The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1884-02-16
GRANDPA'S BOOTS.

do. In my garnet there are whole
arrels of old, yellow books and papers,
nd there are butternuts, and red
wooden cradle behind the chimney, and
DTS OF things!
When mamma has the headache. my
lister Lucy and l always play in this
,alret
We place corn-cobs clear across the
middle of the floor, then play that one
art OF the room belongs to Lucy, and
he other TO me.
We have four dolls apiece, and we
lress them and ourselves in all the
queer things we find in the old boxes
nd drawers, and then go to see each
Ither."
One day l put grandpa's boots over
ny shoes, and grandma's black hood on
ny head, and, with my dolls, made a
all on Lucy.
When Lucy heard me rap on the old
pinning-wheel, which we played was
,ur door, she said:
''How do You do, grandma? Is your
;old better to-day?"
"Its no better, thank you," said I.
4 guess my days are about numbered;"
md to keep from laughing, l just
:oughed little.
After awhile we played ego to meet
ng," and we had a nice band of music
for we had made some cornstalk fid-
Hes that day, and Willie, my big broth
II, had made q willow whistle Tor each
II us.
Our congregation of eight dolls may
not have understood the sermon, but
ne knew they were pleased with the
choir, although Lucy Oldest doll, Jane
Red-shoes, was looking at a big cobweb
al meeting-time.
After an hour or two, Lucy said she
vas tired Of staying in the old garnet,
ike flies and spiders.
LET us 90 down to mamma" said
she.
I'VE mustn't" said 1. ''for she is
sick, and asleep, | guess.
What shall we do then?' asked
Lucy.
1--WE might 90 down the back stairs
and take walk in the street,
ooh, do. And let us 90 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?'
"Oh, I'll just take them off and put
them on again in the wood-shed."
''All right replied Lucy, land I'll
put on grand pas 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 q procession OF
two.
Lucy went ahead, because she was
Drawer than |, 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
gypsies had come to town. while an
other man gave us some candy. A
| little black dog parked 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 tn' said l. 81 am afraid
of the water"
Il amt afraid replied Lucy.
And she ran ahead, until she reached
the bushes on the bank, while l fol-
lowed
'Do be careful, Lucy" said l. eff
we should fall into the river the big
whales would eat us up, and mamma
told us never to 90 near the river"
''But we are here, and might as well
stay awhile. Where are the whales?''
81 guess they are way in there, said
|, pointing to the darkest part of the
river-bed.
"Well, I'd like to see a whale. Is
that one there9" she said, pointing down
stream, and stepping forward. ill.,.
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 l fell headlong into the
river
Iheard Lucy scream as | touched the
water, and thought what bad girl
I'd been to run away from the old gar
ret, and wondered if the whale would
really eat me, as it did Jonah.
How the water did choke me! Al
last thought would go to sleep, and
( never knew any more until | found
myself in bed, and the doctor and
mamma were rubbing my hands and
chest.
As quick as could speak l asked foI
Lucy for was afraid she had tumbled
into the river, too.
'Lucy is safe, said mamma, ''um-
brella and all. :" ..,...
"And how did l get out Of the
waterP" | asked.
"a man who saw you fall in the river
jumped in and brought you safe tc
land" ....t
al am so glad he saw me- said 1
81 was dreadful bad. to run away; but
mamma, I'll never do it again"
And never did.