Middletown transcript., 1909-12-18
BY oANDAcE ADELE BRAMBIE

Teddy, dear, the Washlng Is
ready. win you take it down to
Mrs. Mccarthy now ? asked Mrs. |
Rogers, as she came into the
: dininR.room where Ted Teddy #as
eating his breakfast.
Yes, mamma, Of course | will,
replied Teddy cheerfully; and
few moments later he went trndg-
ing sturdily down the street in
front Of his wagon, which held
the big basket of clothes.
It was no trouble to Teddy to
take the wash to Mrs. McCarthye
Indeed, it was a task which b
rather enjoyed, since be had
found what q dear, delightful old
woman Mrs. Mccarthy had for
mother.
She was little and old aud fee
ble, but she was CHEEKY and
bright, and shs knew the very
incest stories, and was always
willing to tell them to Teddy,
while he sat and rested after his
long walk. AS Teddy liked stories
very much indeed, and as Grand
ma loved children equally well.
the two soon grew to be great
friends, and to-day, after the
basket was safely deposited on
the kitchen floor, Teddy walked
on into the little sitting room,
where Grandma was always to
be found.
Good-morning, Grandma, he
called out cheerily, as he entered
the room.
Good-morning, laddie. You
come like a ray of sunshine into
this dark room, with your red
cheeks and your CHEEKY voice.
Come up 10 the stove and waisa Fisa
yourself. / make no doubt your
hands are like ice this chilly day,
answered. Grandma cordially from
her chair by the stove
After a time Teddy noticed
that his friend did not seem quite
her usual CHEEKY old self, and he
asked anxiously: What's the
matter, Grandma? Don't you
feel very well today
Grandma reused herself with
start and answered hastily:
Oh, yes, laddie! I'm full as
well rs usual, but someway
guess I've a touch of the blues.
You see it's so lonesome, sitting
here by myself day in and day
out, with nothing to look at ex-
cept that big bare brick wall,
that sometimes it almost seems
as If the folks in the world were
Rll dead and / was left alone.
don't know what ever would be-
come of me if you didn't come in
sometimes to hearten me up a bit,
and Grandma smiled lovingly at
Teddy as she spoke.
Poor Grandma thought Ted.
It certainly was hard to be oblig'
ed to sit all day with nothing to
look at but an ugly brick wall.
II the window had been in front,
he said after a moments thought
ful pause, it would have been
better, wouldn't it
Yes, indeed, child =? a great
deal better. Then l could see
all that goes on in the street, and
it wouldn't be nothing like so
lonesome. But there, I'm for
getting that beggars mustn't be
chCosers. I ought to be thank {
ful that I've a roof over my head, Y
and q good, faithful daughter to |
care for me in my helpless old J
age, instead of fretting because a
window is not just where I'd like |
10 have it. I'll stop it this min q
ute, and tell you story instead, s
and to all appearances Grandma (
forgot her troubles and during +
she rest of. his visit was her own /
cheerful old self. But Ted old q
not forget, and when he went a
away he turned at the gate and t
looked back at the ugly little i
house refectively. G
! don't see why they didn't put a
Q window in front when they .
made it, he said softly to himself. d
There's just room for one, and it a
would be lots nicer and lighter n
inside, besides letting g poor Il
Grandma see out. / wish could v
make her q window; I s'pose D
couldn't. It would take a lot Of Q
tools and q carpenter to do it, and Il
charge money for Y
their work, and Standardization
hasn't any money I know SO it's b
40 use to think about it, and Ted. t.
dy sighed as he turned away and a
thrust his hands deep into his y,
trousers pockets. As he did SO 81
his fingers came in contact with 81
something round and smooth, W