The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1882-03-18
Mrs. Longman's Surprise Party

Mrs. Longman's Surprise Party.
There had been long spell Of rainy wealth
err For six days the sun had not shown "A
glimpse of himself, and everything, out OF
doors and in, wore a look OF clammy despond'
ency Moreover, Mrs. Longman was having
one of her gloomy spells and was looking at
all created things, herself included, through
the bluest kind OF spectacles.
Mrs. LOngman was by nature not bad.tem-
pered woman; ON the contrary, she possessed
many noble and commendable qualities; but
her spirits were not equable; she would have
her gloomy attacks, which, had there been any
apparent cause, might have been looked upon
in the light of an atiIction worthy of sympa-
thy, but as it was, even the most lenient Of her
friends characterized them by the name OF
dumps" which, though Webster condemns
it as not being an elegant word, was, in their
opinion, quite good enough to express the state
Of her case.
The short November day was drawing to a
close, and although the little gilt clock on the
mantle had proclaimed it to be O'Clock, 1t
was getting too dark for Mrs Longman to sew
any longer upon the little cloth suits she was
languldly mending, so laying them down she
wandered aimlessly into the kitchen, where
Bridget was folding the newly.ironed clothes
from the rack ny the BlOWlUP BIdlc.
Mr. Longman will not be at home until
late this evening, Bridget" said she. "Busi-
ness will detain him down town, so you may
lust set up anything for the children; do not
feel as though | could eat anything; every
thing tastes alike to me and nothing tastes
right"
What the reply would have been will never
be known, tor at that moment there came a re-
sounding knock upon the alley gate, and
throwing an old shawl over her head Bridget
hastily responded to the cali.
"Its two boys, ma'am," she said, returning
almost Immediately, land they have come to a
marty pns BART echoed Mrs. Longman, III u,.vu
,shment who IN the world told them there
was party hereg"
al don't know, nam. | will go and ask
them" said the willing maid, who apparently
vvould rather have got wet than not.
"Bring them in out of the rain, Bridget
called Mr.. LOngman from the door, until we
dnd out what it means "Of course" she
thought o herself, lit is mistake but what
possese. them to come to the alley gate?"
Bldpt came IN followed by the boys, who
in ,e meantime had been joined by third
anwhO, not wlthstanding the soaking rain,
We not as wet as might have been supposed
ong to their having pieces Of oil cloth
,und them, which, upon inspection, proved
llle the last arrival sportcd gentleman's
'allow-talled dress coat, which made a useful
not very handsome overcOat for the festive
eekIng lad. They did not seem to think IT
vas expected OF them to remove their drip
ping hats, but stood eyelng the good fire and
Mrs. Longman with complacent smiles.
You say you came to a party" said the
lady; have you not made a mistake"
"Oh, no, ma'am; this is the place your boys
Al.
took the number as soon as we sold out our
papers, and here it is" said he of the swallow
tail, taking a scrap of the margin of newspa
per from his pocket and showing the numbe:
sure enough in figures of magnificent proper.
tons.
Mrs Longman was bewidered You say
IS soon as you sold out your papers? Wha,
do yn' meang'
"NLI, you see we are newsboys ma'am
every one of us; and we 'dailies' could get OIL
earlier; but the Egening Telegram, and the
Bulletin, and the Herdld, and the Neaos will be
along as soon as they can hire somebody to
cry for them, and they are going to pay them
with something from the party, if you please,
ma'am," with an air of cheerful confidence.
Mrs Longman could not restrain smile.
go to the attic, Bridget, and call the chill.
dren down." said she. Take off your wraps,
boys, and dry your feet, and we will see what
can be done"
Bridget soon returned to the kitchen with
the delnquents
Boys, how did you happen to invite com
pany without telling me, so that ! could be
prepared for them? ?" said their mother, gently,
but gravely.
why, we dld tell, mamma: don't you re-
member? We told you that Mr.. Relsinger
told our class last Sunday that we were not
doing as much good in the world if we invited
boys to feast who had plenty to eat and wear,
and who could invite US in return, but he said
we ought to invite the poor boys tc whom such
things were treat. He SAID Jesus loved the
lame and the blind, and il we wished to be
like Him we must do as He did. So Johnny
and | told all the newsboys we met to come to
aparty here tonight and to bring all the lame
and blind boys they could find. Don't you
remember now, mammal
Poor Mrs. Longman remembered with q
pang that she had been SO wrapped up in her
own gloomy and selfish thoughts the past
week that she had paid but little attention to
her boys IN any way, and she reflected, Shall
let the good seed sown by stranger in the
hearts OF my children perish for want OF care
from their mother? Will let my own selfish
ease rob these poor boys of pleasure which
might always be pleasant remembrance to
them! No, No. ! will rouse myself and
make the best of IL"
Bridget, in the meantime, had been sum-
moned again to the alley gate, and had secured
two more guests, one pale little cripple on
crutches, who had not only succeeded IN OBJ
tanning substitute, but had borrowed an UNI
brella; which umbrella had seen its best DAYS.
TO be sure. beng minus two stays and patched
with different color, but demoralized as it
was, 1t did not prevent the guest it sheltered
from being joyiully welcomed by their com
patriots already under shelter The cr,nnIed
boy in particular was warmly welcomed by
Wis Innnman Iyhnsa heart rpnr,t nI,. IL, s,,..,