Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1884-01-18
A CANDY DINNER.

of her absence, Mamma had been
driven to bed by n sick headache and
the children were taking care of them
selves. Fred, the eldest boy. was romp-
ing about the room, using his smallest
brother. Charley. for '.wheelbarrow.
Five-year-old Sammy was trying to
turn somersault in one corner. He
could not conquer the impression that
he was going to break his neck. and
therefore after gaining perpendicular
position his courage invariably failed
him, and he tumbled back each time on
the side he had risen from. Gertv and
Esther, with an idea of surprising their
mother with their good housekeeping,
We're scrubbing the playhouse floor,
and at intervals of about two minutes
shouting TO the wheelbarrow party a
warning against upsetting the basin of
water. They were ''being good" to
the best of their ability, but It must be
conceded that mamma. who was trying
to get a little sleep in the next room.
did not lind their good behavior very
soothing to her head.
Presently the wheelbarrow ran
against the table, bumped its head, and
set up howl of mingled rage and pain
Fred. Selling Gerty's cleaning cloth.
applied soap suds to the bruise, and
fortunately Charley's eyes were too full
of tears to admit the soap, else he
might not have been easily pacified.
Comparative quiet was at length re-
stored, but the fun was over.
''What shall we do?" asked Gerty,
diScontentedly.
Il OF
whose pleasures generally took a some
what violent form.
mo. let's don't said Esther, ''be-
cause I'm tired. We might paint"
80, paint" groaned Fred THAT S
just tame enough for girls" Though,
in truth. he liked the entertainment
very well himself in his serene mo-
ments.
81 know what said Gerty. "We'n
make butter-scotch. "
Come ahead" shouted Fred, and
catching up three-year-old Charley, ran
down to the kitchen. followed precipi-
lately by the rest of the children.
Il say, Bridget" gasped Fred. as he
set down his burden on the kitchen ia
bic. 1--WE want to make candy. Now do
be good and let u.s.
please, Bridget begged the others.
Bridget had been long established in
Mrs. Farnham's kitchen, and possess
inc a somewhat unusual share of dis
erection in connection with her Irish
good nature, had acquired considerable
authority as well as popularity with the
children. ''Sure, now. and l would, ~
said she, regretfully. "but that / was
Just layin' on me things to 90 to the
savin's bank. as yer mother said |
might, and I'll be too late if I'm after
waiten for ye.n
30, but you needn't wait answered
Gerty, promptly, ''just weigh out the
things and butter the plates. and we Il
do the rest. Wen be Just rs careful,
and not let it boil over, nor burn our
selves"
1--WE won't, honest" pleaded Fred
And I'll keep Sam and Charley
stra ght'
Just try us this once" urged Esther.
"1ll lift OF the kettle" added Fred.
Thus besought. Bridget finally con
scented, and having seen the work safely
begun. LIFT the children with repeated
nJunctions not II spill the candy, nor
burn the baby, nor set fire To the house.
Making candy. entirely on their own
responsibility proved 10 be uncommon
ly good fun. 1t was tried by all al
frequent intervals, and at last Gerty, in
the character of chief cook, pronounced
it done. All watchedas earnestly as ii
success depended upon their breath
less attention. while Fred poured the
delicious golden-brown liquid from the
kettle TO the plates, after which he
took it out of doors to cool on the snow,
and returned impatientlv in the kitch-
en-. Presently knock at the basement
door was heard, and each little house
holder, filled with sense of personal
Importance, rushed 10 open it. With
ont was n cold. gray day, and raw,
east wind met the warm and fragrant
candy-steam as the children threw open
the door. There stood boy of twelve,
perhaps, poorly clad, and with some
thing pitifully pinched about his ex-
preston.
do they want their gutter cleaned
out here?' he asked, not very conf
IDENTIFY, and Fred answered in behalf of
his constituents that they did not. The
boy turned little, as if to 90, then hes
itated,. and for some reason the chill
dren seemed unable TO close the door
upon him. Something queer seemed
to be happening to that boy. The color
came slowly and painfully into the pale
face and fluttered strangely there,
and his eyes grew suspiciously large
and moist. He neither spoke nor
moved until Fred with abrupt but not
unkind curiosity broke the silence with:
well, now, young fellow, what ails
you?''
''You-you've got something 10 eat?'
came eagerly, yet with an effort from
the strange boy.
''Well, I should hope So" answered
Fred. Haven't your
Not since yesterday morning."
Instantly the Mortified children had
him indoors, and he was shortly warm
ing by the kitchen fire, and telling in
answer TO a vclley of questions that his
name was Joe Allen, and he hadn't any
folks but big brother Tom. who had
gone somewhere ten days ago to look
for work and never come back yet; aud
how he was boot-biack and had earned
enough to eat till somebody stole his
brush, and now nobody seemed to want
him to work and he had got so hungry.
Just at this point Gerty. who had gone
to get some food, came back with rue
full face, and said that Budget had
locked up the pantries and Sammy had
eaten the last cracker from the lunch
jar, and mamma had gone to sleep and
ought not to be wakened-and what
should they do?
''Got any money!" asked Fred, rather
obviously, of his sisters; it was notori-
Gus that his own allowance was always
speedily spent. Unfortunately the girls
were no better off this time, so this
feeble hope proved futile The sudden
ly straitened hosts looked disInayed, and
the poor little waits hungfy eyes lost
the hopeful look that had gathered in
them.
Don't you think Mr.. Osborn would
trust you for loaf of bread?" suggested
Gerry. hesitatingly.
Il suppose he would" said Fred,
.'but / don't think mamma would like