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 II long spell OF rainy wealth
er For six days the sun had not shown "A
glimpse of himself, and everything, out OF
doors and in, wore 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 badtem-
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 atilictlon worthy of sympa-
thy, but as it was, even the most lenlent 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.lroned clothes
from the rack by the glowing CRATE.
Mr.. Longman will not be at home until
late this evening, Bridget" said she, "Busi-
ness will detain him down town, so you may
Just 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 Il 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
IA party echoed Mrs. Longman, Ill us.ou.
lshment who IN the world told them there
was party heree"
III don't know, nam. | 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. Longman from the door, until we
find out what it means" "Of course" she
thought 70 herself, lit is a mistake, but what
possessed them to come to the alley gate?"
Bridget came IN followed by the boys, who
in the meantime had been joined by third
and who, not wlthstanding the soaking rain,
we're 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 sewed together,
while the last ARRIVAL sportcd gentleman's
swallow-talled dress coat, which made useful
If not very handsome overcOat for the festive
seeking lad. They did not seem to think 1t
was 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 party" said the
lady; have YOU not made a mistake"
"Oh, no, ma am this Is the place your boys
told US; we went to the front of the house and
took the number as soon as we sold out our
papers, and here it is" said he of the swallow.
tail, taking 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
rs soon as you sold out your papers? What
do y"' mean"
"NLS, you see we are newsbOys ma'am
every one of us; and we 'dailies' could get OIL
earlier; but the E'Cening Ieegrdnl, and the
Bulletin, and the Uerald, and the Neos will be
along as soon as they can hire somebody to
cry for them, and they are gong to pay them
with something from the party, if you please,
ma'am," with an air of cheerful confidence,
Mrs LoDgman 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 did tell, mamma: don't you re-
member? We told you that Mr.. Relsnger
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, bu. he said
we ought to invite the poor boys &c 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 10 bring all the lame
and blind boys they could find. Don't you
remember now, mammal"
Poor Mrs. Longman remembered with a
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 a pleasant remembrance TO
them? No, No, will rouse myself and
make the best of It."
Bridget, in the meantime, had been sum-
moned again to the alley gate, and had secured
TWO more guests, one a pale little cripple on
crutches, who had not only succeeded In OBJ
tanning a substitute, but had borrowed an um.
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, II did not prevent the guest il sheltered
from being joyfnlly welcomed by their COM
patriots already under shelter The crippled
boy in particular was warmly welcomed by
Mrs. Longman, whose heart went out in sym