Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1882-03-09
MRS. LONGMAN'S SURPRISE PARTY

There had been long spell of rainy
weather. For six days the sun had not
shown glimpse of himself, and every
thing, out of doors and in, wore look
of ciammy espondency. Moreover,
Mrs. Longman was having one OF her
gloomy spells, and was looking at all
created things, herselfincluded, through
the bluest kind of spectacles.
Mrs. Longman was by nature not a
bad-tempered woman; on the contrary,
she possessed many noble and COM
mendable qualities; but her spirits were
not equabe; she would have her
gloomy attacks, which, had there been
any APP parent cause, might have been
looked upon in the light of an affection
worthy of sympathy, but as it was, even
the most lenient OF her friends char
acterized them by the name OF
dumps, which, though Webster con
dennis 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 close, and, although the little gilt
clock on the mantel had proclaimed 1t
to be 4 o'clock, it was getting too dark
for Mrs. Longman to sew any longer
upon the little-cloth suits she was Ian
guidly mending so laying them
aside. she wandered aimlessly in
to the kitchen, where Bridget was fold
ing the newly-ironed clothes from the
rack by the glowing CRATE.
Mr.. Longman will not be Mt hon. ,
until late this evening. Bridget" said
she. Business will detain him down
town, so you may Just set up anything
for the children; do not feel as though
/ could eat anything; everything tastes
alike to me and nothing tastes right"
What the reply would have been will
never be known, for at that moment,
there came resounding knock upon
the alley gate, and throwing an old
shawl over her head, Bridget hastily
responded to the call.
at is two boys, ma'am," she said
returning almost Immediately, "and
they have come to a party here
"A party" echoed Mrs. Longman, in
astonishment. "Who in the world told
them there was a party here ?"
81 don't know, ma'am. l will go and
ask them, said the willing maid, who
apparently would rather have got wet
than not
Bring them in out Of the rain,
Bridget" called Mrs. Longmann from
the door, until we find out what it
means" "Of course she thought to
herself, "it is mistake, but what pos
sessed them to come to the alley
gate?"
Bridget came in followed by the boys,
who in the meantime mad been joined
by third, and who, not withstandlng
the soaking rain, were not as wet as
might have been supposed, owing to
their having pieces of OIL cloth around
them, which, upon inspection, proved
to be old carriage curtains scwcd to-
gether, while the last arrival sported a
gentleman's swallow-tailed dress coat,
which made useful fnot a very hand
some ovetcoat for the festive-seeking
lad. They did not seem to think it
was expected of them to remove their
dripping hats, but stood cycling the good
fire and Mrs. Longman with compla-
cent smiles.
you say you came to a party said
the lady; "have you not made a mis-
take ?"
sob, no, ma'am; this is the place
your boys told us; we went to the front
of the house and took the number rs
soon rs we sold out our papers, and here
it is" said he of the swallow tail, taking
a scra , of the margin of n ne Yspaper
from his pocket and showing the num-
Der, sure enough, in figures of magniti-
cent proportions.
Mrs. Longman was bewildered. "You
say as soon as you sold out your papers.
What do you mean?'
"Why, you see we are newsboys,
ma'am, every one of us; and we 'dailies'
could get off earlier; but the Epening
Telegram and the Bulletin and the
Herald and the Nel0s will be along as
soon rs the 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 on air cheer
full confidence.
Mrs, Longman could not retain d
smile.
$50 to the attic, Bridget, and call the
children down." said she. Take of
your wraps, boys, and dry your feet, and
we will see what can be done"
Bridget soon returned with the delin-
quents.
"Bovs how dill you happen to invite
company without telling me, so that
could be prepared for them?' said their
mother, gently, but gravely.
"Why, we did tell, mamma, don't
you remember? We told you that Mr..
Reisinger told our class last Sunday that
we were not doing as much good in the
world if we invited boys to n feast who
had plenty to eat and to wear, and who
could invite us in return, but he said we
ought to invite the poor boys to whom
such things were treat. He said Jesus
loved the lame and the blind, and if we
wished to be like Him we must do as He
did. So Johnny and told all the news
boys we met to come to party here
tonight and to bring all the lame and
blind boys they could find. Don't you
remember now, mammal
Poor Mrs. Longman remembered