Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1878-10-30
Why the Benedict Family Did Not Go to
the Concert

The whole family had planned 10 go.
Even little Annita had been promised
to be allowed to go, with the strict un-
derstanding that she was to sit still and
hold up her head and not go TO sleep.
Of course she could do all this, and she
meant to show them, so she just sat
down in her own little chair, and sat
perfectly still for five seconds. There,
sne said, jumping up again. Cam l.,
can't L? l guess I've had birfday,
and I'm not baby at all :"
But Annita did not go TO the concert,
nor any of the family. l think they
would have gone If Annita had not
made mud pies that afternoon, or if
they had not used silver-plaited knives
altogether for the table, or if they had
not had strawberries for tea.
You see. Annita could not be cured
of making mud pies. ''Time will cure
her," said her father contentedly, hunt
ing for decently clean spot on Ami
ta's face TO kiss. One does not like 10
kiss dirt, even on the face of ones own
child. But Annita's mother and sis
tiers were not satisfied to wait for the
time cure, thinking of the washing and
the dirty face and hands. Above all.
thinking of the carving knife. That
was the greatest trouble. Four mud
pies cannot be made without a knife to
dig dirt with, and Annita never re-
turned the knives she borrowed. 30
one after another of the kitchen knives
went out to the mud pie bakery, and
never came i'm again. At last there
was left only the carving and the
plated table knives. which could not be
borrowed, being wisely kept on the top
shelf of the china closet, region An
nita had never been able to explore.
Tea was ready at six O'Clock, all eX-
cep. cutting the bread, the cheese, and
some cold ham. Then the carving
knife could not be found, and Florence
Benedict. who had been preparing tea
went out to look for it. The bakery had
been moved, and so, evidently, had the
knife, for it was nowhere to be seen.
Then Annita had to be found, of course.
She was under the large fir in the front
yard, dressing dolly.
"Where is the carving knife, Ami
IA 2" asked Florence.
81 know where it is" said Annita,
without looking up.
"well, where?" said Florence. Tel
me quick, dear"
"Well-it's-only little kind o lost
Florence" said Annita, gravely. 'lt
is up in the garret or down in the eel.
lar, or else out by the barn. or else in
the front yard or the back one, or-or-
ahind the wood pile"
"Good gracious Annita, do yor
suppose 1 can go to all those places il
a hurry. and tea waiting. Come ant
help me to find it,"
sBut I'm 'fraid Charlotte Henriett;
will be spoiled if leave her,"
"Oh, that old doll, without any heaC
or legs or arms, no she won't dear
Come along and help me-" said Flor
ence.
Annita slowly left her play and be
gan to look for the knife with Florence
just then Hattie came out TO ask WHY
tea was not served, but seeing her sis
tiers hunting che also joined in th'
search at once. A few minutes later
Johnny, being hungry, came out Il
help the girls. When Mrs. Benedic
saw them all wandering about through
the shrubbery, locking Intcntly at tn
grass, she knew Immediately what hat
happened, so she came out and begal
to look too.
Sam and Henry came along just thel
and as these family promenades il
search of the carving knife had oftel
been taken before. they knew just wha
was wanted, and also that they coul
have no tea until the knife was found
So they Joined in the search, though
do not think their help wouldevsr hay