New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1885-07-29
Hide and Seek.

vi all the good old games of child
hood give me ''Hide and Seek in
grandpa's old barn. with the rain pat
terlng down outside and all nice and
dry inside. In dry weather we boys
and girls used to play it around the
house and sheds. Some one would be-
gin to count, Monkey. monkey, bottle
of beer. How many monkeys are
there here? One, two, three! Out
goes her' until all but one were
counted out. The one left would shut
his eyes, lean up against a shed or
post and begin to count one hundred.
The whole crowd would then scatter
like scared sheep and hide. After
counting one hundred the seeker
would remark-s'A bushe] of wheat,
A bushel Of rye-All who amt ready
holler l." And then he would poke
around as near the goal as possible,
and look in rat holes, behind sheds,
fences and bushes, and walk on his
toes and twist his mouth every time
he gave a squint
One day we boys and girls were
playing, and | was looking for new
place to hide in. | found it. An old.
blue rain barrel, full of water a month
old and with an odor about ten pounds
to the square inch, stood at the corner
of the house. A bright idea struck me
and in half minute l had all my
clothes off and was standing up to my
chin in rain water and wigglers.
After dropping my pants, hat and
waist outside, l carefully pulled the
cover over my head. The water be-
gan to smell out loud and the wigglers
walked up. | wanted fresh air, but
the girl was now wandering around
near me, seeking whom she ight spy.
After awhile all the others were
caught. Then they all looked for me
few moments, but gave me up and
yelled ''Come in free" Ididn't come.
Then they yelled-"Oh, We needn't be
afraid Wen let we in free!" I
politely, but silently, declined the in
vitatlon because all were standing
within ten feet of my lair. l wasn't
dressed for party anyWay-wiggler
and rain water didn't suit me and the
barrel didn't fit. It was too big.
Then all began tolook for me again.
In few moments one boy camc back
and got up on the barrel and sat down
to rest. | took a mouthful of wigglers
as lodged. Then he noticed nv
clothes behind the barrel, jumped
down, picked them up, carried them
to the goal, then hung them on peg
and said Zone, two, three for Harry"
Then he sat down and laughed as If
his heart would break. l didn't smile
didn't see anything funny. Then
he came back and sat on me again
and said, ''Keep dark, [ won't tell on
yer!"
Il want to come out.
'Well, why don't We come out then?"
''Pledse get my pants for me. Say,
get off the barrel, it smells bad in
heren'
"Get yer pants yerself. Smells bad,
does it? He. he! Kinder wet in there.
amt it? What kind of dress have yer
got on, Smother Hubbard, amt it?''
Then was mad and pushed up the
lid with all my might, upset my tor
mentor and climbed out, just as the
boys and girls came around the house.
My dander was up and I was mad
as hornet. [ spit out cuss words
and wigglers. The girls yelled and
exeunted. Istood my ground, shook
Oft rain water, bad smell and wigglers
and wanted to fight the whole crowd.
The boys yelled and laughed and told
me to wipe off my chin and pull down
my vest. This last remark was GER
tainly slur!1 went and took down
my clothes, got inside and then said,
''One, two, three for 71aer'
During the next two weeks + had to
lick five boys for calling me ''Wig-
glers" and sold Rain Water" and
the girls would smile and look innocent
when came around. The next time
hide in a barrel of ancient rain wa
ter, will first spill it, and then hide
in box.-H HanaiU, in Peck Sun.