Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-05-13

when she saw how natural the children
all looked she tried to persuade me to
give up the funeral and let them go on
living while longer But no, wouldn't
consent; they'd been hung, and ought to
have burial. Then mamma took me to
the window and showed me how all the
earth was covered with snow, and ad
vlsed me to wait until spring for the
funeral; so | said l would if she would
take care of the children till then. As
| for Rob and viii, didn't mean to speak
with them again that day, but it wasn't
q bit jolly keeping up my spunk all
alone, and they having such good time
| playing horse, so when they asked me if
[ didn't want to be their little puppy,
and run behind, l said yes! and began
| to yelp like everything. Auntie asked
mamma if it wasn't strange that could
forgive and forget so soon, and
mamma said it would be if I didn't
belong to the sex; and l can't think
what she meant; can you?
Last week had my birthday. have
one every spring; but this was differ
ent kind from any l ever had before. 1t
was doll masquerade. The girls
| brought their dolls masked, just like
! grown-up folks when they have mas
| querade, and [ used my own tea set. l
| couldn't invite but five little girls, for |
haven't but six cups and six everything.
| made up my mind ! wouldn't have one
single bog, because they don't make be-
lieve one bit good. Why, Rob and VIII
always drink a whole cup of tea at one
! gulp, and keep me filling their cups all
| the time, so | don't get any myself; be-
sides remembered that hanging ousi-
ness, and thought it would serve them
just right not to let them have any of my
birthday. All that forenoon mamma
wouldn't let me go into the play-room,
and viii and Rob kept winking and
grinning at each other, just as if they
had some great secret that they didn't
want me to know, but [ made believe l
didn't care, though did dreadfully.
After dinner I didn't see the boys
any more until my company began
to come, and before | could open
the door to let them in the prettiest
little boy you ever saw ran down the
stairs and invited them up to the play
room. I had to look more than once to
make sure it was our Rob, for he was
dressed all in blue and white and had
white gloves on his hands. knew it was
auntie's doings, but was real glad, and
only hoped Rob wouldn't forget and give
a handspring going UP stairs; but he be-
haved beautifully for a boy, and opened
the door for US to pass in, and there was
another surprise for me. The table was
pushed up one side of the room, and
upon it, standing side by side, were my
poor dead children, ali come to life
again! The best part of it was, they all
looked better than they did before they
were hung. Captain Jinks had cork
| leg, splendid new suit, and had grown
to be General, but his dear old scar
was just the same, and he didn't seem to
be proud Of his new leg. Old Polly at
first I didn't know, cause she was
changed into Topsy. I guess mamma
was tired covering up so much dirt, and
fixed her SO that nothing would
hurt her complexion any more. Miss
Marie was made into Cinderella,
with truly glass slippers on her
tiny feet. Then Little Bo Peep" was
there, with her dear little crook; and
Little Red Riding Hood, with her hand
on the VOLTS back, as if he was her best
| f,ia hn
but Pm sure it looked just as much like
a dog or a sheep as it did like the cruel
wolf. Last of all stood Little Silver
Hair, who went to the BEARS house. You
may be sure [ was glad then that did
not have the funeral in the winter. Then
our superior! it was splendid! Will
was all dressed up for waiter, with
white apron on, and all the other things,
and he kept us merry with his queer
speeches and funny ways. We had lots
Of nice things to eat, but the best of all,
[ think, was that lovely jelly that wiggles
all over After supper we played games
and had tableaux, and then we got tired
and our stomachs ached, so the girls had
! to go home. 1t was the incest birthday
| ever had, but, oh, dear! it ended just
like all the others, for Lay stomach got
worse, then my head began to throb, SO
[ had to dash my feet in mustard water,
take some nasty medicine and go to bed
And that was the end of my birthday
| Christian Union
| ~