The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-03-16

iAlshAin. pAiSiihhhf pellSaA 6SNf
We think no birds SO fluffy as we;
Piishkin, plushkin, pelican gill,
We thought SO ;hcn-we think sostill.
Gertrude Winthrope looked rath.
er bewildered as those sounds issu-
ed from the door which the servant
opened for her.
They're rum ones" whispered
the girl.
Two children were hopping about
the room as they sang the strange
gibberish given above. One was a
keen, sallow-fac boy of nine the
other 4 pretty, fair-haired girl OF
seven. The boy had hat on with
bunch of dilapidated cocks feath-
ers in it. The girl wore a long os-
trich plume, and various scraps OF
red flannel pinned here and there
on her dress.
"Oh, hallool WE'RE pelicans. =
cried the boy, in no way ahashed /;
that's the pelican chorus"
YOU'RE precious pickles, that's
wot you are" said Jane. If ever [
see such limbs of the"
She hesitated out of respect for
the stranger.
Gertrude surveyed her charge,
and they in return bestowed on her
an unfiinching stare.
what are your names 2" she
asked, softly Il am going to be
with you and teach you, you know"
"Golly !" said the boy, wouldn't
it be larks if she never found out?
then you couldn't call US, you
know. And if YOU didn't call us we
wouldn't have to come"
'But can easily find out" said
Gertrude, with a laugh $50 you
had better be a gentleman and an
swer my questions.
my names Roderick, but they
call me Rod. Her names Nina, but
| call her Ninny, COS she's numb
skull-all girls are numbskulls."
This is your room, maine" ex-
claimed Jane, opening a door and
going in. When Gertrude stood by
her side she turned the key.
"See. you kin do this when you
want to be alone and you'll bless
the minutes you get from that pair.
Pm goin' to leave to-m0rrer-as I've
give warnen regular-an' my life
worn out with them two young
imps-savin' your presence-which
You'll find 'em out, soon enough !;
and | wouldn't prejudice you agin
'em beforehand and that cantaker-
Gus old cat, either, down below-oh.
they re a sweet lot
Hush !" said Gertrude. Il can
not listen to such"
swell, I'll say a good word for
Master Eric, said Jane, turning to
90; she knows how to treat a poor
girl. .ie's a gentleman-more's the
pity he's to be thrown away on that
iiibberty gibbet, Miss Francia, as is
no better nor a
''There, there y cried Gertrude as
the children were pummeling at the
door, you may go now-thank
you"
There were two or three scratched
up desks and some torn books, also
globe over which strange maps
had been smeared with ink
and red paint.
"Well, Roderick." she said turn
ing to her little subjects, who had
most mutinous faces, what do you
study ?"
"0h when | feel like study, |
like Roman history best. I'm goin'
to be a heather and worship Jupiter.
| / built an alter to him the other
day ; got one of Francia Dormer's
white boxes, and printed Jupiter
Ave Imperatore' on it, and made a
pile of sticks and matches, and
poured cologne over it for incense,
and golly how it burned That
was a sacrafice, you see and Fran
oia says she'll sacrafice me the next
time meddle with her things.
said to her: 'Francia, you've got
no feeling for Roman history"
Il am a heather, too" cried Nina
"You amt you're a christian,
cried Rod, as if he were hurting al
her a most opprobrious epithet.
IL won't be a christian al
alone Y cried Nina, with a roar.
"Hullo What's the rumpus
What's the row ?" cried good-nat
ured voice, and a very handsome
Young man enteredra rather hurriedly
and stopped short at the sight O
/ Gertrude.
'They want to be heathen,' sait
Gertrude, with an embarrassed
smile.
"Well, | venture to say it wouis
be hard to find two greater youn'
hea.hen in our enlightened country
Excuse me for bursting in so uncer
enormously. ] wanted to quencl
L. |,