Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1879-10-16
Mrs. Miffet's Cancels Hair Shawl.

ct and Spa Mitfet" as natural as could
be.
The Mitfets 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 Mlffet
objected to this, because it took too long
to pronounce it when he was in hurry,
so jeremiah 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 cancels hair
shawl, which she had just bought.
Ma Miffet said it was just such shawl
as she would like if Pa Miffet could af-
ford to get her one.
Matilda Mary said that Mrs. Snapper's
cook had told the milkman, and the
milkman had told their chambermald,
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 said that it would be
Il 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 man who owned
a whole menagerie, who might sell a
camel cheap.
Besides" said Pa Mifet, "we might
take the camel in the country with us this
summer and use him to ride on, instead
of getting horse This would be real
saving these hard times.''
Eyes indeed" said jeremiah Julius, 81
have heard that camels eat very little, sd
perhaps it would feed along the roadside
and save the expense of buying hay and
oats"
"But don't they sometimes swallow
bits of glass, and nails, and such things?"
asked Ma Mifet, anxiOusly.
ooh no, Ma Miffet! you are thinking of
an ostrich" said Lydia Lucy, who had
studied Natural History
20 we'll knew it was some kind of a
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 Ma
tilda Mary.
Tomorrow" replied Pa Miffet. ''If
he wants to sell camel cheap, will buy
one. You, jeremiah Julius, will take
the beast in the country and we will fol-
low you next week."
perhaps had better ride on it and
save my fare in the cars" suggested Jere-
miah Julius.
Perhaps you could do that" said Pa
Mifet.
"Then couldn't 1 go with him9 Two
people can ride ON a camel, I'm sure, ~
said Lydia Lucy.
YEA, so I've heard, but won't you be
afraid when he galleps, my dear?" said
Ma Mifet.
"Oh, camels don't gallop," said Lydia
Lucy.
But Pa Mifet would not consent to lei
his daughter travel in this way he said, SC
poor Lydia Lucy had to give it up.
Two days afterward, the whole family
were terribly excited by the appearance
of Pa Miffet leading camel into the
dooryard. Ma Mifet ran to meet he1
husband and to take good look at the
camel too.
"But where's his trunk?" she asked al
once.
INA! camels don't have trunks, only
elephants do" answered Lydia Lucy, who
remembered her Natural History.
"Nonsence, child! Why shouldn't 8
camel have trunk as well as an elephant
Never mind, we can let him have big
carpet-bag and that will do just as well,
said Ma Mifet kindly.
| Well, the camel was put into the yar(
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 tn,
other, and all the family followed hin
into the yard to see him start.
"But how can get on his back2" sail
poor jeremiah Julius, when he had kisse'
them all good-by and looked at the camel
KNOW SdlQ MA VU1H6C. GU mus
have the step-ladder, to be sure.
i So Pa Miffet brought out the step-lad
der and rested it against the camel.
"Stop one 1nomentp said Ma Miffe
''Let me get rope and tie it to the can
els tail SO as to keep him still while yo
get on"
So Ma Mifet brought the rope and
Miffet tied it fast to the cancels tail.
Then jeremiah Julius mounted tt
step-ladder and threw blanket over tt
, camels back while Matilda Mary stoo
on the lower step with his satchel an
} lunch-basket, ready to hand it up to hin
: But just at that moment the came
who was little frightened, and was ge
r ting out of patience besides, started vi
lently and upset the ladder. Jeremis
0 julius fell off head foremost so
' Matilda Mary; but Pa Mifet who wi
t holding the rope, began to pull it wit
: all his might. Away went the poor car
f ell, galloping out of the gate and dow
!, the street at furious pace, with Pa MI
e fet hanging on behind. He knockt
down several children and one old wor
an, frightened two horses, and at la
d ran into butchers stall, where he W
y stopped.
/ The butchers boy brushed off Pa M
e fet's clothes, which were quite mudd
6 and then went with him to drive Il
/ camel home. But jeremiah Julius b,
y bump Oh his head where he struck d
8. ground when he fell, and Matilda Ma
s. had set her nose bleeding at the sar
n time. So they concluded not to ira,
D on the camel's back after all.
g "You see, Ma and Pa" said Lydia L
II cy, who had studied Natural Histol