The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-05-01
POOLING GRANDMA.

HOW Jney SnOuteQ anu lduSHeu Just
with thinking OF what fun it would be
Winny and Joe e-sitting on the porch
steps in the sunSh ne that was very
bright and warm for the first day of
April.
Wen be just rs SOBER" said Win
ny, land not laugh nor anything"
"And we II ask Tor cold bite" CUR
gled Joe.
"We'u have to dress all up funny,
Joe, SO she won't know US
''Of course" said Joe.
"And don't you laugh" said Winny.
'You re always n f'rever laughing,
joe"
but won't this time" declared
Joe, very earnestly; land don't You,
either"
"No, sir-reer said Winny.
Now if some little bird the same lit
tie bird that is always telling stories to
the big folks s-had carried this chatter
to Grandma Nelson's ears, then Grand
ma Nelson needn't have taken 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 wonder. kept it all
to himself; so when Grandma Nelson,
sitting by the window. heard the gate
latch click and saw those queer little
hgures, she was greatly surprised. She
took off her glasses and rubbed them
aud put them on again. and stared out
through them hard, and, really and
truly, she frOwned.
More tramps! l declarc"' said she.
"Dear mer'
Grandma Nelson was talking to her
self, of course, and she spoke q good
deal louder than there WAS any need of,
beca Use she wasn't bit hard of hearing.
She spoke so loud that the two little
trampS heard her, and you can't think
how qu' erly they acted about it. One of
them caught up the corner of his wa ST.
coat, which hung nearly to his feet, and
hung it over his mouth. tight; and the
other one pulled his wide-r;mmed
straw has over his face, until not even
SO much as the tip of his chin could be
seen.
"Why, what ails 'em?" said Grand
ma Nelson TO herself, looking more and
more astonished every minute. ''Really.
I'm almost afraid to 90 to the door,"
But she did go, when pretty soon she
heard a 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 hurry, and there was fun
ny little explosive sound behind it. The
straw hat was tipped lower, too.
'.We'd like to have IA cold bite,
ma'N" 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 practice of giving to
tramps. said she. "Are you very
hungry
"Yes, ma'am."
Its only three O'clock" said Grand
ma Nelson. Didn't you have any din
ner?"
"N-yes, ma'am."
al suppose you've walked q long
wavs this afternoon" said grandma.
The two little tramps looked at each
other, and there were signs of another
explosion. The waist:oat was brought
into use again. The little tramp in the
straw hat did all the ia king.
mo, ma am, we haven't, Uery long"
sad he
II 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"'
VERY we'll" said grandma, 'you
may split and bring in two armfuls of
kindl ng-wOod. and I'LL my wood-box,
besides. There's a hatchet 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 rery hungry?'' she asked
again. And what cOutd size mean but
plum-cake, in big thick slices?"
"Oh yes,. ma am" 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 / suppose
they want something real hearty to
travel on. And I'll give 'em some
bread-and butter with it"
On 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. Tney 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 a
piece of plum cake in each hand.
"Whv-ee~ said she, looking as
astonished IS she possibly could;
where are those tramps?'
April fool! April fool,'' shouted
Winny and Joe. together. I'VE April
fooled you. gra mar
Grandma Nelson sat down in her
rocking chair and laughed her glasses off.
Dear me, dill You, dears?' said
she. ibid you?"
Did they fool Grandma Nelson? or
did Grandma Nelson fool them? How
was it2-Ioatth'S Companion.
Pama,oha-- Notbor