The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1879-02-27
TrOtty and the Barn-frollc.

you are mean boy, Trotty Will
ams, aud you shan't come 10 my party
so there" and Cathie paused to not,
the effect Of her words.
Trotty's face grew long.
''You aren't going TO have a party
he said.
81 am" replied Cathle, "a barn-fro
lie; it's this afternoon, and came Il
invite you. But | won't have you
:" and with flirt of her skirts she
turned and hurried down the road.
Trotty stared after her, too much dis.
appointed to think Of aught save the
unlucky teasing which had brought
him into such a sad fix.
"Such time as they'll have, A." he said
to himself. "Such jolly fun, aud al
home alone all day. If only hadn't
laughed at her bOnnetg But-"and
Trotty, as he always did at trouble-time
perched himself OH the nearest fence. tC
think the matter out.
He must bear his punishment, and
learn never to make fun Of girls bonnets
again. SO Trotty was just making up
his mind, when suddenly came a
thought which changed him into as
sunny ten year old boy as one might
wish to see. 1t was a charming
thought; every minute Trotty liked 1t
better and finally he settled the matter
by jumping off the fence, and ex-
claiming jollily:
"I'll do it, sure as my name is Trotty
Williams ~
Trotty wasted no time in carrying out
his plan; he wheeled his new barrow
into the orchard, and halting under the
big bOugh-apple-tree, began shaking it
with all his might. Down tumbled the
mellow fruit and into the barrow TrOtty
packed it with merry chuckling laugh.
GLOW lucky they don't have refresh
ments at barn frolics," he thought,
"and how lucky these are ripe" and
his packing finished, he hurried to COM
plete his plans.
Suddenly his voice sounded at the
window where his mother sat sewing.
Mamma, will you please give me
some cookies, and-a-pot of jam?"
Mamma laughed; she was used to
TrOtty.
"What for my boyY" she asked.
TrOtty looked very wise and shook
his head. "I'll tell you tonight" he
said "and Pm sure you wont OBJECT"
and so mamma, who could well trust
Trotty, gave him a plenty of cookies
and pot of jam, and with smile on
her face watched him and the wheel
barrow go down the road.
As you may guess, Trotty was bound
for the barn frolic; and on he went,
little uncelt tain as to what the girls
would say when he got there. Sill he
thought hopefully: She might resist
lhe apples and cookies, but Cathie likes
jam ~
Merry sounds issued from the barn as
Trotty came near, children's voices
questioning how to finish game. AS
he reached the door, he heard Cathie
say:
"Trotty Williams is the only one that
understands it all, so we may as well
give it up"
"What shame !" cried one,
"It's too mean !" chimed in dozen
voices, and peeping through chink,
Trotty spied the little hostess with
real sorry look on her face.
The next minute Trotty and his wheel
barrow stood amid the group.
81 wasn't asked, l know" he said,
turning to Cathic, "but thought, as
you meant to ask me If | hadn't been
rude, that I'D try and make up for it
and come. So l brought apples and
cookies and JAM" he added, smacking
his lips, "and Pm sorry l laughed at
your bonnet, and, of course, if you don't
want me, I'll go!" and he looked little
doubtful at Cathies sober face.
But Cathie stepped quickly forward.
"rm Sorry, too" she said, softly,
and you'd.be just as welcome If you
hadn'd brought thing, Trotty."
"Of course he would" chimed in the
merry fIolickers; but after all they ate
the apples with relish, they reYeled
in the cookies and jam, and had better
time, altogether, through Trotty's offer
of peace,