St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1878-05-31
.Fnr the Children.
Mrs. Miffet's Cancels Hair shawl.

Mr.. Mitfet, always called his wife "Ma
Mitfet,n and she always called him ''Pa
Miffet." So, after while, all the neigh
bors and friends fell into the same way,
and each one of them said, "Ma Miffet'
and spa Miffet" as naturally as could
be.
The Miffets had three children, two
girls and one boy, and their names were
Matilda Mary, next Lydia Lucy, then
jeremiah Julius. Ma Miffet had named
them all, because, as she said, -'They
might not like their first name, and so
they should each have a second name
to choose from"
But when the children grew up, they
were so well pleased with their names
that they would not have them shorten
ed in the least, and jeremiah julius
even wanted to add James to his and
be called jeremiah Julius James. But
Pa Mitfet objected to this, because it
took so long to pronounce when he was
in a hurry, so jeremiah Julius was
forced to be content without the James.
One Sunday, as soon as they came
home from church, the Miffets all began
to talk of Mrs. Snapper's camel's hair
shawl, which she had just bought.
Ma Miffet said it was just such a
shawl as she would like if Pa Miffet
could afford to get her one.
Matilda Mary said that Mrs. Snap
per's cook had told the milkman, and
the milkman had told their chamber
maid, and their chambermaid had told
her, that the shawl cost five hundred
dollars.
Lydia Lucy said that was more than
a whole camel was worth. she thought.
jeremiah julius sail that it would be
a good idea to buy camel, and then
they could get as many shawls as they
wanted out of its hair.
Pa Miffet was much pleased with this
idea, and said he knew a man who own
ed whole menagerie, who might sell a
camel cheap.
"Besides," said Pa Miffet, 1--WE might
take the camel in the country with us
this summer and use him to ride on,
instead of getting horse. That would
be real saving these hard times"
eyes, indeed !" said jeremiah julius.
tie, so perhaps it would feed along the
roadside and save the expense Of buy
ing hay and oats"
But don't they sometimes swallow
bits of glass, and nails, and such thIngsw
asked Ma Miffet, anxiously.
so no, Ma Miffet you are thinking
of an ostrich" said Lydia Lucy, who
had studied Natural History.
go well / knew it was some kind of
lOng-necked thing-ostrich or camel,
it don't matter which," said Ma Miffet.
"When will you go to see the man
who owns the camel, Pa Miffet ?" asked
Matilda Mary. .
Tomorrow" replied Pa Miffet. eff
he wants to sell camel cheap, will
buy one. You, Jeremiah julius, will
take the beast in the country and we
will follow you next week."
perhaps l had better ride on it and
save my fare in the cars" suggested
Jeremiah julius.
"Perhaps you could do that" said Pa
Miffet.
"Then couldn't go with him ?" ex-
claimed Lydia Lucy. "TwO people can
ride on camel, Pm sure"
eyes, so I've heard" said Ma Miffet.
"But won't you be afraid when he gal
lOps, my dear ?"
"Oh, camels don't gallop," said Lydia
Lucy.
But Pa Miffet would not consent to
let his daughter travel in that way, he
said, so poor Lydia Lucy had to give it
up.
Two days afterward, the whole fami-
ly were terribly excited by the appear
ance of Pa Miffet leading camel into
the doOryard. Ma Miffet ran to meet
her husband and to take good look at
the camel, too.
"But where's his trunk % she asked
at once.
"Ma camels don't have trunks, only
elephants do" answered Lydia Lucy
who remembered her Natural History.
Nonsense, child Why shouldn't a
cameIhave a trunk as well as an ele-
plant Never mind, we can let him
have big carpet-bag and that will do
just as WE'LL" said Ma Miffet kindly.
Well, the camel was put into the yard
for that night, and early the next morn
ing Jeremiah julius came out dressed
for journey. He carried small satch-
ell In one hand and lunch basket in
the other, and all the family followed
him into the yard to see him start.
"But how can get up on his back p
said poor Jeremiah Julius when he had