Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1878-10-23

now, you may as well bring the girl
when yon come home from school TO
morrow. Then you'll have time t,
play before supper, for their mother
will want them home before dark"
''Do YOU care whom | invite 20 aske,
Nimpo, pausing with the door open OF
her way TO bed.
mo. l do knows do. Your init
mate friends, your ma said.'
'Oh, goOdy," said Nimpo, as sh,
skipped up stairs, two Mt a time
'Won't we have fun, How nice it'll
be,''
The next morning she was off, bright
and early, and, before the bell rang
every girl in the school knew that MIN
po was going TO have birthday party
and was wondering if she would be in
vited. AT recess she issued her invita-.
tions, every one of which was prompt.
ly accepted, and in the afternoon al
came in their best dresses, reaoy to ge
home with Nimpo.
At four O'Clock they were dismissed
and Nimpo marshaled her guests and
started. Now, the truth was, that the
girls had been so very lovely TO her
when she was inviting, that she found
it hard to distinguish between intimate
friends and those not quite so intimate,
80 she had asked more than she rea-
lied till she saw them started up the
street. However, she had not been
limited as to numbers, so she gave her
self no concern, as she gayly led the
way.
Meanwhile, the Primkins family had
been busy. After the morning work
was done, Mrs. Primkins and her
daughter Augusta made loaf of plain,
wholesome cake, a couple of tins OF
biscuits, and about the same number of
cookies with caraway seeds in them.
After dinner they carried table into
the back chamber and spread the feast.
Nimpo's mother had sent, as birthday
present, a new set of toy dishes. 1t
had arrived by stage while Nimpo was
at school, and been carefully concealed
from her, and Augusta, who had not
yet forgotten that she was once young
herself-though it was many years be-
fore-thought it would be nice to serve
the tea on these dishes. Not being able
TO think of any serious objection, and
seeing advantage in the small pieces re-
quired to I'LL them, Mrs. Primkins had
consented, and Augusta had arranged
a very pretty table, with its white and
gilt china. The biscuits and cookies
were cut small to match, and, when
ready. 1t looked very cunning, with
tiny slices of cake and one little dish of
jelly-from the top shelf of Mrs. Prim-
kins' pantry.
During the afternoon boy came up
from the store tNimpO's father was a
country merchant) with a large basket,
in which were several pounds of nuts
and raisins and candy which her father
had ordered by letter.
Every thing was prepared, and Mrs.
Primkins had put on clean checked
apron, to do honor TO the occasion, and
sat down in her rocker, feeling that she
had earned her rest, when Augustus
voice sounded from up stairs, MA, do
look dewn the street"
Mrs. Primkins went TO the window
and looked towards the village, and
was struck with horror.
.'Goodness gracious! Why, what
under the canopy? Did you ever!'
came from her lips in quick succession,
for there was Nimpo, the centre of
very mob of girls, all in Sunday best,
as Mrs. Primkins' experienced eye saw
at a glance.
"Mar' exclaimed Augusta, rushing
down 81 do believe that young one has
invited the whole school,"
''The troIlop," was all Mrs. Prim-
kins could get out in her evaporation.
.I'd send 'em right straight home!''
said Augusta, Indignantly. "It's just
a burning shame ~
''Mercy on us, This is pretty ket-
tie of fish - gasped Mrs. Primkins.
al wouldn't stand it. SO there!"
said Augusta sharply. 81 never did
see such child! I'd just send every
chick and child home, and let Nimpo
take her supper in her own room-to
pay her off. Things have come to a
pretty pass, think"
81 never did, calculated Mrs. Prim-
kins, not yet recovering her ordinary
powers of speech.
'sShall 1 go out and meet them, and
send them packing?" asked Augusta.
"No," said her mother reluctantly,
the unbroken bill in her
supper drawer" II don't knows l
have a right to send them back. / did
not tell her how uany, but, mercy on
rs, who'd dream of such raft. If
here's one there's forty, do declare,'
"That's the meaning of those enor-
nous packages of nuts and things from
he store," said Augusta, ''that we
thought were enough for an army"
"But the table," gasped Mrs. Prim-
sins. "For such a crowd! Augusta,
iy around like parched pea, and lock
he doors of that room, till / think
what we can do. This is party with
/ vengeancem
Augusta obeyed, and was none too
,uick, for the girls crowded into the
'ront chamber before she had secured
he doors.
Being party" of course they had
@ 90 into the house. But as soon as
hey had thrown off their slat sun-bOn-
was in about one second
md began to look around the bare
.oom, to see what they should do next,
Simpo was seized with a bright idea.
"Girls, let's go out in the yard and
,lay till tea time," she said, and the
,ext moment sun-bOnnets were re-
umed, and the whole troupe tramped
lown the back stairs, Nimpo not dar-
ng. even on this festive occasion, to
listurb the silence of the solemn front |
lall, and the gorgeous colored stair
arpet. In two minutes they were |