Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1869-07-16
FOR THE CHILDREN.
From the New York independent.
CHOW THEY BOUGHT A GRO.
QUIET SET.''
BY LIZZIE n. BoYNroN


Little folks, have a real, Certain
true" !" 'pon honor story to tell you. I
know every one Of the little girls and
boys that bought this "croQgtet''; and I
myself have seen them-yes, I have
played with the dear little mallet and
balls and shall I confess it ? D Lillieand
Rosie and Harvey and Charlie have fre-
quently beaten me. The beautiful
grove in which they play is the very
same where we used to gather butter
cups and violets; where we used to pun
from imaginary mad-dogs; Where we
used to tear our dresses, wear out our
shoes and have lust the most fun. -
Lille and Rosie and Annie, Carrie and
Josie, all live near this grove. This is
their playground, and here they have
beautiful times One beautiful day last
Summer we walked khrough The grove
and found them busiIY at work in
their new milliner store Charlie was
the cashier that means the boy Whe
took care of the money!. His money
counter was covered with 'greenbacks.'
Not real paper RreAnbaeks; but beauti-
full green-backed maple-leaVes, while.
cIoVer-1eaves answered for checks
Here were beautiful little bonnets
made of oak-1eaYes, trimmed with
sweet-violets and fringed with the.
feathery fern-leaves; beautiful wTeaths
for the hair, made of pink and white
-blossOnns-1ssiu from Paris and.
London" Rosie assured me. They
seemed to be having 'sgreat fun; but
when came back for the bonnet I had
ordered the children had all gone. The
bonnets, with their wilted trimmings,
were lying on the ground. The mossy
counters were streWn with faded flow
ers, and they had evidently "broken
up" or sold out. I afterWard learned
what happened. Bell, sweet cousin.
from an adjoining city, suddenly ask
a oh n lTnTa MI
quet. Alas a croquet set was just the
very thing that they had been wishing
for; and the mere mention of it was
enough to make the ''playing milliner
store" out of the question.
What is it-thomefung to eat?'' ques-
toned Lille.
''No, you little goosie-poosie!' an
swered Harvey who had a boyish in
stinct that little girls were not suppos-
to know much,
ST anti a goothie-poethie, Harvey;
and If you thaE am won't play, nor
had innocently informed Harvey that
she could stay an hour; and if his ma
inthithted she could stay to tea.)
Lille was set right on the croquet
question. Annie suggested that they
should go and ask her mother how
they could earn money to buy set;
and away they frisk ed. Not one of
them Walked-children seldom do-real,
genuine, merry children; little, prim
old women sometimes do. Rosie skip
pranced, somebody fell down, and then,
of course, everybody giggled.
Lille was very small, and she wore
her mothers large sun-down hat; 50 it
was not very STANCE that sauey Charlie
told her she "Iooked like atoad-stool.' -
They finally succeeded III getting in
to the house, where they found Annie'S
mother; who, after hearing their ques-
ton and thinking few moments, told
them they could have little tableau
party, to which they could charge ten
cents admission. Well, then there was
clapping of hands. Lille nearly dane
ed a figure out of the carpet, Harvey.
turned a sssomersauit,' . and altogether
the scene was very impressive. The
Shildren finally were quiet. Annie
f&und the old "Lady's Books,'' and
TINY commenced their search for tab
atNpictures.
TwS weeks from that time the friends
of the children were invited to attend
little ''tableau party admission ten
cents. The evening at last arrived.
The front parlor was we'll filled with
persons quite anxious for the opening
of the folding doors. at last the first
tableau is announced-s'Mr, and Mrs,
Tom Thumb" Oh! see F.! Well. isn't
that splendid? Harvey in dress-coat
and silk hat, with cane and eye glasses.
Lille in long dress, her sunny curls
tortured into a real waterfall. The
picture was complete, and the laugh
universal when through the partially
closed doors a little isping voice said
''Mamma, Harvey thaid he had mothst
a mind to kith me; and I wouldn't have
been very mad if he had"
''Night and Morning" were we'll rep
resented by the dark-haired Annie
dressed in black, and the Hght-haired
| Josie in white.
1.-THE Nav Queen" made a beautiful
| picture. The flower-crowned queen,
| with her white-robed at Adants, form
ed charming little group.
When the 3sFlower of the Family
| was announced, the curtain rose, and
10! large barrel, while leaning against
it was sack, upon which was painted
! aFamily Flour" Everybody laughed
at the joke, and thought it all a Joke,
when curly head appeared from the
top of the barrel, then little bare
shoulders, a spangled white dress, tiny
slippered feet, and "Lillie,1 a verita-
BILE flower of the family, stood before
| the surprised audience.
Then 1 believe somebody sung
g Robin Red Breast" !" dressed as Little
Red Riding Hood. (1f make any
mistakes, I hope Sophie or Annie viii
correct them, as have seen so many
! tableaux since then may be incorrect
If it was Rosie that was the flower,
beg her pardon-Roses and Lilliei
ought ever to be the flowers of the
family.)
h Lastly came Saturday-night scene
little old women endeavoring to ge
children almost as large as themselvei
ready for the coming Sabbath. Littl'
tangled curls being brushed, little bar
feet being washed-a busyy funny scene
When the doors were closed every
body knew the tableaux were Wortl
ten cents, and the children were de
lighted to know that they could buy
set of croquet.
They also learned that there is grea
comfort in being able to earn anything
r They enjoy their game intensely, ar
very generous with it, and would ad
? wise any little girls or boys who wis
for one to earn 1t, instead of teasin
father or mother for the money.
So it is all through life, dear littl
folks if you would be loved and ad
= mired, earn the love of friends by nobl
/ yvOrE-6eedE of kindness