Page 20 - Adventures of Peterkin Paul

With her chin that turned up and tier nose that And, forfeiting hts a we of the cats in a minute, —
tnmfcd doi^'il, ” That's a queer-looking bo.t," be cried, 11 what can
IJI bid yon good morrow, my dear jVfoClicr Moll,’ ' be in it ?
Cried link MiEtiades L’ eterkin Paul. It is here iliitt she keeps all her treasure, may be,
Since there's nobody nigh, I've a great mind to see.
“ I was passing this way, so ! tliouglit I would call," I iirt ljure, if i do, th eft- 's. no harm can befall,"
Continued Miltiadcs Pewrkin Paul; Whispered little Milt hides Pete rk in Paul,
hl [ trust that you find v^nirsctf well, this tine day ? ”
Then the old woman winked, in th4 funniest ivnj,-.
So little Miltiadea Peterkin Paul
And she chuckled it while to herself; then said she,
Drew ,i heavy chair up— for you set, being small,
" My fine little fel!owf you can't deceive me!
The table itself came quite up to his chin, —
However, just hand me pny crutch that stands there; And, with great difficulty, contrived to peep in.
After »1E, it you suit me, I'IE make you my heir."1
So little Miltiades Petcrkin Paul
He reached her a crutch that stood there ’gainst tlie
wall,
A :id he followed her in. through the house, to a
room
Whine all was as silent and dark as the bomb,
“ Here," said she. “ L will leave you aft hour or id.
At the end of that time ! am likely to know
If ytm'i] suit me or nnt. fciur. one warning, my
dear, —
Ue auif til at you mind y&ur triett business while Eierc."
So little Miltiades Felerkiti Paul
fo r a long time sat there, seeing nothuyg ;it all,—
Quite alone l>y himself in the silence and gloopis ;
Blit at length ht found courage to steal 'cross- the
I'Oum,
A n d 11is ]m o r Eittle I ms urn W44 ill in a flutter,
As he raised hitnself tiptoe and pushed back ihe
Put the box. IS il happened, Contained yitlpttf fmijf.
shutter
Which came out — as lie lifted die lid-— with a puff \
'I'm let til the light, — -then stood rubbing his eyes
And what cniild pour Iitile tfiltirfdfig do
And staring about in bewildered surprise.
Rut sneeze very loudly — ‘ n-k&tthlm f ftrk&tilitH ! "
For tliere, all around him, on ceiling And flonr.,
*
Ife beheld mom black aifs than he'd met with before Then the dooi it ilew open, and old Mother Moil
In the whole of his life ,— full a score, i should think. Confronted Mtltiades Petcrkin Paul.
Each one of them bEack as the blackest of Ink. — " H i! hi ' ” she cried shrilly, ycjii have a fine cold !
And each on its perch standing silent and grim, I don't think HE leave ysu my silver and gold.
With green, glassy eyes looking fiercely at him, Since it seenis that you could not remember my
110 dear! ” gasped Miltiades Peterkin Paul, w a rn in g
" I am sure that I don't understand this lit a I!!" To mind your own business. I'll wish you gnod-
morTiing.V
Just then, as he stood there, lie chanced to espy Anri sn our young hero went home tlttvngli tfie wond,
A Ircautifu! box on the table ctast by ; And still, iis he went, he fittfixia Att•?(&<}<!<{ '