The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-11-23
THE TWINS DINNER.
Concerning a Bright idea, and How 1t Was
Carried Out.

apiece. That is, because we are twins,
and we look so much alike even mamma
can hardly tell which is which, without
looking twice.
Bob comes next. He is six, and he's
such topsy-turvy boy! When he comes
into the house, seems as if every thing
was turned bottom-side up in minute.
Then he's got such lungs! Papa says
he'll make good brakeman when he
grows big.
Carl is the youngest of all. You ought
to see him, he is so lovely! He's got the
brownest eyes, and his hair will curl
whichever way you brush it; and every
body that sees him has to stop and kiss
him. he is SO sweet.
Then he asks such grown-up questions
about God and every thing, that we are
most afraid sometimes that we shan't
raise him.
Papa got hurt ever and ever so long
ago on the cars. His leg was all broke
up-not clear in two, but inside-so he
had to lie on the lounge, and be tended.
And mamma sewed for cross Miss Brown,
who does dressmaking; and it made
papa most discouraged to have her sew
SO hard, to get things for us to eat.
But when papa groaned and looked
sober, mamma laughed at him, and sang
and every thing, to cheer him up. She's
the dearest little mamma! and papa
thinks so, too, | guess.
Chris and / did most all the work, so
as to help, and we didn't break single
thing, 'cept one cup that was cracked,
and bowl that wasn't.
Mamma used to call us ''her little
comforts" and we did try ever so hard
not to fret about any thing; but some
times it did seem as if we couldn't help
it. we were so tired of oatmeal and baked
potatoes.
Papa had nice things, of course, but
s'pose zee couldn't afford any thing bet
ter.
One day Bob cried, and said he
wouldn't eat any supper, else he could
have some pie. Chris and L coaXed him
out under the apple tree in the yard,
and told him it was most Thanksgiving,
and then we should have every thing
nice-chicken and pie, and p'raps cram
berry sauce!
After that we had to tell him all about
it over and over every day, so as to keep
him from making fuss and worrying
mamma.
But one day something dreadful hap
pened. l was washing dishes, and |
heard papa and mamma talking low to-
gether and papa said: ''Poor dears, they
won't have much Thanksgiving this
year,
Mamma said: sNever mind. You will
soon be at work, and then we'll give
them a treat"
ran out under the apple tree and
told Chris, and we cried and cried till
all the grass was wet with tears 1t
seemed as if we couldn't stand oatmeal
another single day. But we didn't dare
to let Bob know, as we couldn't trouble
mamma, so we had to bear it.
After long time we thought of some
thing. We got some paper and pencil,
and wrote letter, and this was what
was in it:
Mr.. PREsIDENT.-Our papa worked on the
cars, and got all smashed up-he wasn't one
bit careless, but twas trying to save an Irish
boy from being killed. Sometimes he gets
pretty blue, mamma says, but are think he is
real achite, and we are too poor to have any
Thanksgiving, and it seems as if our hearts
will break, else you can help us, we are so
sick of oatmeal; but if yOu can't, may be God
will. CHRISTINE AND CORA.
2. s. Our papa's name is Arthur Cordes.
Then we put the letter in an envelope
and carried it to the post-otfice. The
man looked at it and asked us who twas
for. Chris told him, ''The Railroad
President"
He was so kind and asked us ever so
we had told him all about it. He had
such cold he had to keep using his
handkerchief most all the time. Then
he wrote something on the envelope
and said it was all right.
And we ran home and waited until the
last day before Thanksgiving, but no.
body sent any thing, and Chris and l
felt so we couldn't eat mouthful of
supper-hardly- we made be-
lieVe to.
But Bob and Carl kept talking all the
time about the nice things they should
have tomorrow for dinner.
Just then Chris pulled my dress under
the table, and looked at papa and he
was slyly putting all of his nice toast
and dropped egg on Carl's and Bob's
plates.
Even ma nina looked sober when the
rent-man came that night for the money;
and when she had counted it out there
was only little silver left; but, then,
she smiled just the same as ever and
said God would take care of us.
When Chris and 1 went to bed that
night we had another spell of crying,
but we kept our faces in the pillow, SC
nobody would hear us, and we both said
we could not sleep mite all night.
But it was so funny, the very first
thing we knew, it was morning, and
there was such a pounding at the out