The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1874-03-13
Rrnn Porridge Hot.


He was one of their new neighbors,
and the very funniest man that DO and
Bel hadever seen. He wore a shaggy
overcoat and a shaggy cap, and he had
red checks, and eyes as black as black
beads. SO much 30 and Bel noticed at
once from their post OF observation
under the table. They had gone in
under the table to play house, and had
just put the dolls to bed, when this new
neighbor came to call.
81 think we shall be good friends"
he was Saying to their father. "Got
children, haven't you? / thought l hit
q sled coming in. Got six of 'em my
self, SIX sleds and six children belong
ing to lem. Where are your tots? Not
asleepbt this hour, am sure. Let me
see, perhaps they are i'll the coal-hod."
Andlthis funny man walked very So
berly TO the coal-hod and looked in,
while Bo and Bel stared at each other
in pefect amazement.
4" They are more likely to be in my
rk.basket," said mamma, laughing
81 an sure they have been in it very
lately by the way my spools are scat
tered"
80, well, perhaps they are in the
workbasket, said the funny man,
stalking across the room to see, and he
looked so very much bewildered at find
ing nobody in the basket, that Bo gig
gled out loud.
"Ah, no,o L know where to look" he
said, and Immediately dropped down on
Bo and Bel held each others hands
tight, and laughed a little, but didn't
know what to say.
"Come out, you two little girls" said
the funny man, in very good-natured
voice; maybe you can find something
III my pockets.
"Come out, children" mamma said,
too, land maybe Mr.. Buddy will tell
you about his little girls.
Thus encouraged, Bo and Bel scram-
bled out from under the table, and Ill
minute more were sitting on Mr.. Bud
dys knees. He hunted and hunted all
through his pockets, but could only
find one peanut. That he cracked and
gave half to each little girl.
Now, what are your names ?" he
asked.
"Bo," answered Bo.
"Bel, answered Bel.
"Well, ;" said the funny man, cheer
fully, "n1y little girls are named Sue,
and Bess, and Kit. How old are you?"
-Four" answered Bo.
Six, answered Bel.
They thought then he would tell them
how old Sue and Bess and Kit were, but
he didn't. Instead of that he asked
very Unexpectedly, "Can you pat-a-
cake %
"Course we can, said Bo; babies
can do that"
"Oh, to be sure" said Mr.. Buddy,
with a merry twinkle in his eyes.
"Well, then, can you build wall with
your fists ?"
No, they couldn't do that So Mr..
Buddy showed them how. First he sat
down his right fist, then Bells right
fist was planted above it, then
Bo's, and then in the same order
followed all their left fists. Then
out flew Mr.. Buddy's right fist, and
went up on top of the column, then out
flew Bells and went above that, then
Bo's and so on and on till you could see
nothing but cloud of flying fists, and
there was great deal of shouting and
laughter. Then Mr.. Buddy stopped
short and shook his head.
Getting too noisy !" he said. "Can
you play bean porridge hot ?"
No, they couldn't so then he showed
them how 70 do that. First he showed
Bel and then he showed Bo, and then
both little girls tried it together; but
they made lots of mistakes. The funny
man gave the word; when he said
bean" they each dropped their hands,
when he said "porridge" they each
clapped their hands, when he said "hot'
they each clalped the others hands, and
the same foi bean porridge cold >
but when 1t cane to "bean porridge il
the pot nine days DID," then they had to
make their hands fly, and clap cross
wise and every ihich way, and that was
the time they maze mistakes. But they
only laughed at them.
All of sudden the clock struck eight
Dear me !" said Mr.. Buddy, in
great hurry" must go right home, fo
Kit won't go to he'd till she gets he
good might kiss. oood-by, little girls
Won must come and Zee my little girls.
eyes, we will tomorrow, said Bo.
"Give them our lo,e, said Bel.
CT will, f" said the bunny man, as h,
put OH his shaggy cap; and now min,
Won practice bean porridQe hot til
Won can do il as well as my Bess. Thel
/ will come again, and bring a Ion,