Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1909-12-16

which had the appearance OF ward
robe with the front falling out.
Old Sam pulled this out and let
down a bed.
In the middle Of this he laid his
little charge, and covered him up
warmly and srugly.
Then he stood at a little distance
away and considered.
Could he leave him safely while the
ingredients for the pudding and the
Christmas feast were procured?
He decided to risk it and, taking
the precaution TO blockade the little
bed with all the available chairs, he
buttoned the threadbare coat around
his crooked form, rammed a battered
hat upon his gnarled, gTizzled head,
and sailed out into the streets, where
all the children shrank from his fe-
TOcious appearance and even grown-up
folks drew aside to let him pass as if
he were something to be feared as
well as Ditied.
In a short time he returned laden,
and, chuckling like goblin, threw his
packages Of purchases upon the table.
ASLEEP still, bless his heart; well,
all the better, though, mind you,
was foolish enough to hope as he'd
been up, laughin' an playin; but
thereIl be all the more time to make
the puddin'. l amt quite sure ana
certain how to set about it, for I amt
what you might call a Inexperienced
cook; he! he! but if I follows the d1-
rectiOn of the chap in the shop most
like I shall turn out a first-rate I'm.
Now, let's see. Chop this ere lump of
suet. Well, knows that, you couldn't
put it in whole, Or else some unfortu-
nate Individual nd have all suet and
no plums. Chop the suet; stone
them ere plums-that's the worst Job
O all; put in this ere -four and the
currants an the lemon peel, an stir
EN- up with a trife O. treacIe; then
bile in q clean pocket Handkerchief for
six hours. He, he. [ amt forgot. And
now there's a nice hevenin's work be-
lore me-"
Whistling softly, and going about on
! tipUOe, he set about his task with a
gravity and importance which were
the sublimity Of the absurd He
talked all the while to himself and
glanced at the bed at intervals with
anxious solicitude.
'tWhat should I do if he was to
wake, bless his hearth" he muttered,
suddenly, with look of dismay. 81
couldn't pick him up with my hands
all over suet an plums an stuff What
beauty he isl never see such a
boy an in his ways there amt an
/ other like him. Hello, I'm just
thinking as I don't know his name,
and it amt likely he will condescend
! to tell me. I suppose it's marked in
his pretty little things. I'll look when
I've got this ere stuff off my hands"
The Child's clothes lay on the sofa,
where they had fallen when they were
taken off. and Sam picked them up
tenderIy and examined them.
mo. No name on 'em Nothing to
pliCe reports. Hello! what's this?"
and he turned the frock inside out
"a bundle O. papers tied in the lining
Letters-Old letters and ring Well, !
whatever they are they belong to him,
and [ shan't read EN- or interfere with
EN-. Here. let's put EN- away some |
where safe and sound" and with a
hurried nervousness he slowed them |
away in a corner Of an old cupboard. |
There must have been some reason |
for his determination not to read the !
papers? There was. In the old mans |
heart had risen the fea" that he might |
find some clew to the child's parent |
age and belonging more, per |
haps the name of some person to |
whom he would be in duty bound to
deliver the child.
The bare idea of losing what had |
become so precious to him was so
terrible that he sighed with absolute
relief as as he shut the cupboard door |
and returned to the tanle, muttering:
Mind. I didn't read 'em. l don't |
know who he belongs to! l had him
give to me by the proper authorities, !
and I've got right to keep him.
At last his loves lab0" was aCcomp-
lished the pudding was made!
In the morning the child awoke, |
curious, autocratic.
But Sam was ready for him, and |
had his breakfast waiting.
Every mOuthful the child ate, the
old man chuchled over, every word he |
safd-and the little fellow spoke, and
in his lisping way he had great deal
to say-the old man repeated with |
delight. He would not lose a word |
not a syllable.
Once the boy, out Of sheer excite
ment. began to whimDer. Then Old |
Sam was overwhelmed with despair,
and in the interest misery and con-
Germ re1rIy killed himself in the way
OF grimaces and acrobatic feats in |
dispeIling the slight cloud. /
After breakfast he took him, wrap !
ped inside his coat, for walk in the |
park and, needless of the laughter and |
plying smiles of the crowd, pointed |
out to the child everything worthy of |
note-even to the stone of Achilles.
Trotting, jumping, running, hopping, |
he proceeded in every possible attl- !
tude to win smiles and laughter from |
his precious burden.
Then they returned to dinner.
With what DELIGHT the old man set