Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1881-07-20
The Uninvited Guests.
Nollie, put the kettle on
Mollie, put the kettle on
Mollie. put the kettle on
Wen all take tea.

many potatoes, and Bonny, looking or
with interest from his high chair by the
fire, remarked:
Full, mamma, amt itP
Yes, laddes, as full as it can hold
Just Ike our house.
How it spatters aud boils over,
mamma =
And our house spatters and boils
over with US, TOO, wee One.'
Sure enough the Donald dozen did
| live in such small house tsat it was a
puzzle how they ever could all get pack
ed into 1t at once.
But then early in the morning the
father went out to his work; Alice fol
lowed to the mill, Jeanne to the shop,
Nickie to sell morning papers, some tC
do errands, till Bonny and the baby
would be left alone with the mother
Then, shutting the door after the last,
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 leg
Nor did she fill the kettle Of potatoes
as full either after that. Mr.. Donald
lay helpless, and worried about th'
place he ferted he should lose.
But I've worked for the house till i
seems l could not work anywhere else
If they'd only promise to let me bacl
again when Pm able, I'd bear the rest
with an easy mind, said the sick man,
getting fevered and flushed.
Lad, l can't have you fret so, spoke
his wife at last. She took down hel
bonnet and shawl. III go and ask the
master myself, l don't believe he'll
refuse a woman, and you such faith
tul hand. Bonny is so good he won
be any trouble TO you, and I'm take the
baby with me-
So Bonny climbed up TO the window,
aud watched his mother and the baby
boil away like the rest.
Then Bonny played by himself d lonG
while. it seemed 10 him. He bull
a church tower with his blocks, like the
tower he conld see shooting mp above
the low roofs. lie changed the blocks
into train cars, and dragged them W
and down The windOw-sli. He thumbed
bis torn picture-books; he thumbed bis
rag dell. Getting tired Of all, he fat
tened Lis dear little soft nose against
the pane, watching the people tranp
tramping by on the sidewalks, and the
carts, drays, carriages, thai clamp.
clamped over the stony street. He
liked this, and croOncd over to himself,
contentt dly, tunes that were no tunes,
and words that he made up as lie went
along.
But time went on, and still his moth
er did not come. Bonny grew hungry,
and crept down TO ask papa about it,
Papa was lying quiet and breathing
heavily. Bonny had fairly sung hi.
father 10 sleep.
1t occurred to BonnY, as he tiptoeC
back, that there could be no good rea-
son why he should not 60 to find hi'
mother. or else Jeanie, or Nickle, Oh
Ted. Jeanie's old red cape hung in the
corner; quickly he threw it over hl'
yellow head, and holding it fast under
his chin with one hand, he lifted the
latch and stepped forth.
He walked slowly and thoughtfully of
10 The direction he had seen his mother
take, with short, nipplng steps, like a
meditative chickabiddy's. He had moi
a doubt that he should come to some
member of his Numerous family before
long, but meanwhile, he was thinking
less OF that than Of the sights by th'
way. Two boys were racing veloci
pedes. To Bonny that was splendid
sight.
Il wist l had a veiehorsipede.' hi
whispered, with a pensive air.
ca and on he plodded, blissfully be
wildered, absorbed in there enchanting
visions, until he found himself before {
caterers show window, tempting with
crisp loaves Of bread, daintily frosted
cakes, and unspeakable cookies, tarts
and jellies.
| oh, my oh, myp cried BOnny, be
ginning at last TO remember that he wa
nobody but little hungry boy. Pm
hungry! I'm so hungry !
| While he started with all his lOngn!
eyes, he heard these words spOkel
loudly right by his side:
Come on, then we shall be sure o
a good dinner
| Bouny turned round. Two men il
lt..ll black hats were stridng by, an
one, as he spoke, clapped the other ol
the shoulder. The invitation was nc
meant for Bonny at all; but that did no
make any difference TO him. He sim
| ply received the idea that If he 10
lowed these two men he should get t
dinuer, so he passed sturdlly aftc
them. He had TO walk fast, and some
times he almost lost sight Of them i
the throng. But BOnnY was SO hungr
by this lime that he was very much j
earnest. lie did not stop to watch th
people, nor 10 look into any more sho
windows.
| TWAS really not long before the tvs
tall hats were seen turning np som
llow, broad steps. The painting BonnJ