Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1882-11-10
Youths Department.
A HAPPY THOUGHT.

sno SitIlnS-rOOm Dy throwing her Sach0l
on the lounge. "Why doesn't some
body fix 1t up?" But no one answered.
Only Leila and Nora were there to an
swer. and both their heads were bent
over geographical puzzle.
Olive threw herself into an easy-chair
and looked out of the large bay-window.
1t was pleasanter to turn her head that
way than to look around the disordered
room. She only wished she could turn
her thoughts away from the room easily.
but she could not so long as that voice
kept saying:
"You know that Bridget is out with
the twins, and that Kate is busy getting
dinner, and that there is no one but
yourself to put the room in order-you
and your little sisters. Why not 90 to
work and have a surprise for mamma
when she comes in?"
"Leila and Nora, we really ought to
fix up the room," said Olive, with a
half-yawn. 1.-THE twins have scattered
their things. Wont you helpP'
I'm a minute" answered Nora.
1--WE only want little crooked piece to
60 right in there
Yes" responded Leila, "it's Fin
land"
Aren't you coming?" asked Olive,
as she listlessly folded an afghan. Again
the answer was:
"Just as soon as VIC find Finland"
Olive looked about the room in
hopeless. helpless sort of way. with
Leila and Nora both in Finland" she
thought, 81 may as well give up ex-
pecting their help. If it were only
game"
She stood moment in thought Her
face suddenly frightened. She went to
mammals desk and cut six slips of
paper, then wrote word on EACH
''Are you getting some strips ready
for consequences" asked Leila. a new
interest in her face, as she looked UP
from the pieces of map.
mo, but you We guessed pretty well, f"
admitted Olive, .'for it's game-a
new one."
"a game! A new oner' echoed the
little sisters, not only losing interest in
Finland; but letting the whole of Eu-
rope fall apart. Lets play it! I'm
tired of this map-puzzle."
Eyes, Olive, tell us how" pleaded
Leila, land then we'll help with the
room. We truly Wills
81 don't know that you'll like the
game" said Olive, "but I'm sure that
mamma will
''Then we shall, of course" said
Nora, very decidedly. 'Let's begin it
now"
So Olive laid the slips on the table
the written side downward. Then she
said: "Now we are to draw in turn, the
youngest first. Come, Norap'
Nora looked at the different pieces of
paper, put her finger on the last, and
then suddenly changed her mind and
took the one nearest her.
don't look at it yet, Nora," said
Olive.
"Oh. / shall certainly look, if Leila
doesn't hurry" said Nora, excitedly,
shutting her eyes very tight, but soon
opening them to ask: "Is there prize,
Oliver" and jumping up and down as
Olive nodded.
After Leila had settled upon one of
the slips. she and Nora made Olive shut
her eyes while they changed all about
the papers that were left. for fear that
Olive, having made them, might choose
better one than they. At last they all
had slips.
"Now readr' signaled Olive
=" Table - said Nora, consulting her
paper:
+" Chairsn' read Leila. from hers.
Carpet" announced Olive.
CHOW whatP' asked Nora. EDO
pass mine on to Leilap' But Olive was
on her knees, picking up lot of play
things.
"Mine was carpet" she said, as she
hastily put handful of toys into little
cart belonging to the twins, $50 I'm to
take everything off the carpet that
doesn't belong there. You are to put
in order whatever your paper tells you,
and the game is to do it as well and as
quickly as You can"
Nora flew to the table. She ran into
the hall with Teddy's hat, and into the
nursery with Freddy's whip. Then she
got brush and prepared to sweep off
the table-cover. To do this she piled
some books on one of the chairs.
My paper says chairS,'' cried Leila,
"and there are eight of them! If YOU
put those books there, I'll never get
through"
1.-The other table is yours also.
Nora" said Olive, as she Strengthened
the rug in front of the fire. "Look on
your paper"
Sure enough, there was an that
Nora had overlooked! So the books
foun d a place on the little stand while
the big table was being brushed, and
were then piled nicely up. and the mag
azines and papers laid together, after
which Nora stood off and viewed the
effect with such satisfaction as almost
to for get the smaller table.
She was reminded of it, however, by
Leila, who was f1ourishing duster
about as she went from one chair to
another, fastening a tidy here and
shaking up cushion there, until she
was ready to ssy: 1.-THE whole eight are
done"
1--we finished, too" said Olive, as
she brushed the hearth and hung the
little broom at one side of the open fire.
place. Now, we all draw again.
Nora choose quickly this time, and
went right at her work when she saw
the word "Mantel." hardly hearing
Leila say Desk" and Olive
Lounge"
"Well, what do you think of the
gamer" asked Olive, while after. as.
= "a n