The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1919-02-28

Twice DeIOre. PeOple were moving
about In the streets. One thing
Gid not fail to notice. Every man
we met touched his hat as he greeted
my friend.
1t was a square, frame house-that
Of the Dunkelbergs-large for that
village, and had big dooryard with
trees in it. AS we came near the gate
1 saw Sally Dunkelberg playing with
her children among the trees. Sud.
crnly was afraid and began to hang
back. looked down at my bare feet
apd my clothes, both of which were
dirty. Sally and her friends had
vpped their play and were standing
i, Il group looking at us. l heard
Sly whisper:
Its that Buyncs boy. Don't he
look dirty?"
stopped and withdrew my hand
from that of my guide.
"Come on, Bart" he said.
| shook my head and stood looking
over ut 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 q mo-
ment," said my new-found friend.
He left me and I sat down upon
the ground, thoughtful and silent.
In a moment my friend came out
with Mrs. Dunkelberg, who kissed me,
and asked me to tell how happened
to be there.
81 just thought would come" said
as 1 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.
"Yes. I'll start off with him in an
hour or So" said my friend. 81 am
interested in this boy and 1 want to
see his aunt and uncle"
"Well, Sally, you go down to the of
flee and stay with Bart until they co.
you'd like that, wouldn't you?" the
man asked of me.
81 don't know" I said.
"That means yes" said the man.
Sally and another little girl came
with us and passing a store I held
back to look at many beautiful things
in big window.
as there anything you'd like there,
Bart" the man asked.
II wisht had a pair o. them shiny
shoes with buttons on" l answered
in low, confidential tone, afraid to
express, openly. a wish so extrava-
CANT.
"Come right in," he said, and I re-
member that when we entered the
store could hear my heart beating.
He bought a pair Of shoes for me
and would have them on at once,
and made 1t necessary for him to
buy pair Of socks also. After the
shoes were buttoned on my feet 1 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.
us and briefly answered Sally's good
bye before the man drove away with
me. l remember telling him as we
went on over the rough road, between
fields of ripened grain, Of my water
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 1 |
have never forgotten her Joy at seeing
me and her tender greeting. She got |
into the buggy and rode home with
us, 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 off
his hat at the sight of my new friend
and said:
''Mr. Wright, 1 never wished that
lived in u palace until now"
He didn't notice me until held up
both feet and called: "Look a there,
Uncle Peabody"
Then he came and took me out of
the buggy and l saw the tears In his
eyes when he kissed me.
The man told Of finding me on his
little veranda, and l told Of my ride
with Dug Draper, after which Uncle
Peabody said:
"Pm goin' to put in your boss and
feed him, Comptroller"
"And I'm goin' to cook the best
dinner I ever cooked in my life," said
Aunt Deel.
When the great man had gone Uncle
Peabody took me In his lap and said
very gently and with a serious look:
"You didn't think I meant 1t, did
ye?-that you would have to go way
from here?"
Il don't know" was my answer.
"'Course didn't mean that. 1 just
wanted We to see that IL want going
10 do for you to keep on tippin' things
over So"
That evening as was about to go
upstairs to bed, Aunt Deel said to