard about COW
boys on the plains, and he'd go and
be an orphan cowboy, and Of course
then he'd never lave to wear rubbers
or drink matted milk and have Mad
emoiselle tag after him. That's what
he was going to do. He'd made up his
mind. And Tommy Otis said he'd like
to go too.
Only, just before his birthday, you
know. He'd hate to go and do it then.
In the first place about the presents
and they'd miss him sO-and when
he started to think how father and
mother would fe l after he was gone,
his lip just trembled, and he had to
wink hard to keep back the tears.
So Alfred put off his going from
day to day-although this was just
the season when he wanted to go ouc
catching June bugs on the plains
and it was particularly hard to have
to go walking all dressed up and hold
ing fathers hand. Surely, surely,
father never had been a little boy
himself in all his life.
One evening, just before his birth
day, mother picked the little fellow
UP and cuddled him in her lap, asked
him what he'd rather have in all the
world for his birthday.
o h,but it was nice to have mother
cuddle you. 1t felt so soft and sweet
and You could nang on tight, tight
and never be afraid of getting mussy
Or dirty. And all Of sudden he was
so happy. And an idea came to him
that made his little heart beat wildly
and he softly pulled mothers face
down and whispered: "Muzzy, dear
best of all the world I'd like to be an
orphan"
1t was out at ashland as ne
anxiously watched the tears steal
down mothers gentle face, he sput-
tered out all the indignation that had
been bottled up so long in his poor
little heart!
1t was just that everlasting, AL
fred, don't do that" that he couldn't
Standard having to keep clean all
the time wasn't any fun for little
boys. And Jimmie and Johnnie said
you couldn't swap your parents, and
SO he was just going to run away
and be an "Orpn,-n cowboy" Tommy
said that was the only thing for him
to do.
Mother didn't speak for a while
she couldn't. She only Rugged her BOY
so tight, and shook little bit, and he
never knew whether ne was going to
have his dearest wish" for his birth
day or not.
But he heard father and mother
talking a long time that highland
the next day father said cheerily
Don't you want to go down to the
corner and play with Jimmy and
Johnnie today, Alfredo"
You'd bette believe Alfred didn't
waste much time In getting there,
and, best Of all, he had on q new dark
blue suit, And if you'll believe 4
Mademoiselle didn't say Now Alfred
you mustn't" one single time that
day. And none of the family seemed
to fuss about him any more at ALL r
tell you it was great.
The night before his birthday
mother came up and sat on the edge
Of his bed. And suddenly 1t I'll came
over him. What if Muzzy should take
him at his word and go off and leave
him TO be an orphan all alone. How
terrible! Parents were pretty good
things after all. They were great,-if
they'd just let him alone.
Mother didn't sa' a word, she cud-
died Alfred and he lay quite still and
solemn. Presently she got up and be-
gan to rummage in the closet. Stiff
with terror, Alfred stood up In bed
Mothers packing" He understood
now.
With a cry he jumped out Of bed,
all in his bare feet, and padded
across the floor to fling himself SOB
ing into mothers arms and hold her
tight. Il won't let you go, Muzzy,-I