The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1876-12-15
No Pocket.

No Pocket.
II was at Katie McPherson's Christ
mas party that the announcement was
made-in the dining-room, where the
scores of bright children were assem-
bled to partake of the good things which
Mrs. Mcpherson had bountifully provid-
ed-Jimmy Johnson made the an
nouncement, and this it was &" Bushy
Caruthers amt got no pocket !"
Jimmy delivered this III such tones
and with such manner as he might
have used if he had said; Bushy Ca
ruthers amt got no thumbs !" or Bushy
Caruthers amt got no nose !"
Hasn't he 7" said Bobby Smedly,
with as much eager concern as Jimmy
johnson, or, indeed the most exacting
rews-besrer could have asked or desired.
Hasn't he ?" said also Dickey Simp-
kins.
There was that in Dickey's tone which
added, "I'm glad I'm not in Bushy's
trousers"
Nellie Partridge, who was one of jim
my Johnson's audience, opened her
eyes roundly and puckered her mouth
into perfect o, and then gave vent to
o long =" Why Z" of establishment.
"No, he amt got no pocket" Jimmy
repeated, with no abatement in his can
you beheve-it manner.
"That's cause he's little boy" said
Tommy Mayneer, who was large OF his
age.
With this explanation, Tommy thrust
his hands into his trousers pockets, drew
himself up to the full capacity of his
inches, and marched back and forth a
few PAGES with great dignity.
Nellie Partridge, who, l much fear,
will in time grow up to be gossip, hur-
ried over to the group OF children in the
next corner, and repeated, with solemn
eyes
"Sayl Bushy Caruthers amt got no
pocket"
Did you everR" said one little audit
or. Its too bad" said another.
Why !" exclaimed a third, hurrying
away to carry the story to the next
group of children. Then the word went
to the company of little folks collected
at the window; thence to the children
outside the dining room door in the
hall, on and on, until everybody knew
that Bushy Caruthers was so unfort-
innate as to he at a party where
candy and nuts and oranges and
ali manner of good things abounded,
and where there was q Christmas tree,
and yet to have no pocket.
What made it worse was that it was
Mrs. McPherson's way at her Katie's
Christmas parties always to insist upon
each little guest filing his or her pock-
cts with good things "to take home"
Poor Bushy
After while the word reached Bushy
himself. OF course he knew he hadn't
any pocket before the children focked
around him with their expressions of
coincidence and their eager inquiries and
ordinations of concern; but until lie
had heard these, and Sc the consterna-
ton in the little faces, he had no concep-
ton of the magnitude OF his misfortune.
When this really dawned upon Bushy,
he thought he ought to cry; but that
seemed too much like baby conduct. So
he perked up his head with an heroic
look in his funny little face, and rolled
his eyes from one to another of his con-
dolers, as if he would say, "Well, if 1
amt got any pocket, I'm going to bear
my trouble like man."
"Wel, Bushy," Barney Williamson
advised, "you eat all the candy and
jelly and nuts and cake and oranges you
can hold"
"Whst makes UNI call you Bushy,
anyhow" asked Henry Clay Martin.
"You amt bushy bit ; you're slick as
nv black and tan terrier" and Henry
CLAW looked the unfortunate over from
the crown of his glossy black head to
the soles of his polished CATERS.
"My names Bushrod, and they call
me Bushy for short, was the explana-
ton whereupon dozen or more chill
dren proceeded to tell what their right
names were and what they were called
for short.
Meantime Bushy, in accordance with
Barney Williamson s advice, was engaged
in storing away cakes and candies, re-
CARELESS OF headaches and doctors. AT
the end of fifteen minutes he Ind prob
ably discovered the limit of his capacity
for at this time he went over to his papa
with both hands full of bon-bons, and
emptied them in that gentleman's big
coat-pocket and when papa looked be-
hind him for an explanation of the pull.
ings, and SO on, Bushy said, pathetic
ally:
ssI amt got no pocket, papa"
"You have no pocket, you mean, y
corrected papa, gently.
"Yes, sir, / haven't no pocket"
In a few moments he was back again,
and papa felt another Juggling at his coat
behind, and heard something rafting
down into his pocket; again came the
exclamation from Bushy: ct amt got
no pocket, papa
II was not long after this before the
folds of mammals silk dress were dis
turbed, and down on top of her lac,
handkerchief streamed the candy ant
nuts from Bushy's oVerdowing hands