1920-12-18 — Page 9

-SATURRDAY, DECEMBER 18,- 1920.

"THE CRICKET ON THE HEARTH."

(Continued from Page 7.3

night. I think."

And it's sure to bring us good formene, John? It always has gone so. To have a cricket on the hearth the luckiest thing in all the world"

THE CHINA' MAIL.``

"Why, so do I then," said the carrier. "So do I, Dot."

13.

*

he is."

"He

Rouse up!

...

door, and keep the weather out, he disclosed upon the back of that gar me, the inscription G and T in large black capitals. Also the Glass in bald characters.

"He's going. John.. I think? ** Not at all. He was only going to

"If you please. I was to be left till speak.

Good-evening. John!" said the Don't mind me.".

linle mat ***Good-evening, mana called for." said the stranger mildly.

With that, he took a pair of spec-Good-evening. Tilly. Good-evoning. scles from ore of his large pockets. Unbeknown? How's baby. man? and a book from another, and leisurely Baker's pretty well. I hope?

Boxer than if he had been a house began to read, making no more of

lamb.

The carrier and his wife exchanged The stranger look of perplexity. raised his head; and glancing from the latter to the former, said...

**All thriving. Caleb," replied Doc I am sure you need only look at the dear child, for one, to know that."?

And I'm sure I need paly look at you for another,” said Caleb.

fections and the bady's, Miss Stow-happy home, John; and I love the, Dot, making a great demonstration of and hurried to ner place behind the round with a smile, and saluted the unknown words, adapted to a popular some cowkke trying to fiftit. Whose is it, John?tea-board, Irughing at her negligence.carrier's wile by gravely inclining his "sneeze-performed boy, in her little errors of judgment, cricket for its sake!

Bat not as she had laughed before. head.

gambols round that "all unconscious. may be said to have done equal

Where is it going?

"Read the writing on the other The manner and the music were quite His garb was very quaint and odd innocent.

He's called for sure changed.. honour to her bead and to her heart;

"Hark! a long, long way behind the time. and though these did less honour to "I love it for the many times I side," said John.

The cricket, too, had stopped. Its hue was brown, all over. In his enough," said John. "There's some "Why, John My goodness, the baby's head, which they were the have heard it, and the many thoughts

Somehow the room was not so cheer-hand he held a great brown club or body at the door. Open it, Tilly.". occasional means of binging into its harmless music has given me. John?"

Before she could reach it, however, Ahi who'd have thought it ful as it had been. Nothing like it. walking-stick; and striking this upon Not at all disputing this position.comact with deal doors, dressers. Sometimes, in the twilight, when

"So these are all the parcels, are the oor, it fell asunder, and became it was opened from withou; being 1 Os which he sat down,primitive sort of door, with a lamb.. John went our to see that the boy stair-rails, bedposts, and other foreign have felt a little solitary and down-John "returned..

You never mean to say," pursued they, Johar" she said, breaking a chair. with the lantern, which had been substances, still they were the 'bonest hearted, Jahn-belore baby was here,

that any one could lift if he chose→→ dancing to and fro before the door and results of Tilly Slowboy's constant to keep me company and make the Dot, sitting on the floor and shaking long silerce, which the tonest carrier quire composedly.

"There?" said the 'carrier, turn and a good many people did choose," window, like a will-o'-the-wisp, 100k astonishment finding herself so house gay-when I have thought how her head at him," that it's GruE and had devoted to the practical illustra

on of one part of his favourite ing to his wile. That's the way for all kinds of neighbours liked to due care of the horse; who was later kindly treated, and installed in such lonely you would be if I should die:Tackleton the toymaker?

semimin certainly enjoying what found him, sitting by the roadside! have a cheerful word or two with the bow lonely I should be, it could John nodded. than you would suite believe, it a comfortable home. For the mater

Mrs. Peerybingle codded also, fitry he are, it it couldn't be admitted that Upright as a milestone. And atmost carrier, though he was no grem alkes

himself Being opened, it gave ad gave you his measure, and so old rat and paternal Stowboy were alike know that you had lost me, dear; its

Not in assent-in he sie but little. So these are all as deat." that his birthday was lost in the mists unknown to Jane. and Tiny had been chirp, chirp. chirp upon the hearth times at least.

Sining in the cpen air, Johnë” mission to a little, meagre, thought- * of antiquity. Bover, feeling that his bred by public charity, a foundling. has seemed to tell me of another linie darab and pitying enkrement; screw-the parcels, are they.. John?"

That's all said John. Thy In the open air, teplied thetul dingy-faced man, who seemned to Cartage have made himself a greatcoat from attentions were due to the family in which word, though only diering voice, so sweet, so very dear to me. ing up her lips, the while, with all general, and must be impartially distrom fondling by one vowel's length beloce whose corning sound my their title force they were never-no-1aying down keile and carrier, "just at dusk,

And made for screwing up; I am clear of fork, and aking long_breath--"1[paid." he said; and gave me eighteen-the sackcloth covering of some oidi tributed, dashed in, and der with beis very different in meaning, and ex-mouble vanished like a dream.

when I used to fear I did fear ance, that), and looking the good easier declareve clean forgotten the old peace. Then he get in. And here box; for, when he fired to shut the wieldering inconstancy: now, describ-presses quite another thing. ing a circle of short Parks round me To have seen litle Mrs. Peery John: I was very young, you know through and through, in her abstrac-gen:léman : “

The old gentlemanë “ Miss Slowboy. in the mean

"In the can." said jota. horse, where he was being rubbed bingle come back with her husband, that ours might prove to be an ill-tion. down at the stable door; now feigning tugging at the clothes-basket. and assorted marriage, I being such a time, who had a mechanical power of to make savage rushes at his mis making the most strenuous exertions child, and you more like my guardian reproducing scraps of current con- was asleep, among the straw, the last tress. and facetiously bringing him to do nothing at all for he carried it), than my husband; and that you might versation for the delectation of the time I'saw him. I've very nearly re- selt to a sudden stop: now, eliciting a would have anosed you almost as not, however hard you tried, be able baby, with all the sense struck out embered him twice, since I came -shreek from Tilly Slowby, in the low much as it amused him. It may have to learn to love me as you hoped and br them and all the nouns changed in: but he went out of my head again. nursing-chair near the fire. by the ur entertained the cricket too, for any prayed you might; its chirp, chirp. into the plural number. inquired Holo Yahip there: expected application of his moist tose thing I know: bet certainly. it now chirp, has cheered me up again, and aloud of that young creature, was it The's my hearts

John said these latter words outside Blled me with new trust and confid-i Grufs and Tackletons the toymakers so her countenance; now, exhibining began to chirp again vehemently. an obstructive interest in the baby:

Heyday!" said John, in his slow cree. I was thinking of these things then, and would it call at pastrycooks the door, whither he had hurried with

wedding-cakes and did its the candle'in his hand. tow, going round and round upon the

It's merrier than ever. To to-night, dear, when I sat expecting for

Miss Slowbor, conscious of some you; and I love the crickes for their mothers know the boxes when its heath, and lying down as it he had

Father's brought them homes; and so mysterious reference to the old gen established himself for the niganaj

sake!

leman, and connecting in her mysti- roa sening up again, and taking that

behind the cart, just now, and though on"

really to come fied imaginaßsh certain assoziations cerning of a lag-end of a gait of his

And so do I repeated John. And that is

"Why, she and religioso-rature with the phrase. was o into the weather, as if he had just,

But Dot? / hope and pray that I about" said Dot.

E were girls at school together. so disturbed, that hastily rising from might learn to love you? How you remembered an appointment, and was

the low chair by the fire to seek pro-

matter what he said: a description od. at a round top, to keep it.

John looked at her as it he had very talk: 1 had learned that, long before John."

He might have been thinking of tection near the skirts of her mistress. I brought you here, to be the cricket's -- There :*

which will equally apply to his voice There's the tea-poi, nearly got the thought into his head.

her. or nearly thinking of her, per and coming into contact as she cross-

"Or at John for another," said ready on the hob" said Dor; as that she was his cricket in chief, and [ linle mistress, Dot:

Caleb Or at Tilly, as far as that briskly busy as a child at play at he quite agreed with her.

She laid her hand, an instance, on haps, as she was in that same schooled the doorway with an ancien!

He quietly turned over, and re-goes. Or certainly at Boxer." keeping house. "And there's the was probably one of his narrow his army and looked up at him with tire. He looked upcr. her with a stranger, she instinctively made a charge or butt at him with the only cold krkle of ham; and there's the escapes. For he said nothing

Busy just now, Caleb?" asked an agitated face, as if she would have thoughtful pleasure, but he made no fersive instrument within her each. sumed his reading. But before he butter and there's the crusty loaf and The first time I heard its cheerful] told him something. Next moment, answer.

"And he's as old: As unlike her: This instrument happening to be the could have read two lines, he again the carrier.

**Why, pretty well. John," he re- ali Here's a clothes-basket for the little note. John was on that night she was down upon her knees before

"Baby, YouTS.

turned, with the distraught air of small parcels, Johm. if you've got any when you brought me home when the basket, speaking in a springly-Why, how many years older than baby great commotion and alarm interrupted himself, to say-

you is Gruff and Tackleton, John?" ensued, which the sagacity of Boxer there bere are you. John-Don't you brought me to my new home voice, and busy with the parcels.

Jahn gave him a gigantic nod; man who was casting about for the "How many more cups of tea rather rended to increase; for that let the dear child tall under the grate, bere; is little mistress. Nearly a

"There are not many of them to shall I drink 10-night at one sining, good dog rore thoughtful than his equivalent to an answer in the affir- philosopher's stone, at least. "Pretty Tilly whatever you do!**

year ago. You recollect. John?

night, John, but I saw some goods

Noah's arks at present. I could have they give more trouble, perhaps, stul than Gruff and Tackleton ever took master, had it seemed, been watch-mative. delivered through a speaking-moch so. There's rather a run on

in four. I wonder?" replied johning the old gentleman in his sleep. trumpet.

wished to improve upon the family they pay as well; so we have to good-humouredly, as he drew a chair lest he should walk off with a few

but I don't see how it's to be done Be- "Its chirp was such, a welcome to reason to grumble, have we?

at the price. It would be a satisfaze i fare and surprising talent of getting me: It seemed so full of promise sides, you have been delivering. Ito the round table, and began at the young poplar trees that were tied up cold ham. As to eating, I eat but behind the cart: and he still grended this bury into difficulties; and had and encouragement. It seemed to dare say, as you came along?”

little, but, that Little I enjoy, Dot." on him very closely, worrying his

Mrs. Peerybingle instantly struck tion to one's mind, to make it clearer several times imperilled its short life.say, you would be kind and gentle Oh, yes," John said. "A good Even this, his usual sentiment at gaiters in fact, and making dead sets in. Two months and three da-ays! which was Shems and Hams, and in qular way peculiarly her own. She with the, and would not expect (I had

meal times, one of his innocent delu at the buttons.

Vaccinated just six weeks ago-o which was wives. Flies ain't on that

Considered, by scale neither, as compared with elect a Spare and straight shape, fear of that. John, then to find an

Ah, well: Have Why, what's this round box? sions (for his appetite was always "You're such an undeniable good Took very fine-ly: this young lady insomuch that her head on the shoulders of your Heart alive, John, it's a wedding-butirate, and Blatty contradicted him), sleeper sir." said John, when tran- the doctor, a remarkably beatiful plants, you know?

Equal to the general run you got anything in the parcel line garments appeared to be in constant

foolish little wile."

awoke to smile in the face of his little quillity was restored in the meat chi-ild!

the old -danger of sliding off those shitp pegs,

gentleman had of children at five months o-old for me, John? John thoughtfully patted one of the

Leave a woman alone to find out wile, who stood among the parcels, time

The carrier put his hand into her shoulders, on which they were shoulders. and then the head. as that said John admiringly."Now a washing the cake-box slowly from her stood bareheaded and motionless. in Takes notice. in a way quite wo pocket of the cost he had taken off

May seem impossible, to loosely "aung. Her costume was though he would have said. So. roman would never have thought of it with her foot; and never once looked, the centre of the foam" that I have der-fel!

and brought out, carefully preserved markable for the partial development, he had had no such expectation; he whereas, it's my belief that if you though her eyes were cast down too, half a murd to ask yes where the you, but feels his legs al-ready?** er all possible, occasions. of some had been quite content to take them was to pack a wedding-cake up in s upon the dainty shoe she generally other six are only that would be a

Here, the breathless little mother, in moss and paper, and tiny flower hannel verstment of a singular struc

of. Absorbed in joke, and know I should spoil it, who had been shrieking these short pot.

"There it is, he said, adjusting? ture: ako for affording glimpses, in as they were. And really he had sea-chest, or a turn-up bedstead, or was so mindful

Not so much as reason. They were very comely.

thought, she stood there, heedless Very near though." murreared the sentences into the old man's car, untilį the region of the back, of a corset, In spoke the tath, John, when

alike of the tea and John (although carrier, with a chuckle: "near near her pretty face was crimsoned. held it with great care.

The stranger, who had long, while up the baby before him as a stubborna leaf damaged. Full of buds!"

Caleb's doll 'eye brightened as be he called to her, and rapped the table with his knife to startle her url hair." good features, singularly bold and triumphant fac:: while Tilly Slow- "And it weighs I don't know what he rose and touched her on the arm; and well defined for an old man, and boy with a melodious cry of "ketcher, took it and thanked bim. This has been 3-whole hundred-weights: " cried when she looked at hiru for a moment, dark, bright, penetrating eyes, looked keicher which sounded like some

It may be noted of Miss Slowboy, in spite of her rejecting the caution with some vivacity, that she had a

-W25 of

or pair of stays in colour a dead green.

But it

Oh, yes. John remembered. should think so:

Being always in a state of seemed to say so: for you have ever gaping admitation at everything, and been. I am sure, the best, the most absorbed. besides. in the perpsival considerate, the most affectionate of cratemplation of her mistress's per- husbands to me.

many."

cake!"

a pickled-salon keg. or any unlike

it

ly thing, a woman would be sure to

find it out directly. Yes, I called for it at the pastry cook's."

Your daughter, my good friend?" "Wile." returned John, "Niece?" said the stranger. "Wife." roared John. "Indeed?" observed the stranger. Surely Very young!"

Girl?"

"Bo-o-dy!" roared John. "Also very young, eh?

ra

He didn't look at her though: he had a wandering and thoughtful eye which seemed to be always projecting isell into some other time and place.

(Continued on Page (1.) (

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