The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1908-12-23


They reached only as far as his knees
below that was the firm. brown skin
but they and the saucy little head
covering which was neither hat nor
cap soon became the envy of the small
boys of Seaview.
Originally Seaview had been small
settlement which had furnished the |
surrounding farmers with the few |
necessary things they could not raise. !
But one day an artist stroller wan
dered in and did the place the honor to
be pleased. After that came a gradual
transformation. A dozen or more cot
tages took possession of the more pic
turesque points, and here and there
hotel rose to meet the wants of those
who could not own cottages. 1t had
the reputation of being very exclusive.
When the group of strangely dressed
children came into town there were
many who gaZed at them with suspi-
cion. But as the days and weeks went
by and nothing was missed the distrust
gradually gave place to idle curiosity.
A few even showed some friendly III
terest. The children were neither beg
CARS nor thieves: that much was now
conceded by all. At present they seem
ed perfectly able to take care of them
selves. When cold weather arrived it
would be time enough TO take some ac-
| ton in the matter
| Every day they could be seen on the
| beach. along the banks of the river. on
! the wharf. catching crabs. digging
/ CLANS and fishing Even the tiny little
! fellow in picturesque kirtle spent most
of his time in racing up and down the
i beach with crab net and basket. Ev
cry morning the girls went back into
the fields after wild flowers or over to
/ the shallow lake after pond lilies And
as the days went by and the people be-
came more familiar with their bright
faces and eager ways they grew more
liberal in their patronage. The signs
/ of prosperity began to show in the
disappearance of the snowy rags and
the substitution of such garments as
were worn by the village children. The
transformation began with the little
fellow in the kirtle and extended by
slow degrees to the girls and the other
small boy.
The oldest boy still wore the faded
jacket and red trousers. He was here
and there and everywhere. working.
smiling. asking questions. making
notes and taking his new knowledge
home to the children
few days later as Mrs. Roper stood
idly on her piazza she saw him going
toward the kitchen entrance with a
basket of crabs.
Say. boy" she called. come here a
minute.'
The basket was. quickly set upon the
ground. and he hurried across to the
piazza
Ton haven't told me your name yet. .
she suggested
Name Paoli; fader's an grandfaders
name before me-
well, paoli. | want you to tell your
sister to bring me Il large bunch OF
pond lilies tomorrow. How old are you
Paoli:
Il nebba know. | fink | pretty old
| seen good many things. How ole
you s'pose | be?''
Il should say about fourteen or fif
teen
Den | t'ink bout dat old-'bout
fo'teen or fifteen You have some cral
tomorra? q
Yes you may bring me few. and
OH Paoli. what is the matter with youl
hands,"
The boy laughed and held up hi.
hands compacently.
Il wash dem scrub. scrub, scrub!-
an | make de brudders an sisters
wash, an we clean de room an fix I'll
things. see dat Ameriky peoples nj
had dirt like peoples in home country
We Ameriky peoples now" Then ;
sudden sparkle came into his eyes
de school begin next mont, an hal
de brudders an sisters to go. | go
dem all dress up nice like Amerik.
peoples | t'ink Gey make somebody.
But why don't you get some Amer
lean clothes and go to school yourself
Paoii?''
The boys face became grave.
II like to. but no ready yet. Des
things costa monna. an de fader"-th
ready smile returning to his face-'ha
to look out for de little ones. Whe
dey go to school somebody hat to max
de monna. Mebba | go some time
The next day Mrs. Roper was agai
on the piazza when she saw him con-
ing up the path. This time he had n
basket and there was no smile on hi
e face. Instead of going round TO til
/ kitchen he came directly up the piazz
steps.
o What is it," she asked kindly.
$ IBIS And he took from beneat
his jacket a pair of small oper
glasses
n My glasses!' she exclaimed in SUI
{ prise II had not even missed then
Where did you ind then?"
Y MY brudder-stole dem :
= WHAT