The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1884-05-03
POOLING GRANDMA.


steps in the sunshine that was very
bright and warm for the first day of
April.
'We'll be just as SOBER" 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 us.
"Of course" said Joe.
. "And don't you laugh" said Winny.
you're always N f'rever laughing,
joe"
"But 1 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-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
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.
more tramps! declared said she.
"Dear mel"
Grandma Nelson was talking to her
self, of course, and she spoke good
deal louder than there was any need of.
beca Use she wasn't a bit hard of hearing.
She spoke so loud that the two little
tramps heard her, and 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-rimmed
straw has over his face, until not even
so much as the tip of his chin could be
seen.
"Why, what ails emp said Grand
ma Nelson to herself, looking more and
more astonished every minute. REALLY,
L m almost afraid to 90 to the door.'
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 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 m!' Oh, such a deep, gruff voice
it was that came from under that big
hat, no wonder Grandma Nelson felt
frightened a little.
II don't make a practice of giving to
tramps," said she. care you very
hungry?'
Yes, ma'am."
Its only three clock" said Grand
ma Nelson. Didn't you have any din
ner?"
"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"
| 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'mn'
Every we'll" said grandma, ''you
may split and bring in two armfuls OF
kindling- wood. and ill my wood box,
besides. There's a 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 SC
willingly and well before, and she said
| so.
Are you uery hungry" she asked
again. And what could she mean but
plum-cake, in big thick slices?"
sob yes, ma'am,'' they both an.
swered, eagerly. Grandma began talk.
ing to herself again rs she went toward
the pantry door.
There's that cold beef" said she,
1--WE never can eat it; and l suppose
they want something real hearty tc
travel on. And I'll give 'em some
brc 'd-and butter with it,"
Ga dear, how the faces of those two
little tramps fell. They didn't wan
cod 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'
fool her another bit. So off came thu
big hat and the long waistcoat; and on
of the pantry came grandma, with ;
piece of plum cake in each hand!
"Why-ee!' said she, looking a,
astonished as she possibly could
where are those tramps?"
"April fool! April foolH' shouted
Winny and Joe, together 1--WE April
fooled you. gra ma!' t.....' o..
Grandma Nelson sat down in he
rocking chair and laughed her glasses of
Dear me, dill you, dears?" saiC
size. "Did you?"
ID they fool Grandma Nelsonp o
did Grandma Nelson fool them? How
wos it?- loub's Companion.
f N. AfN .i-+ r