Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-12-06
"What's wantin' p shouted back a

! LaVlny ran 10 Inc door, ana the
aunt followed briskly. It was just
noon. Jake Delaney, Mrs. De]aney's
great good-natured son, was shutting
his way toward Eliza Green's hut, and
right outside, close to the very door
step, pressed troop of happy, dirty
ragged, laughing children, and all car
ried flowers. The girls had them in
their aprons; the boys bare-headed,
held them in their caps. One girl had
pailful of grass and dandelions, and a
chubby little fellow with red hair held
in bis arms an old boot full of blossoms
and sprays of willows.
"Hollo, Laviny!" shouted half a
dozen; "we're goin' to be a-wanting
you soon."
Wantin' mel" almost screamed
Laviny, her face sparkling with delight
and establishment. What are you
going to dc ?"
"We're going to keep May" answer
ed the biggest girl, speaking for all the
rest, and we're going to have you for
Queen!"
"Oh oh oh !' said Laviny, clasp
ing her hands. "And have flowers
throwed all over me?"
eyes," said the big girl, "and we're
goin' to crown you beautiful, and we're
goin' to fix wand for you like Miss
Lotty's. We've all been up to look
through the bushes at her. My it's
splendid !"
"She looks like an angel" put in one
of the little girls, with the bute-fullest
shoes, and"
Chop interrupted another scorn-
fully.
"They don't have any shoes On an
gels"
elbow do you know"
"Cause seed a pictyer of 'em. Ant
yer smart !"
"She had the elegantest ribbons onto
her back, too, Laviny," spoke the big
girl again. "But they took her right
indoors. 'Fraid of her bein' so thin
dressed, 1 guess. Ready Laviny? We
want you, come right off.
"Where we going?' asked Laviny,
all in a glow.
"Why, where we've been fxin' the
things. Jake and Charley and Pete'u
have the blossoms all tied to the pole
long fore we get there"
"Do let me go-please do" said La
why, turning suddenly to her aunt,
"can't II"
"Why, what's got inter yer. Laviny?"
said the aunt sharply, anybody'd
think WAS a bear to hear you 60 on.
You hain't got a clean smitch On you,
but never mind; 60, get your cape, it
may blow up colder bimeby. Some O.
you'll have to help her long little"
| oh oId cd RI oh
again, as Laviny went back into the
shanty, the poor child's too much of
a cripple to be May what-you-call-it."
ooh no, she isn't shouted two or
three. We'll take care of her."
eve picked her out for that" added
little girl quickly, "and because she's
SO pretty and good.'
"She is that" said Eliza Green, with
queer shine in her eyes; then chang
ing her tone, Here, you, Laviny,
don't you know they're waitin' You
amt a-makin' that air cape be yer! I
never see such g. child
| Laviny came stumbling out with her
crutch only half under her arm. Her
face was 30 flushed and happy looking
that Mrs. Green gave her q little slap
as she passed out.
ooh! OIL" exclaimed one of the
girls
"That's nothing" laughed Laviny,
that's only her way O. kissin' me.
Aunt's real good. Maybe she'll go with
u.s."
One of the girls ran into the shanty,
but came right out again with: "She
says what's the washin' to do she'd like
to know"
Nobody stopped to answer the ques-
ton, and now Jake and Charley and
Pete came running toward them.
cup for ride, little Missy" grunted
Jake, as suiting the action to the word
he lifted Lav1ny up to secure seat on
his great square shoulder. "Here we
60!
It was a beautiful procession, after
all, Jake ahead with his sun-burned
cheeks looking all the ruddier beside
Laviny's sweet, pale face, Tommy lice
with his bootful, Kitty Carr with her
painful, and all the rest following with
laden aprons and caps-it was pro-
cession Of flowers led on by the lily
girl shining up in Jake's arms. At last
they reached the May ground. It WAS
OI11J oWO LC1NO olA 1O1u ulIS. OupIdluS .
elegant place. They could see Lotty's
beautiful May-pole distinctly, with its
fluttering ribbons and long festoons of
flowers. What if their May-pole WAS
only a rake planted in the ground, and
wreathed with daisies and dandelions
What if the throne was made of an old
tub and a stool sprinkled over with cut
grass Didn't they trim Laviny's
crutch with violets and apple-blossoms
Didn't they crown her with beautiful
wreath? Didn't they throw nearly a
bushel of grass and flowers at her feet?
And didn't the biggest girl walk up to
her with funny little bob of courte-
sy and read these lines, written by Jake
Oh a piece of wrapping paper:
Laviny Green
You are our May Queen" q
And didn't the little creature almost
cry with JOY when they danced about
the May-pole while she. their queen, sat
crowned In state
That night, two little sisters, nesting