Eaton weekly Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1866-1875, 1872-04-11
Who stole the Bnbx4

From Our Young FoIks.'
Rub-a-dub, dubl Rub-a-dub, dub
Rata tat-tatl'
1t was Johnny Holmes beating his
new drum which his uncle had given
him, making noise enough to drive the
whole neighborhood distracted.
He was playing soldier, going through
the most unheard-o evolutions, calling
to an imaginary regiment, who were
supposed to "haltI' and " forward!
march p whenever he gave the word of
command.
The ck-yard, with its high brick
wall and its solitary shade-tree, was
transformed by Johnny's imagination
into the most enchanting parade
grounds. He had the whole field to
himself, and could have things all his
own way; for no one of his imaginary
followers thought of countermanding or
disobeying orders.
His two sisters, Mollie and Flora, were
in the play-room, attending to the toll
cts of their largest dolls, named re-
spectively the Lady Geraldine and the
Lady Clara, who were going out to a
fulldress reception in honor of the mar
riage of their cousin, the Lady Glendora.
There was good deal of discussion as
to whether the young ladies should
wear their pink silks 1ooped with white
roses or their white silks looped with
red roses; and the debate ran so high,
| and took up so much time, that the
matter had to be compromised by
| dressing one in white and the other in
pink.
o, how lovely they werel The Lady
Geraldine, who must have been half a
yard in height, was really queenly, with
] her white silk trailing as much as three
inches behind, and slightly raised in
front to show the tiny white slipper
and the Lady Clara, not whit less
graceful and dignihed, was completely
fascinating in her pink drapery.
! Placing upon their heads bonnet
the exact size of pumpkin-seed, and
| shaking out their finest embroidered
| pocket-handkerchiefs scented with the
finest of double-distilled essence of pep
! permint, the young ladies were pro-
nounced ready to step into their family
| carriage, which at that moment drove
up in the form of an overturned otto
man, into which they both passed with
all the grace imaginable, and were sup,
posed to be whirled away.
1t was Monday morning. Mrs. Holmes
was looking over her housekeeping ac
counts, having given strict orders tc
Biddy to take care of the baby, and on
no account allow her own quiet to be
disturbed.
Biddy, who was very busy that morn
ing getting the clothes in readiness tc
send to the laundry, having in addition
the dish-washing, sweeping, busting g
| etc., on her hands, considered her duty
with respect to the baby performed
when she had planted him in the centel
of the floor, surrounded by all the til
cups, pans and spoons she could mus
ter, devoutly hoping and fervently be
lieving he would make such racke
among them all as would keep hin
| quiet without further effort on her part
AS the baby was only year old, ant
could not walk alone, she had at leas
no fears of his running away while he
back was turned. So Johnny drummeC
until it was wonder he did not pount
a hole in the drum head, and the littl
girls proceeded to set forth a most bOun
tiful feast, consisting of two cookies, al
apple, and some lemon drops, of whicl
the wedding guests, including Lad
Glendora's relatives to the fifth degree
were invited to partake.
{ The long summer morning was draw
ing toward close when Mrs. Holmes
having added her columns of figure
over and over again, to be certain ther
was no mistake, and having arrived g
a surprisingly large sum total, pushe
away pencil and paper, and Wake
down to relieve Biddy of the care of th
baby.
"Biddyr' she called from the top {
tho kitchen stairs, bring up the baby
I will take care of him now"
: "Indade, num-" replied the CIR
t abe isn't here at all, at all. Hasn't "
f got him already?"
:, "Do you mean to tell me the chill
: isn't here?" asked Mrs. Holmes, h'
v anxious face appearing halfway dow
e the stairs.
g "Why, you see, num-" explaine
Biddy, 81 was busy, loike, with n