Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1882-12-15
GINEVRA ALYERETTA'S MERRY
-isaa ai CHRISTMAS.

/ don't believe there could have been
ahappier OF jollier family than the Pie
family since first the world be an. From
the grandfather and grandmother down
to thesix-months' -old baby, whose lau h
was omical crow, they lau! he'd from
the time they got up until they went TO
bed again; and SO, MS you may mag
inc, there was always plenty of noise in
their home; but when on Holidays they
felt it their duty to be, if possible, lit
tie jollier than usual, it was deaiening.
Fortunately they had no neighbors to
be ANNOYED by-it, living as they did on
n corner Mt the very top of u tai build-
ing filled with business Offices, the near
est dwelling-house, q large house di-
vided into flats, being three doors away.
The Pies they were 'colored people
-tobk care of the building in which
they lived, Poppyitie being janitor,
and the rest OF the family dong the
sweeping, scrubbing, dusting and Win
dow washing; and hes dcs, receiving
good wages tor their services, they were
allowed the use of the loft as n resi-
dence; and having partitioned it of into
several rooms, principally by means of
sundry quilts and blankets, they found
it very comfortable place to live in.
But hi spite of the good wages and no
rent.to pay, they could. only afford the
plainest kind of food and the cheapest
clothes. for there were eight of them to
be taken care of. Grandpoppy and
Grandriommy Pie. Mr. and Mrs. Re-
liabletPie, better known as Poppy and
Mommy Pie, Berethea, the eldest girl,
usually called 'sBerry Pie" Americus,
the eldest boy, -nicknamed "Custard
Pie" Ginevra loAlveretta, six years.
called by her whole name, and
minister, Brother Smile Jorkins.
The roofs of the buildings ON the
BLOCK of which the Pie house was the
tirstlor the last one according to the
way You approached it, were nearly on
level, and many of them during ilow-
ertime we're made fragrant BIZ pretty
flowers growing in boxes filled with
EARTH. 1lA1 1'Vi'i 9i-i "o.f tbh1-
Grandpoppy Pie had raised cucum-
bers and beans also in his boxes. and
he actually came near raising water
melon in half-barfel once, but Ginevra
Alveretta ate it when it was about the
size of tea-cup; and this performan'
others was the only-thing she had ever.
done since she was born that the family
didn' laughat. The Pie children used
TO spend all the time their father and
mother, could allow them on their roof
in spleasant weather. They could see
the sun rise and set in all its glory there
just as well rs though they were in the
country. and watch the steamboats,
from the New York piers. across the
wide waters until they reached the op-
posite shores; and nights it was. so cool
and quiet with the moonand stars look
ing upon them, that they seemed to be
miles and miles away from the busy
world below.
But in winter when it was very cold
they were obliged to stay indoors, and
they could only peep from tho windows
of'fhe loft at the Surrounding houses,
and catch glimpse OF the streets on
either side, and yet they were as merry
as ever. waiting with cheerful patience
fol, spring to come again. '' ~
!. And on this day before Christmas of
which I write, they had laughed and
laughed: hsa f5.. I t...
..G;m1l GG;Ian1dpop,pI,yy ll',!,I,y and Grandmommy Pie,
Poppy, and Mommy Pie, "Ya-ya ya-
ya-yap?' ~ 'i"I ~
Berry Pie, "Te-he- -he-he.n
aCustarda Pie, - cluck.cluck cluck-
cluck!'
Ginevra Aiveretta-weH, I-can't imi.
tate, her laugh wordsAit waS'like the
gurgling of water, poured from, a bottle;
and.the baby, "Uh-l-ii-u-u!'' in q high
key, which is as near rs l can come to a
description of that. /, -
0gThey had laughed like this from early
morningy and when the dark came they
were nearly tired out, having worked
around the stove to warm themselves
awhile he ore going TO bed. But even
then Americus could not remain quiet,
but burst out in a minute or two with:
30 granny! tell us bout dat ar ole Sun
day-Clothes woRs druv ober de ruils
ter-night wild reindeer-hosses.
Ought ter have snow deer hosses,"
gigglcd Berry
ei"How kin dem reindeer hosses hop
from de corners OBJ de streets 'cross dc
way, an up from dc way-down rufls to
Iesway-up onesp" Cusiard went on;
don b'lieve no sich thing! It's on
possible kla
"Yo' dom b'lieve it~' said Grand
mommy Pie. "Yo' don b'lieve II. yo'
vicious young sinner? S'pose ebb'iry-
things onpossible cause yo' don
b'iieye It? Dom reindecr.hosses don
liav 70 hop. Dey flows long like
BIRDS
!" Hain't got no wings in der pic
Ehurss," said the "wicious young SIM
ner." shaking his head doubtiully.
.'Bnt dey has got EN- derselyies' fur
all DAT. persisted granny. "Four
'normons wings-each OF dem--an' wen
dey amt usin' dem wings dey foles 'em