The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1888-01-13
DrMPLE's DINNER COMPANY.

DIMPLE's DINNER COMPANY.
The class in familiar science was OH the
recitation bench at Miss Purviance' school.
and it was Dimple Duer's question:
explain the formation of dew on the
outside of pitcher of ice water?''
Where had Dmples thoughts been
while she read over and over four pages of
Familiar Science last night2 Not much
on her books, am afraid, or else she had
slept away the memory of her lesson; for,
to save her little life she didn' know what
made the pretty frost work on her glass of
ice-water at dinner.
Fortunately for her, there was sudden
knock at the school room door, loud rat.
tat, As of one in hurry.
Come ill.," said Miss Purviance; and
the door was thrown open with bang that
Jared a whole benchfull Of little girls. 1t
was Dave Finley, great strong, rough
voiced, kindly tempered fellow, who
hauled wood To the little town for sale.
See here, Miss 'Viance, he said, draw
ing forward little girl in red calico
dress and sun-bonnet; I've brung you
Molly Shoots gal to git some larnin'.
Molly is powerful hand at books herself,
Molly is; and spite of Bill Shoots goin'
and dyin last spring, and spite Of there be-
ing four younger than Fan here, Moll's
sot on givin' her children larnin' too.
We'll, MolI, says |, Il kin furder you
thar, for kin take that little Jenny Wren
of yours to town every day on my wagon
longside of me, and glad of her company
too. Land, Mr.. Finley, says Moll; how
kind yod are" Well says I, we poor
folks amt got nuthin' but kindness to
give one mother, and we must be hard up
if We can't give that"
The half hour for Familiar Science was
fast slipping away, while Dave stood " it'll
the door-knob in his hand, holding the
child in the other, talking on in an even
stream, with no sign of any purpose to
stop. Miss Purvianee at last interrupted
him.
''Come in Fanny" said she Did you
say her name was Fsnny9 Thank you,
Mr.. Finley; we will see about her lessons
now
"All right mum; III DE long this way
| somewhere short of four 'clook Ia pick her
up agin."
And TIE little stranger was given seat
| near the stove to warm her toes. while
Miss Purviance hurried through the inter-
rnpted recitation.
The new scholar had need to warm her
toes; for, though the November frosts were
sharp, her little brown feet were innocent
of shoes and stockings, and the calico
dress came but a stingy way down the
plump legs.
The little face, when the red calico sun
bonnet came off, was seen to he round and
rosy. It seemed that poverty (and the
Shoots were of the poorest) agreed with
Fans health, and spirits too; for she was
gay little witch, and soon became A ia
vorite at Miss Purviance's school. Her
seat was by Dimple Duer, and impulsiye lit
tie Dlmple was heels over head in love with
her at once. The difference between her
dainty laced and frilled rufiies, her silk
stockings and kid slippers. and Fans clean,
but somewhat faded, calico, her bare feet
and sunburnt hands, seemed not to strike
either of the little girls, who became deyo.
ted friends.
Mother said Dimple one Friday
morning, stopping in the midst of her
breakfast of waffies and honey, cant
have dinner party?"
Perhaps So said her mother, smiling
at her little girls serious face. "Whom
will You invite -
GLOW many could have, mother?''
"Oh! four or five, l suppose, F" anwered
Mrs. Dner.
Now, MOTHER" Dimple said with great
earnestness, wouldn't You INST as lief
should have one little girl five times, as
five little girls one time p
There was a laugh all around the table
at this conundrum, but Dimple waited
eagerly for an answer. ''Dimple," said
papa, 'what little girl do you want to in
vito to dinner five times?''
"Why, papa" she said, gravely, "Fanny
Smoot brings her dinner every day, and
itshardly ever anything but a piece of corr
bread and potato. She says sometimes
her mother can give her two potatoes, an(
sometimes little piece Of fat bacon"
Dimple's voice was trembling little
and nobody at the table laughed now.
"Yoa shall have your dinner company
darling" said the mother; and her voic'
wasn't very steady either.
SO Dimplc had her way, and went off L
school happy, with little invitation writ
ten ON one Of mothers gilt-edged cards