Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1872-02-08
PAPA KENT'S CHAIRS.

Hattie Kent's father kept store.
He had no little girl except Hattie, and
he loved her very dearly.
The house and store were in the same
building, so little Hattie could easily run
in TO see her father when she was tired of
playing with her dolls.
Sometimes, indeed, she brought one of
her dolls with her She would have
brought the whole family--it was pretty
large one-but her father said, "Only one
at time, if you please. | don't want
people to think keep doll shop"
One day, when Hattie had stayed in
the store as long AS she wanted to, she
said
"Well, Mr.. Papa Kent, l must be
going I'm going up in the ackit to play
keep house.
SO she pinned her little shawl over her
head, picked up her doll, Clarissa, and
started OFF, saying, "Goodby, sir. Come
and see me when you can
YES" said papa Il shall be very
happy to do SO. Good.day, ma'am."
Hattie liked to play in the attic; there
was no one to disturb her, and she could
scatter" her things about as much as she
chose
She kept her playthings up there, all
but her dolls. They had "A baby house all
TO themselves, in Hattie's own little room.
She was very careful and attentive
mother, and liked to have her children
near her. especially nights.
Besides her playthings, there were
great many things in that attic. Old bu-
reaus and chairs, broken tables, an old
cradle and boxes without number.
Hattie thought it fine fun TO r,lmmage
around among these old things, and she
was continually finding some new de-
light.
This morning, she brought up all her
dolls and put them in the old cradle
while she made ready To begin her
housekeeping.
As she was moving some Of the things
about, she happened 10 spya small kcg in
a dark corner under the caves.
She instantly pulled it out for examine
ton.
1t proved to be keg of red paint.
Hattie knew it was because she smelled
of it, And besides, she put her fingers
into it, and then wiped them on herapron.
Yes, il was certainly red paint. T" And
here's some brushes, too ~ she exclaimed,
making another dive under the caves.
There now!" said she, in a tone of
great satisfaction. Now ! know what
III do. I'll paint That'll be ever 80
much better than playing house.
Then she began looking about for
something TO paint.
1.-THE cradles red already, said she,
"and so are those tables. But there's the
chairs. o, I'll paint the chairs, because
there's so many of EN-. / shouldn't
wonder if my papa would be real glad to
have them all painted up nice J"
With this bright idea, she jumped up,
and began to pull out the chairs There
were six Of them, tall and old fashioned
They used to belong To Hattie's great
grandmother.
81 guess the children would like TO see
me paint, said she, when all was ready
So she took the dolls out Of the cradle,
and seated them all around on the floor,
where they could behold and admire
the sight.
Now, children" said she, 81 want
you TO look and learn, so you'll know how
10 paint your own chairs and things. You
Just dip your brush way down in the
point, 0ts nay, and then brush the chair
all over. Do you see y
When Hattie was painting the fifth
chair, her mother came softly up the
stairs to see what she was about, as 1t
was almost dinner.timc.
Hattie was 80 busy, painting and talk
ing to her dolls, that she did not hear her
mothers step.
"Of all this world !" thought the lady.
"What uM her father say y
She went softly down stairs, and told
papa, who had jus! come liz to dinner,
that he had better go and see what was
going on in the attic,
He crept up carefully, and saw the five
bright red chairs, and Hattie, just begin
ming on the last one.
"Ahem - coughed papa.
Hattie turned round and saw him. "O,
papa y she exclaimed, don't they look
beautifAy Aren't you glad 2"
She looked so pleased that he concluded
not to scold SO he said he thought they
looked very gay indeed. Then he carried
her down 10 dinner. But the next time
she went up there, the paint and brushes
had disappeared. She never saw them
Ii