Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1918-12-25

aside the dishes and l asked:
| ''Now could go and see Sally Dun
kelberg2"
! .What in the world do you want
of sally DunkelbergY he asked.
| "Oh, just to play with her." I said
as I showed him how I could sit on
lmy hands and raise myself from the
chair bottom.
Haven't you any one to play with
at homer
"Only my Uncle Peabody"
1 'Don't you like to play with him?'
\ "Oh, some, but he can't stand me
any longer. He's all tired out, and
my Aunt Deel, too. I've tipped over
every single thing on that place. ]
tipped over the honey yesterday.
split it all over everything and
rooend my clothes. I'm reg'ler pest.
So I want to play with Sally Dunkel-
berg. / want to play with her a lit
tie while-jus wee little WHILE"
/ 'sFOrward, march!" said he and
away we started for the home of the
Dunkelbergs. The village interested
me immensely. I had seen 1t only
/ twice before. People were moving
about in the streets. One thing I
did not fail to notice. Every man
we met touched his hat as he greeted
my friend.
It was square, frame house-that
Of the Dunkelbergs Large for that
village, and had a big dooryard with
1 trees in it. AS we came near the gate
II saw Sally Dunkelberg playing with
1 other children among the trees. Sud-
denly was afraid and began to hang
back. I looked down at my bare feet
and my clothes. both of which were
dirty. Sally and her friends had
stopped their play and were standing
In a group looking at US. heard
Sally whisper:
its that Baynes boy. Don't he
look dirty?"
stopped and Withdrew my hand
from that Of my guide.
I "Come on, Bart" he said.
| shook my head and stood looking
over at that little, hostile tribe near
me.
go and play with them while step
into the house." he urged.
/ Again shook my head.
swell, then, You wait here mo-
ment." said my new-found FRIEND.
He left me and I sat down upon
/ the ground, thoughtful and silent.
In. moment my friend came out
with Mrs. Dunkelberg, who kissed me,
and asked me to tell how I happened
to be there.
II just thought I would come" said
as I twisted button on my coat,
and would say no more to her.
.Mr. Wright, you're going to take
him home, are you" Mrs. Dunkel-
berg asked.
eyes. I'll start Off with him in an
hour or So" said my friend. Il am
{ interested in this boy and want to
see his aunt and uncle"
"Well, Sally, you 60 down to the Of.
fee and stay with Bart until they CO.
you'd like that, wouldn't youf" the
man asked of me.
II don't know" said.
'That means yes" said the man.
Sally and another little girl came
with us and passing a store held
back to look at many beautiful things
in a big window.
SIS there anything you'd like there,
Bart?" the man asked.
81 wisht I had pair o. them shiny
shoes with buttons on" / answered
in low, confidential tone, afraid to
express, openly, a wish SO extrava-
CANT.
"Come right In" he said, and re-
member that when we entered the
store could hear my heart beating.
He bought q pair Of shoes for me
and I would have them on at once,
and made It necessary for him to
| buy pair Of socks also. After the
shoes were buttoned on my feet ! saw
| little Of Sally Dunkelberg or the other
people Of the village, my eyes being
on my feet most Of the time.
The man took us into his Office and
| told us to sit down until he could
write letter.
Soon a horse and buggy came for
us and briefly answered Sally's good
| bye before the man drove away with
! me. I remember telling him as we
went on over the rough road, between
fields, of ripened grain, of my wafer
melon and my dog and my little pet
hen.
shall not try to describe that home
coming. We found Aunt Deel in the
| road five miles from home. She had
been calling and travelling from house
( to house most of the night, and !
have never forgotten her joy at seeing
me and her tender greeting. She got
into the buggy and rode home with
| MS. holding me in her rap. Uncle Pea
| body and one of our neighbors had
been out in the woods all night with
| pine torches. I recall how, although
excited by my return, he took on
his hat at the sight of my new friend
and said:
| ''Mr. Wright, I never wished that
lived in a palace until now"
He didn't notice me until I held up
both feet and called: "Look a there,
Uncle Peabody"
Then he came and took me out OF
the buggy and saw the tears In his
eyes when he kissed me.
| The man told Of finding me on his