Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1880-09-09
THE PINK C0c0A-NUT CAKE.
An Old-fashioned Story, for Young
Folks and for Old Folks.

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Folks and for Old Folks.
Deacon Parsons big wagon with the
heavy farm-horses was stopping before
Judge Hills house, and many bright
eyes peered ont from cape-bonnets and
wide straw hats to see the Judges lit
tie granddaughter as she came down the
steps to join the party. The old deacon
himself descended solemnly from his
seat, and, with a bow to the Judges
wife, lifted little Becky into the wagon
and placed her among the cape-bonnets.
sGlad your grandma would let you 60"
said Mamie Potter as they drove on, and
no one seemed inclined to do more than
stare at the stranger.
Il think you are real good to invite
me. I'm sure" said Becky.
After this remark the cape-bonnets
seemed to belong to double-headed bod
dies, so quickly did they pair off; while
pleased whispers reached Beckys ears,
which sounded like "She amt proud
mitew
She laughed, and her little round
cheeks grew very red And then all the
bonnets few back; and Jerry, the dea-
cons son, said, Il don't think yer very
perlite." But he was pleased at the YER
dict of the sun-bonnets, and from that
moment the ride was merry one.
u don't know even where we are go
ing" said Becky, merrily.
"We are going up to Deacon Parsons
other farm" said Mamie Potter.
II didn't know anybody ever had two
farms" said Becky.
Jerry tried not to appear proud.
When we get there, suppose it won't
be the other farm, will it ?" said Becky.
Jerry laughed, and said town-folks
were pretty sharp.
The five miles were passed too quickly
for Becky, for everything, to her, was
new and delightful.
When the other farm was reached, a
farmer came out and opened the gate
for them, and little boy with torn
hat watched them with wistful eyes as
they drove through to the barn. A pret-
ty little woman came out from the
house and asked them to come in, but
the deacon said they were going to the
woods to eat their dinner
l~BCN oil oCldu1blCO OOhlA 1lOlu OlIC
high wagon, and the boys began to hand
out the pals and baskets.
"The candy-basket is tipped overi"
sang out Tommy Potter.
The sun-bonnetS all few to the rescue.
"Cocoa-Hut cakes and peppermint drops
all mixed UP togetherP said one little
girl, in such pathetic tone they all
laughed.
Let Becky fix it," said Susan Lee,
wishing to give Becky the highest honor
possible.
With quick appreciation of the CON-
pliment Becky took the pretty basket
and began to sort its sweet contents.
The others were busy with baskets, pals
and jugs. She noticed the cocoa-nut
cakes with pleasure. If she had gen.
unine weakness it was for cocoa-nut
cakes.
After it was all carefully replaced in
the basket she still held the cover up
and looked at one pink cocoa-nut cake.
1t was much smaller than the others. 1t
was hardly larger than silver dollar,
certainly too small ever to be missed.
The children, each with something to
carry, were ready to start, and they call
ed to Becky. There was no time to lose.
The tiny, pink cocoa-nut cake was slip
ped quickly from the basket to Becky's
pocket. AS she arose from the grass
with the pretty basket on her arm her
eye fell on the same little boy who had
stood by the gate. Don't you want to
go to the woods with us ?" she said, noti-
cling his wistful look.
"The deacon didn't ask me-" he said.
holding down his tow head.
But you would like to go, so GENE
along. III ask the deacon to invite you,"
and She pulled him toward the old gen
tienan.
This little boy would like to go with
us, if you please, Deacon Parsons" she
said, as she stopped before the tall dea-
con, who was leading one of the great
horses to drink.
The deacon stopped, looked down
graYely at the boy as if he had caught
him laughing in church, then said kind
ly, "Go spruce up little Nathan, then
conc along"
Another consultation among the small
Sun-bonnets, but Becky didn't mind that
now. She bobbed her little head, first
into one, and then another, as freely as
a bee dives into flowers, and laughed,
and said she wanted Nathan to go, be-
cause he looked as if he wanted to so
somewhere awfully. In a few minutes
Nathan returned with shining face and
clean jumper, and then they were ready
for the woods.
Tie long ride had made them think
that "the dinner" was the first thing to
be talked of, and they quickly chose Il
pleasant spot for their dining-room. In
a very short time the long linen cloth
was spread, the baskets and pals emp
tied, and the merry little party, with
happy faces, sat down to dinner.
The deacon arose, took off his broad
hat, and asked simple blessing, while
the little heads bowed reverently. 1t
seemed very solemn to Becky. The great
trees with their protecting shade, the
soft murmur of the little brook, and the
merry voices all hushed, while the kind
old deacon, with trustfHl face turned to-
ward the heavens, prayed earnestly that
none of these little ones might ever take
step toward sin.
Becky's heart grew very heavy. Could
1t be that tiny bit of a coca-nut cake
The merry voices began again, and the
dishes clattered; but it all had far
away sound to little Becky, as If she
were no part of the innocent merry-ma-
king. Her appetite had fed with her
spirits. In vain Jerry offered her the
daintiest bits; and Mamie Potter said,
CITY folks couldn't eat much" She