Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-11-13
THE UNLIMITED GUEST
Itila n. Baker in Hsrper's Young People
MOLLY, put the kettle on,
Molly. put the Kettle on,
Molly, put the kettle on

Thus sang The cheerful mother OF the Donald
family as She set the kettle of potatoes over the
tlgnt NJ TOT so many potatoes, and Bonny. look
lug on with interest from his high chair by the
nre, remarked, 'Full, mamma; amt it,"
Yes, laddie, fun as IL can hold-juSt like our
house"
"How 1t spatters and boils over. mammal,
And our house spatters and boils over With
Sure enough the Donald dozen did live in such
small tenement that IL was puzzle how they
ever could all get packed into 1t at once. But
then early In the morning the father went out
to his work; Alec followed 10 the shop JeanIe 10
the store MCKEE TO sell morning papers. some
to school and some TO do errands. Till Bonny aud
the baby would be left alone with the mother.
Then, shutting the door after the iast,s she would
say, do you see how they all boil away,
Bonny?" and she would sing merrily as she
scrubbed swept, and cooked.
She did not sing SO often after father Donald
fell one day and broke a leg. Nor did she MI
the kettle OF potatoes as fun either al er that
Mr.. Donald lay helpless. and worried about the
place he feared he should lose.
But I've worked for the house till IL seems
could not work anywhere else. IL they'd only
promise TO let me back again when I'm able Ia
bear the rest with an easy mind SAID the SEX
man, getting feyered and flushed.
Lad, / Calf have you fret So" spoke bis
Vile at last. She took down her bonnet and
shawl IN go and ask the master myself
don't believe he'll refuse woman, and you
such faithful hand Bonny is so good he won't
De any trouble 10 you and III take the baby
30 Bonny climbed up by the window. ana
watched his mother ana the baby "boil away
ike the rest Then Benny played by himself
long while, it seemed TO him. lie built church
tower with bis blocks. like the tower he could
see shooting Up q hove the low roofs. lie changed
the blocks into street cars, and dragged them
up and down the wtndow-Sill. He thumbed his
torn picuure-book; he thumped his rag doll.
Getting tired OF all, he flattened his dear little
soft nose against the pane watching the people
tramp, tramping by on the brick sidewalks, and
The carts drayS carriages, that clamp. clamped
over the stony street. lie liked this. and crooned
over 10 himself, contentedly, tunes that were no
tunes, and words that he made up as he went
along. But time went Cd, and still his mother
cid not come. Benny grew hungry, ana crept
down TO ask papa about It. Papa was lying
quiet md breathing heavily. Bonny had fairly
sung his father to sleep.
1t occurred TO B0nny, as he tiptoed back, that
there could be no good reason why he should
not go and find his mother, or else Jeanie or
MCKEE, OF Ted. Jeanies old red cape hung In
the corner; quickly he threw 1t over his yellow
head, and holding 1t fast under his chin with
one hand, he lifted the latch and stepped forth.
He walked slowly and thoughtfuily off In the
direction he had seen his mother take. with
short, nipping steps, like a medltative chcka-
bGdys. lie had not a doubt that he should come
TO some member or his numerous family before
long, but meanwhile he was thinking less of
that than OF the sights by the way. Two boys
We're racing velocipedes. To Benny that was
splendid sight
y visit / had velehorsipede," he whispered
with penSive air.
On and On he plodded, blissfully bewildered,
absorbed In these enchanting visions. until he
found himself before caterers SNOWY window,
tempting with crisp loaves OF bread, daintily
frosted cakes, and unspeakable cookies, tarts,
jellies.
"Oh my. oh my" cried Bonny, beginning at
last TO remember that ne was nobody but lit
tie hungry boy, I'm hHpgry-Tm so hungry"
While he stared with all his longing eyes, he
heard these words spoken loudly right Dy his
side: Come on, then; we shall be sure of
good dinner" Benny turned round Two men
In tall black hats were str1ding by, and one, as
he spoke. slapped the other on The shoulder
The Invitation was not meant for Bonny at all
But that did not make any difference to him.
He sinply received the idea that If he followed
pressed sturdily after them. He had to walk
fast, and sometimes he almost lost sight OF them
In the throDg. But BOnny was SO hungry by
this time that he was very much In earnest. He
did not stop to watch the people, nor to look
into any more shop windows. 1t was really not
long before the two tall hats were seen turning
up some low, broad steps The painting Bonny,
tugging after, followed unnoticed through a
wide door into vast hall, all paved with marble
Quite confused and out OF breath, Bonny sud-
denly stood still. Where he had lost sight OF
the Two tall hats and the Wearer5 OF them he
did not know.
"Seems like another outdoors" the Child
thought looking up at the high ceiling; "but
where's the dinner? There is dinner: 1 smell
1t; 1t smells good. Seems to me / never did
smell so much dinner In my life"
By this time he also became aware OF cheer
full CHATTER OF dishes and voices and following
the sound across the wide hall, he pushed open
great door that stood half aJar. Sure enough,
there before him lay table after table, adorned
with spOtless linen, and spread tempungly hot
only with flowers and fruits but with plenty to
eat. How should little Bonny know that this
was the day when the grand new Metropolis
hotel first opened to the public? How should
he know that here were ali the mighty men of
the city-merchants, editors ministers even
with their wives, met together by invitation to
celebrate the dedication dinner? You see they
RlnnV. nOh0ly
SO at first nobody noticed him as he slipped
noiselessly In.
The tables seemed so full of people that Bon
ny had to walk up the room to find place. A
queer hush fell On the CHATTER and the chatter.
People dropped their forks. They watched this
little figure with the sunny hair. the happy
face, the shabby shoes the tunbled check
apron, that dragged after it the well-nigh for
gotten red cape, and at last mounting into an
empty chair, said with a sigh OF satisfaction,
please
Bonny glanced around him. He thought
every body looked pleased, and catching the eye
OF lady who bent toward him. he smiled back
shy friendly smile. This lady was the first to
speak to him. She crossed eagerly over and
said. May sit beside you, dear? knew lit
tie boy once With yellow hair like yours"
soft eyes now.
81 ike your hair best" he answered, half
t1m1dly, half frankly. The lady g hair was very
dark, and she wore in 1t splendid yellow
flower.
But, But, please, am so hungry! May have
Before the lady could answer, stout gentle
man came hurryfng up.
"WeII. wei, let's see about this he began, in
rollicklng tone. 'Shake hands, little stranger.
Sc you came 10 my dinner, did your"
Bonny dropped his head. He was rather
afraid of the loud voiced man; but the lady
whom he was not afraid of said re- asSurfngly:
"ThiS Is the man who gives the dinner, little
one; this Is his house; he'll be very good to you.
never fear"
So Bonny looked up then. and replied, simply,
II came; was hungry, ana came"
The host cleared his throat and said. heartily,
while he patted Bonny'S cuTlS: Well. / didn't
expect you, that's fact; but We'll give you Just
as good dinner, for all that. A dinner?-Tn
warrant you we Will: and upon my word. ladies
and gentlemen. 1 rather think the Metropolis
Hotel is hOnored to have the chance"
Never, never had Bonny imagined such din
ner as he ate that day. The lady who sat by
his side cut up the chicken, and helped him
choose among the lavish dafntfes that the host
kept insisting on having brought for him TO
taste. Hungry? 1t seemed to Bonny that he
never In this world could be hungry again. His
innocent heart ran over, and he told his new
friend, the lady, all she asked him about his
sick father. his tired mother. the little tenement
that was like the kettle that all boiled ayay
and the big family that crammed 1t so full when
gathered together. But one thing neither the
lady nor her husband, who filled B0nny'S pocket
with pennies, nor the host, could succeed In
finding out from him. This was where the little
n.snI 0F.d ErxIr 10