Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1877-12-27


door.
Come in, my five feet of happi
ness she exclaimed, as her brothe
hesitated in the doorway.
No wonder he paused moment
Any lad of fifteen would feel some
what abashed in the presence of I
pretty girl, particular friend of biz
sisters. Besides, Harry Brent had
shouted through the house in, 9
most ungentlemanly manner, he fan
cied, although the improperly die
not occur to him until be saw Ten
MES bright face.
Nothing pleased Madge more thar
Harry's happy, noisy manner, and
as to his mother, she was ever quot
ing "a merry heart doeth. good like
medicine The father had died
long before Harry came to be a LAD
of five feet, but the children always
remembered his pleasant smile as be
said: Make all the good natured
noise you please, but excuse me from
iIl-natured confusion
Tennie Tuttle had long since
promised Madge a visit at New
Years, and just for the fun of the
thing Madge had kept it secret
from Harry, until he bounded into
her presence that morning.
The two girls looked SO happy and
comfortable in their cosy room, with
its open CRATE and cheerful pictures
Harry decided to accept the invita-
ton to enter.
i did not know you had visitors
in your sky-parlor, or [ should not
have ventured up. However, now
that [ am here, what are the orders
for to-day 4? You are not old enough
to receive calls, and mother does not
entertain this year. What will you
do to make the day "A time to be
remembered?'
'Harry would be in torture if he
could not quote said Madge, laugh
ing, from her perch on a low stool.
'Why don't you go with the fell
lows and skate? That is the way
mos: brothers do, said Tennie, with
q roguish twinkle of her pretty eyes,
Because, most worthy Princess, 1
have already passed two mortal
hours on my skates in the society OF
the fellows and frankly confess my
preference for my sisters compan.
ionship. Iawait your orders, Queen
Bluff.
Harry always called Madge, Quern
Bluff, from a certain little way of
speaking her mind, as he called it, in
a very dignified but straightforward
manner.
Madgo was lively bright girl, a
little younger than her brother, but
already far beyond him in her stud
les. Madge studied her lessons con-
seientiously, for the sake of knowl-
edge. Harry grve his just time
enough to escape reprimand in the
class, and bring homo respectable
report to mother.
Tennie looked up from her sewing
waiting for Madge to reply.
'Well' said Madge, after tapping
tn, sole of her slipper on the carpet,
suppose we go outside
GO outside, where 2 asked Harry
in surprise.
Outside Of yourselves said Madge
quietly.
III | am q judge said Harry you
are outside of yourself most of the
time. Queenie, what's up p
When Harry uttered the last
words, both girls clapped their hands
and demanded ten cents for the'Pro,
priety box Slang phrases were not
allowed, by a rule of the household,
and every offender was obliged 60
pay q fine of ten cents for each of
tense. This money, no ANAL por-
tion of which came from Harry's
Purse, was expended for charitable
purposes.
Harry tossed a bit of scrip into her
sisters lap and begged her to free
her mind at once or he would become
bankrupt,
q was thinking said Madge,
thoughtfully, how nice it would be
if we could take the horses and the
largest sleigh, and carry out that
poor little fellow who had his feet
amputated last summer. His sisters
might go, too"
Capital + said Harry. i will ask
mother at once. Mike and | will
drive, Queen Bluff aud the Princess
viii entertain our guests, and we will
take the poor things into some nice
place for good warm dinner. We
will ask the Beloved at once"
Tennie dropped her dainty en-
broidery on the bed; Madge rolled
hers up neatly in one corner of her
work-basket, and all three went down
the soft, carpeted stairs, to Mrs.
Brent's room. She was arranging
some gifts on little table, as they
entered, but paused at once to greet
her children. 'Well dears,' she said
inquiringly, what is it =?
Nothing, only Queen Bluff has
gone outside of herself, and wants
W pun US OutB w. Sdtu hdTrYs
Queen Bluff pearohed herself on one
arm of her mothers chair. Tennie
took the other, and both girls cap
turod hand of the beautiful woman
who looked more Ike the sister of
the two than the wise matrou she
really was.
State the case, Squire Headlong,
she said, laughing, as Harry drop
ped on his knees before her.
TO be brief, them" said Harry,
Queen Bluff proposes to take your
horses, the old family sleigh, and some
poor children, out for an airing
Mrs. Brent looked up at her daugh.
ter, whose curley head was nestled
close to Ter own.
'Only the Jenkins children, nam.
ma-the little boy without feet, and
the girls, to keep him company, ]
thought it might make the world seem
so large and bright to them, if you
wouldn't mind.
You have gone outside of yourself
to some purpose, daughter. Horses
and sleigh are at your disposal. !
only suggest a larger load of little