St. Landry democrat., 1881-12-31
NEW YEARS CALLS.

w ISL you Il Hdpps New 1tdl, DOlS.
"Happy New Year"' responded three
clear trebles, and the loudest of them
added:
"Going to make calls .o-day, Uncle
Fred?''
..Of course am, Johnny" responded
the rosy, frosty-whiskered, middle-aged
gentleman they We're talking to, as he
opened the door of his carriage.
what are you and your friends going
to do?"
"We're going to make calls, too, y
sang out one of Johnny's comrades
"he and Land Tracy Plumb
What, is Tom Fitch gong with you?
Where are you going to calT'
'Everywhere,'' sturdily replied Tom
Fitch, with hitch at his nGk-tie "'All
around the block. u
u "You are, are you! Have you any
cards, for places where they're not at
home?'
eyes, sir, we've cards for avery body"
''Indeed! Let me see then"
Uncle Fred's good-humoed face was
all broad grin as he held cat his hand,
for the two smaller boys coqd not have
been much more than eigh years old,
and Johnny Cook himself their head
man, was barely ten.
q wrote my own cards, said John
ny, with proud sef-satisfaeion, as he
dragged a handful of bits of White paste
board from his coat-pocket.
"Tip-topr' exclaimed Uncle Fred;
"only you should always spell your
name in one way. J-o-n-n-ii isn't nearly
as good as J-h-o-n-y, and that ones
J-o-n-e. But they'll all do
"Mine are better than his,'' said
Tom. "Mother gave me ,ome of her
old ones; and so did sister Belle; and
Tracy Plumb has some q his own
fathers. Show 'em to him, Tracy"
THAT is grandn said Uncle Fred.
"Now you must always sendyour cards
in ahead of you, so they'll how who's
coming"
He was getting very red il the face
just then, and the boys did not hear
him mutter, as he hurriedly topped in
to the carriage and drove off:
Mustn't let them see ne laugh.
Might scare 'em out of it and spoil the
fun. But shouldn't I like to be some
where when those three come in?''
There were no signs of laughter on
the faces of johnny Cook Tracy
Plumb and Tom Fitch. 1t wa' decid-
edly serious business for them, and
they marched steadily away uptlp street.
"Where'll we call tirst?" sail Tom
"Let Johnny tell. He knows" said
Tracy.
There's a basket on Mr.. Jones'
door-bell, boys. Wen 60 Their first.
That's to put our cards in"
Up the steps they went, and tie bell
was duly rung, but it had to be pulled
again before any one came to th door.
well. thin, what is it? Whaldoyiz
want?''
"Why, Biddy," exclaimed Tom,
"'we're calling! Didn't you know it
was New Years Day?'
"lt's calm ye are? An did't ye
see the baskit? Mrs. Jones isl't at
home the day."
"Ohr' said Johnny; "she's ou3mak-
ing her own calls. Give Biddy your
cards, boys.'
"Howld on, thin, livery wan & viz,
till show her them cards.
81 thought you said she vast at
home?''
."'Dade and she isn't; but I'd ather
lose me place than not have her uk at
thin. Shtand where viz are i'll I
come"
The Jones family were too near nigh-
bors for Biddy not to know those .hree
young gentlemen; and in a monent
more a nice-looking lady upstairs was
saying to herself:
"J-o-n-n-y, Johnny, C-o-o-o-k-e, Ook,
and Miss Arabella Fitch and Mr.. Mama
duke Plumb -''
cts the three b'yes, mumrI ex-
claimed Biddy, with her plump ides
shaking with fun. 'sSure, an IFS calls
they're MAXIM
Bring them in, Biddy. Call u the
children, and bring plate Of axe.
Quick as ever you can. IN comenght
down to the parlor''
She was there, sure enough, j1B in
time to hear Tracy say: ssThere, Tn, I |
told you Johnny Cook knew. And Irs.
Jones wouldn't let Biddy tell steies
about her,
"Wish you a happy New Year, yong
gentlemen. Have a chair, Mr.. Cox.
Please be seated, Mr.. Plumb andI DR.,
Fitch. Our young people will be Ire
in a moment
Were not calling on the childsn,
to-day" said johnny, "but you mfht
let them come in"
And in they came, a round half dozen
of little Joneses, and Biddy after viii
big plate of cake.
.Tom," whispered Tracy, "Johny
said we mustn't eat too much in any ne
place. |