The Osceola times., 1880-08-21
PUSS IN BOOTS.
A Story Of the Berrying Time.

Hitch up old Nance, Josiah; the girls
are going berrying."
"How you do indulge them wild young
critters, Maria. They'll break their
necks yet if they keep on" sighed the
old gentleman, as he walked away to
execute the imperative commands of his
wife.
you'll have to hurry, girls, for Nance
won't stand minute for ye, the flies be
so Lad" called Aunt Maria from the foot
fthe stairs leading up to the chambers of
the humble farmhouse, where bevy
of young voices were IN an animated
discussion over their equipments for the
projected berry party.
''Any thing will do, and the more
grotesque the BETTER" exclaimed Hattie
Willard, fastening a pair of shoes, three
times too large for her dainty little feet,
with white cord in lieu of the original
striugs.
They had fished out Of Aunt Maiia's
huge garret all sorts of antiquated cast
off garments, and arrayed themselves
and came down dancing at her call as
perfect a set of guys as ever were seen.
aye are a sight to behold" exclaimed
that lady laughing until her fat sides
aehed and the tears glittered in her kind
blue eyes, as the young city misses stood
before her.
Hattie had on the great coarse shoes
and dilapdated brown dress, figured
with green polka dots" and looking, as
she said, like multitude of cats eyes
minus the lids. She was clad in an old
calico wrapper which she declared Mrs.
Noah would have considered too ancient
for her. May was completely over
shadowed by blue skirt and sacque,
which she asserted was ample enough TO
contain the whole party if they would
only keep together. And petite Rose,
the youngest and the pet of the party.
had, by dint of fancy leather belt and
| a quantity Of pins, surrounded herself
with another of her aunt's ugly old
gowns, while over her sunny tresses she
/ had tied battered broad brimmed hat
Uncle Josiah's.
"Oh, gracious me-" exclaimed Aunt
| Maria, as soon as she could recover her
breath from laughing, "you don't think,
| Rose Willard, you are going berrying in
them little slippers and lovely pink
stockings7 They'd be in rags in no
1 time"
II shall have to, Aunty. / haven't
another thing to put on. / don't want
to spoil my new kid boots and my
gauze slippers are newer than these,
and the girls have appropriated every
/ thing"
"Wcll, you can't go that way,
| child" returned her aunt, decidedly,
and she marched of and returned with
| a pair Of boots which she designated as
''fine."
"Your Uncle Josiah has got smaller
feet than | have, and though of course
/ they will be forty miles too Dig, you
won't have much walking to do. SO
put them on and you'll be puss in boots
/ sure enough"
The young lady complied with the
commands amid pcals of laughter, and
then climbed into the one-horse wagon
with the rest, and with Miss Hattie for
/ driver they ratified down the road
leaving their fat and jolly old Aunty
standing in the yine-wreathed porch OF
the country home, laughing until the
tears ran down her ruddy cheeks.
"Such comical young things" she said
as her husband entered the house.
"You are just as simple as they be,
Maria, and | wish to goodness they were
safe back in New York." he replied, pet
/ tishly.
"Oh, dear me, surel Ye forgit We was
ever young yourself Josiah. 1t you
couldn't laugh at little Rose in that nig
bag of dress and your big boots you
couldn't laugh at any thing. Aud then
Katie, so tall and grand-like in that old
spotted gown, a foot too Short" and she
began giving way to mirth again at the
mere recollection.
"Laif away, Maria. The day of judg-
ment is coming for all that, and these
tritling things will all have to be ac-
counted for"
"Oh, 60 TO pot with your day of judg-
ment. You are the longest-faced Chns-
tan | ever saw. As for me, intend to
enjoy this world and get all the innocent
pleasure | can while live, even if it's
hundred years, and when die sha'n't
be any more afraid Of the day of judg-
ment than some other folks ] know on
as thinks long face Is going TO take
them straight into heaven"
With that parting shot she ipdig-
nantly wiped her eyes with her check
apron and returned into the great
kitchen, preparing dainties for the chill
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