Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1881-10-27
HOW THE TWINS CAMPED OUT,

The twins sat on a bench in the back
porch, looking solemnly at each other
Planning mischief" Nora said
when she saw them from the kitchen
window.
They looked very much alike Both
had round healthy faces, with light
curling hair, and they wore blue knick.
erbockers much soiled at the knee.
They behaved very much alike, also.
Otis said they were twins all but one
thing: they were not brothers.
Alexander Vietts Griswald Greene
was seven years old.
Otis White was eight.
The boy with the long name invent.
ed mischief, and the other was Com
mittee of Ways and Means.
AS an Executive officer, he was a com
plete success.
1t was understood that they were
needed only half a day at either house:
so it made little difference which side
of the garden they spent the morning
and took dinner-they were expected
by the other much enduring family in
the afternoon.
Il don't feel very tired" said Otis.
"but your papa told me we had worked
enough, for one summer, and he wished
we would rest at least a week. But /
don't know how to rest.'
"Oh. do said Ally; "Uncle Ned
did it last summer at Rangers Lakes.
That is so far away they have not be-
gun to have Sundays yet, papa said.
Uncle Ned was tired out, and he went
up there and camped out, slept on hay
and ate fish He said it was as GOOD as
play to get their own supper. l dom t
think they had breakfast or dinner; he
only said supper, and / know they ate a
great deal, six fish sometimes. We
could not 60 there. but we might sleep
on the hay in our barn, if you can get
the fish,
Il suppose Nora would give me any
thing if we would CO." said Otis. "She
said when I helped her beat eggs and
forgot to take the shell off one, that
she wished we were in Halifax
Ibid she? Where is Halifax" in
quired Ally.
Il don't know: a good ways, 1
guess, for Nora said she would have
time to clear up for once before we
could get back"
"Well, ask her for the things now"
Two pairs of feet clattered into the
Whites kitchen, and two voices cried
at the same time: mora, will you
give us provisions enough to last q
week? We want to camp out and
rest"
But Nora was talking with Mary in
the next house, and did not hear them.
Il can't ask mamma, because she
has gone to see aunt Jennie" said
Otis; "but think she would let us 90,
and give us things.''
81 know she or Nora would LEI us have
the things if she was here" said Ally.
"We might take them, them" said
Otis, "and tell about it when we come
back"
So Otis took up the market basket
and went into the pantry. Il don't
see amy fish," he called, "but l like
chicken better"
The nice slices of chicken which
Nora had ready for tea were laid in
the basket with biscuit, cake and cook
les. A small pail of milk Otis took in
his hand.
No one saw the little bandits as they
left the kitchen and went over into
Mr.. Greene's barn.
They climbed into the loft and put
the basket in safe place while they
scooped out a hollow in the hay for a
bed. This bed looked narrow, and
they lay down to try it. The hay was
soft and fragrant. 1t rustled drowsily
under their heads.
They soon remembered that they
were camping out when they awoke in
the hay just before dark, feeling as if
they were very far from home.
1t was delightful. Why had they
never thought of this beforep And the
supper was delicious.
In the edge of the evening, when
Patrick came from the station with the
Greene and White fathers, the two
houses were in a state of commotion
not to be described.
Now the twins were as well known as
the postman. They had been lost and
returned so many times that their
anxious mothers had ceased to feel
anxious during an absence. But this
time they had not come back nor had
they been returned, nor could they be
found.
1t did not seem probable they would
walk three miles to aunt Jennie's, but
as Patrick said, "you would be likely
to find them where they were not
likely W Dc'
He drove away in search of the two
colors while the two families renewed
their efforts in vain. The clocks were
striking nine when Patrick returned
alone.
Taking care of the tired horse, and
lamenting over the poor little chaps.
Patrick started SO suddenly, when a
voice from the loft above called his
name, that he dropped his measure of
oats on the floor.
Patrick said the small voice
again. .we forgot the blankets
"What are you doing up there,
Ally?"
.'Otis and / are camping out, and we
need blankets tonight" Ally replied.
Patrick left the barn in such haste
that he forgot to close the door. The
heads of the families held a consulta-