The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1884-05-29
POOLING GRANDMA.

steps in the sunshine that was very
bright and warm for the first day of
April.
.sWe'n be just as sober,n said Win
ny, land not laugh nor anything
''And we'll ask for cold bite, CUR
gled Joe.
''We'n have to dress all up funny,
Joe, so she won't know u.s."
'tOf course" said joe
"And don't you laugh said Winny.
you're always n f'rever laughing,
joe
'.But I won't this time" declared
Joe, very earnestly; ''and don't you,
either.''
'sNo, sir-reer' said Winny.
Now if some little bird the same lit
tie bird that is always telling stories to
the big folks-had carried this chatter
to Grandma Nelson's ears, then Grand
ma Nelson needn't have taken a second
look at the two funny little stragglers
that walked up to her door that after
noon, TO know just who they were. But
the little bird, for a wonder, kept it all
to himself; SO when Grandma Nelson,
sitting by the window, heard the gate
figures, she was greatly surprised. She
took off her glasses and rubbed them
and put them on again, and stared out
through them hard, and, really and
truly, she frowned.
s.More tramps! / declarep' said she.
ttDear MEL
Grandma Nelson was talking to her
self, of course. and she spoke a good
deal louder than there was any need of,
beca lse she WASH bit hard of hearing.
She spoke so loud that the two little
tramps heard her, aud you can't think
how queerly they acted about it. One of
them caught up the corner of his waist
coat, which hung nearly to his feet, and
hung it over his mouth, tight and the
other one pulled his wide trimmed
straw has over his face, until not even
so much as the tip of his chin could be
seen.
'sWhy, what ais 'emP'' said Grand
ma Nelson to herself, looking more and
more astonished every minute. "Really,
m almost afraid to go to the doorr'
But she did GO, when pretty soon she
heard soft little knock; and she
looked down quite seriously on the big
hat and the long waiscoat
what will you have to-day" said
she.
The corner of the waistcoat came up
again in a hurry, and there was fun
ny little explosive sound behind it. The
straw hat was tipped lower, too.
'.We'd like to have "a cold bite,
ma mr. Oh, such deep, gruff voice
it was that came from under that big
hat, no wonder Grandma Nelson felt
frightened little.
Il don't make a practice of giving to
tramps,3 said she. 'sAre YOU very
hungry?'
eyes, ma'am.'
''Its only three o'clock, said Grand
ma Nelson. Didn't you have any din
nerpn
''N-yes, ma'am.''
81 suppose you've walked long
ways this afternoon, said grandma.
The two little tramps looked at each
other, and there were signs of another
explosion. The waistcoat was brought
into use again. The little tramp in the
straw hat did all the talking.
mo, ma am, we haven't, very long"
said he.
Il suppose you're willing to work
and pay for something to eat?'' said
Grandma Nelson.
Then the two little tramps began to
feel sure that she meant plum-cake; SO
they answered very promptly:
''Oh yes'm!n
Every WELL said grandma, styou
may split and bring in two arnfuls OF
kindling wood, and fill my wood-box,
besides. There's Ratchet in the
shed.
OF course they could do that; and
they made very short work Of it in
deed. Grandma Nelson didn't believe
she ever saw two little tramps work SO
willingly and well before, and she said
so.
Are you Uery hungryp'' she asked
again. And what coastd she mean but
plum-cake, in big thick slicespn
sob yes, ma'am,n they both an
swered, eagerly. Grandma began talk
ing to herself again as she went toward
the pantry door.
There's that cold beef, said she,
1--WE never can eat it; and I suppose
they want something real hearty ia
travel on. And I'll give 'em some
bread-and butter with it,
Oh dear! how the faces of those two
little tramps fell They didn't want
cold beef, and they didn't want bread.
and-butter, and they did want plum.
cake. They had fooled Grandma Mel.
son almost too nicely. They wouldn't
fool her another bit. So off came the
big hat and the long waistcoat; and out
OF the pantry came grandma, with q
piece of plum cake in each hand!
"Why-ee!" said she, looking as
astonished as she possibly could;
where are those trarnpsp''
April fool April fool!'' shouted
Winny and Joe, together. 'tWe April.
fooled you. gra 'ma!''
Grandma Nelson sat down in hel
rocking chair and laughed her glasses off.
Dear me, did you, dears?7' said
she. did your
Did they fool Grandma Nelson? OF
did Grandma Nelson fool themp How
was itg-- YOutb's oonapaasoa.