The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1884-03-13
GRANDPA'S BOOTS.

barrels of old, yellow books and papers,
and there are butternuts, and a red
wooden cradle behind the chimney, and
lots OF things!
When mamma has the headache, my
sister Lucy and I always play in this
garrett.
We place corn-cobs clear across the
middle of the floor, then play that one
part OF the room belongs to Lucy, and
the other to me.
We have four dolls apiece, and we
dress them and ourselves in all the
queer things we find in the old boxes
and drawers, and then Ego to see each
other.
One day ] put grandpa's boots over
my shoes. and grandma's black hood on
my head. and, with my dolls, made q
call on Lucy.
When Lucy heard me rap on the old
spinning wheel. which we played was
our door, she said;
How do you do, grandma Is your
cold better to-day?"
"It's no better, thank YOU" said /.
al guess my days are about numbered;''
and to keep from laughing, | just
coughed little.
After awhile we played Ego to meet
ing" and we had nice band of music
for we had made some cornstalk fid-
dies that day, and Willie, my big broth
er, had made willow whistle for each
of us.
Our congregation of eight dolls may
not have understood the sermon, but
we knew they were pleased with the
choir, although Lucy's oldest doll, Jane
Red-shoes, was looking at big cobweb
all meeting-time.
After an hour or two, Lucy said she
was tired of staying in the old garrett,
like flies and spiders.
'Let us 60 down to mamma" said
she.
eve mustn't" said /. ''for she is
sick, and asleep, | guess"
What shall we do then?" asked
Lucy.
i've might 90 down the back stairs
and take walk in the street."
''Oh, do! And let us go dressed just
as we are, and 'pertend' we're old folks
travelling for our health. But how will
you get down the stairs with grandpa $
boots on?'
ooh, I'll Just take them off and put
them on again in the wood-shed"
''All right, replied Lucy, land I'll
put on grandpa straw hat, and take
his green umbrella, cause it might
rain.
We managed to reach the shed with
out disturbing any of the folks. and
when [ got my boots on again, we
went out the gate as a procession of
two.
Lucy went ahead, because she was
Drawer than l, and her boots didn't
bother her, either. =
She peeped into the shops and stores;
and some of the folks laughed at us,
and ore man said he guessed ''some
gyps es had come to town." while an
other man gave us some candy. A
little black dog barked at us in one
place, and we met two ugly-looking
caterpillarS on the sidewalk that | was
afraid of; but, by and by. we came to
some stone steps and sat down to rest
and eat our candy.
When we were rested. Lucy said;
eve are almost to the river; let us go
down there and get some blackberries
off the bushes that grow close by"
"Oh, don tr' said /. II am afraid
of the water
81 aim AFRAID replied Lucy.
And she ran ahead, until she reached
the bushes on the bank, while / fol
lowed.
'.Do be careful, Lucy" said l. ''Ii
we should fall into the river the big
whales would eat us up, and mamma
told us never to 60 near the river"
but we are here, and might as well
stay awhile. Where are the whalesp''
~ guess they are way in there, = saiC
l, pointing to the darkest part of the
riVer-bed.
''Well, I'd like to see a whale. Is
that one there?" she said, pointing down
stream, and stepping forward
The gravel and sand gave way Just
then, and she began TO fall, when
caught her dress, and drew her on the
bank, but grandpa's boots made me
stumble, and | fell headlong into the
river.
Iheard Lucy scream as touched the
water, and / thought what a bad cir
I'd been to run away from the old gar
/ INl, anu WOuu6iGu IL tu0 WHALE WOull
really eat me, as it did Jonah.
How the water did choke me! Al
last thought I would go to sleep, anc
I never knew any more until | found
myself in bed, and the doctor and
mamma were rubbing my hands anC
| chest.
As quick as | could speak asked fol
Lucy, for was afraid she had tumbleC
into the river, too.
Lucy is safe, said mamma, 'um
brella and all. ="
''And how did l get ont of The
water?" l asked.
"a man who saw you fall n the rive
jumped in and brought you safe Il
land"
81 am so glad he saw me, said |
Il was dreadful bad to run away; but
mamma, I'll never do it again
And I never did