The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-10-13
Those Silly Children.

have enjoyed themselves very much,
and, although they say their health is
excellent, still they seem to have con-
tracted rheumatism that appears to
have settled in their necks. When Mr..
Pettigrew's friends. with whom he was
very afiable before he went North, greet
him, the stiffness in his neck prevents
him from returning the salutation in
an equally cordial manner. As for
Mrs. Pettigrew, she, in consequence OF
her Northern trip, has got such stifl
neck that she is utterly unable to bow,
even when she meets a neighbor
from whom she used to borrow parched
coffee, and with whom she used to
converse by the hour over the fence.
In the family circle nothing has been
talked of since their return except the
great people they have met, and what a
small potato sort of place Austin is.
Pettigrew's two children, Tommy and
Molly, who were left at home in charge
of a servant, do not talk or think OF
anything except the Northern tour of
their parents. They are bright imita-
tive children, and few days ago it oc-
Cured to them to go Off on tour on
the street cars that passed by the house.
81 am so worn out with the cares of
business" said Tommy, holding his
head after the manner of his father.
'.that I'll have to take trip. My poor
brain needs rest Th2ts AS,-y>pa told
ma Just before they left"
This keeping house., said Molly,
tanning herself in die-away sort of
style, ''has ruined my nervous sys-
tenn. The children worry me so I'll
have TO go along with you, my dear, y
responded Molly, unoonsciously imi-
tating her mother.
''Let us play going TO Long Branch.
We can get on the street car and ride
all the way down to the end of Congress
Avenue for n MCKEE, and when we come
back we will make the folks believe we
have been TO Europe
The little iokers actually got on the
next street car, leaving their parents to
get along the best they could.
Travelling is very expensive" re-
marked Tommy, IS he dropped two
nickels into the box
whats the use of money, if you
haven't got health to enjoy it, " replied
Molly.
The car-driver whipped up his mule,
and the little tourists were whirled out
of sight. The ear had gone about a
hundred yards, when Tommy observed
''What a relief it is to get away from
ones parents, even if it is only for a
week"
lit is So feel like another woman
already" responded Molly, demurely.
"What queer outlandish people you
meet when YOU travel away from
home,' said Tommy, as a dilapidated
looking reporter emerged from saloon
and stepped into the car.
ave must be in Texas vet. This car
is not travelling faster than twenty miles
an hour" which was a fact, for the
Austin street cars rarely travel faster
than twenty miles an hour. The car
halted on a switch, and was side-tracked
for another train tot pass, for which they
had to wait about quarter of an hour.
81 expect that something has hap
pened to the train dispatcher, but here
comes the south-bound express, and
in a few moments a boD-tSaed mule,
attached to a bob-tailed car, toiled
slowly past
"What wonderful institution steam
is?"
Eyes, but it is dangerous. just sup
pose that something were to happen
to the engineer, and the mule was to
explode. Where would the passengers
be then, but here we go again
sfW here are yVa nowpif
1--WE have been on the road long
enough to be at st. Louis by this time.
We must be near st. Louis for l saw
St. Louis beer on sign few miles
back"
The car reached the corner of Con-
gress Avenue and Pecan Street on time
and the distinguished tourists pro-
ceeded to regale themselves with five
cents worth OF peanuts.
''Since | left Austin l eat twice as
much as | formerly did. I must have
gained ten pounds soon after we left
home. That what ma told Mrs. Yer
ger when she came back"
"Well, do not overdo the thing,
Molly, for I'm strapped. The expenses
have been so heavy taat have only got
enough money to pay car fare back. /
heard pa tell ma that their trip had
busted him up financially"
81 wanted to keep right on to New
York and Niagara Falls, but the Austin
folks won't know but what we have
been there. We will say we have been
there anyhow. That's the way pa and
ma did when they came home.
when we get back home, don't for
get to put on airs to everybody. We
must not play with the neighbors' chill
dren for at least a week"
"Of course, that's what people 90
away for. What's the use of leaving
town if you forget to snub people after
you get back. That's the way ma has
been doing with the neighbors ever since
she got back
Assoon as Tommy and iSsf---liisii.ss-5oarded
the car to return home thew began to
sneer and turn up their noses, Just as
their parents did upon their return.
The car halted in front of the Petit
grew mansion. The children had been
gone for nearly an hour. AS they
entered the gate, their mother
screamed
why, children, where have you
beenp"
| Just taking little run ND to Sara
toga, and other watering nIaces along
t street car route. Dear me, this