The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1873-08-15
Pillow Palace.

the pillows and all the bed-clothes out
III the next room on the floor, so they
would not be III the way while Norah
swept and scrubbed. There the chill
dren found them-Kitty and Johnny
and Baby Bell-and ran and tumbled
among them full of glee. 1t was such
fun to see the mattresses where they
didn't belong, and the bed-clothes
thrown all in a heap, and the pillows
piled up anyhow Baby Bell put her
thumb in her mouth and rolled over and
over, while Kitty and johnny threw
pillows at each other, and fell headlong
III the softest places they could find.
Then they played merry game of
hide-and-seek under the pink and blue
patchwork quilt, and after that was
done Kitty thought it would be nice to
build house. Johnny came stumbling
over the pillows, all eagerness to help,
and they planted Baby Bell down in a
safe spot, with her rattlebox in her
hand, to be out of the way while they
worked.
The mattresses were the floor of the
house, of course, and the pink and blue
patchwork bedquilt was the carpet,
then the other bedquilts and blankets
and sheets were hung over chair-back
all around IN a row for walls. Then the
pillows were chairs and sofas and when
1t was all done, baby Bell was set in the
middle to creep and crow and be Kitty's
little girl. Kitty and johnny sat oppo-
site each other, and played they were
grown up.
81 am Mrs. Merwin," said Kitty,
g and you are Mr. Mannery. Now" she
added, in very dignifed voice, chow
do you do, Mr.. Mannery? L am very
happy to see you -
Putty well, num-" said Mr.. Man
merry, nodding his curly head. Come
i'll, mum, come in p
Sc am in" said Mrs. Merwin CT
can't come any inner This is my little
girl, Mr.. Mannery. Isabella, speak to
the gentleman %
Isabella sucked her thumb, and
stared hard with her blue eyes.
Nice little girl, num-" said Mr..
Mannery, politely; "be good little
girl, and don't break fings."
My child neoer breaks things" re-
piled Mrs. Merwin, with severity.
Isabella, Isabella, what are you do
ing, my love ?"
Baby Bell had suddenly rolled over,
and was very busy tugging at the end
of a bolster. In a moment more her
dlmpled fingers drew out a great white
feather.
Oh, Johnny, amt that handsome 2"
exclaimed Kitty forgetting all her dig
nifty, and Selling upon the feather
Let's play it's tame white dove and
belongs to us, and we'll keep it perched
up here in this corner"
Well, said Johnny, land find
some more -
Then Johnny and Kitty took the
bolster, and turned it over and over,
searching eagerly. Whenever they
found little sharp quill-point pricking
through the ticking, they pulled it and
had ten, all small and white and downy.
g. Play they're banty chickens" said
Johnny.
Well, said Kitty, "and let's have
them fly about and run away, and well
catch them.
And she blew as lard as she could,
and the little white bantams flew all
around. They had great fun catching
them, and baby Bell helped in great
delight. When the bantams were all
caught, the children played there was q
coop behind one of the pillows, and put
them all into it.
Now, let's play king and queen,
said the restless Kitty, land call thi:
our palace. Pillow Palace ; that's a
nice name, and 1 am the queen of the
pillows %
But just as she had drawn herself up
and was beginning to say, Majesty
give that smallest pillow shaking, The
dinner bell rang, and mamma came hur
rying into the room, and told the chill
dren to wash their faces and run dowI
quick into the diningroom.
So away they ran, and sat down, on,
on each side of their father, while bah,
Bell was put in high chair close b,
mamma. 1t took long time to eat din
ner, for little fingers make slow work
and then the pudding, which came las
of ALL was so very good. But at las
they finished, and getting out of thei
chairs, hastened back to Pillow Palace
as fast as they could go.
Bat when they reached the room up
stairs, Pillow Palace was gone Al
swept away, every vestige destroyed
not sheet nor pillow left. Moral
had been making up the beds and put
ting things to rights Pillow Palac
was demolished, the kingdom in ruins
and what, oh, ,ohat had become of tn
tame white dove, and the ten dea
downy bantams
81 think Norah is mean p erie
Kitty, passionately, and Johnny bega
to whisper. Even baby Bell locke
sober, and pointing with her little band
said A." Ctone zone ~
Mamma heard the sound of lamentG
ton, and came in to comfort.
Never mind, she said, when sh
heard the story. "Play it was an eartl
quake. Such things do happen, yo
know. Now must baby Bell to sleer
and you, Kitty and johnny, had bette
run out of doors and look around on tn
grass, for i think the bantams flew OF
of the window - ChrjSti0n Union.
Princess Helena the FUR