The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-03-09
TWO LOADS ON TWO ROADS.

Double sIeigh-RIde and Double Dri-
yer.
"Now, john" said Aunt Clara, as
she cuddled Baby Fay a little closer,
''have we got every thing in the sleigh,
my dear?"
"Well, l should hope sou laughed
Uncle John. Here are all the lap
robes and the handbag and three chill
dren and two dollies and the great big
dinner-basket! If it were not first
class sleighing, don't believe old
Prince could draw so much"
And he tucked the robes about Kitty
and Jessie, who were nesting and gig
Cling on snug little seat at his feet
Then he shook the lines, and gave the
word to Prince, and away they flew to
Uncle Charley's farm.
Lets take the spring road this time,
papa" said Kitty. ''for it is such a
lovely day, Uncle Charley's folks might
be coming to see u.s."
And they always come by the spring
road" put in Jessie. Harry told me
So"
"And such dinners as they bringr'
cried Kitty. "You can't get such things
in town."
Now l must tell you about the din
ners. Uncle Johns folks and Uncle
Charley's folks were very fond of visit
ing each other; and they liked to have
the dinner ready beforehand, so that
the two aunties could have plenty of
time to talk together, and to play
games with the children. That is why
each family took a great big dinner
basket when they went to see the
other.
1t was little later that same morn
ing when Uncle Charley put an armful
of sweet hay into his big farm sled, and
tucked the quilts and blankets around
Aunt Mary and their three children.
1--WE must go by the hill road this
time, papa" said Harry. ''for what if
Uncle Johns folks should be coming to
see us? You know they always come
that way; Jessie said so last time l saw
her."
And so just as Uncle Charley is fairly
out of sight on the hill road, here comes
Uncle John on the spring road!
'Well, l declare!" he says, as he
knocks and tries the door. "We've
missed them, sure enoughr'
''You will find the key" says Aunt
Clara, ''under the left-hand edge OF the
kitchen doorstep. Aunt Mary would
want us to go in and warm, of course"
So they went in and found the fires
still bright.
"Why, they've only just gone" said
Uncle John.
"And what's this? Oh what's this?"
cried Jessie.
'Its the dinner! Oh it's the dinner!
Their great big dinner basketw cried
Kitty. And they began to jump and
dance about it, and to peep under
the cover, giggling and talking, both at
once.
"Oh they forgot itn' "Oh dough-
nuts!' "Oh chicken-pie!' "a big, big
chicken-pier'
By this time Aunt Clara had taken
off her wrap and Baby Fay's, and had
made up her mind what to do.
They will soon be back" she said.
81 will lay the cloth. John, and set
things to warm. Aunt Mary shall not
do all the work this time"
So Uncle John put old Prince into the
barn and Aunt Clara put the big, big
chicEen-pie into the oven. And Kitty
and Jessie played with Baby Fay while
she set the table. When all was ready,
and Uncle John had come in and sat
reading, there came loud knock ut the
door. They all went to open it, and
then what fun there was!
why how do you do, Mrs. Brown"
said Aunt Clara to Aunt Mary. I'm
Gerry glad to see you! hope you are
all well. We thought you might posi-
bly, visit us to-day"
"And how do you do, Mr.. Brown?'
Uncle John was saying. "How do you
like our new house? Finest farm in the
country, Mr.. Brown! Come and put up
your horses. Plenty of room in our
barn"
The little folks laughed very hard at
this, and the two babies chuckled and
crowed as if they knew all about it.
And there was more fun that day than
ever before, for you see there was
double joke and double sleigh-ride
and, best of all, a double dinner -Eu-
dora S. Bumstead, in Youths Com
panion.