The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-10-26
THEIR FIRST NEW SUITS.

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Mayo's door-bell. Grandma heard it,
and because Bridget was having a day
out and there was no one else in the
house but grandpa, she opened the
door herself. There stood little boy,
who was just standing on tiptoe to
ring the bell second time-a very
little boy in new knickerbockers. new
jacket and new fur cap, who looked
for all the world as though he had just
come out of band box.
Dear mel" said grandma, taking
off her spectacles and wiping them
and putting them on again. How do
you do little boy? Won't you come
IMP"
The little boy didn't answer word.
Indeed, you might have thought he
acted very strangely, for he put one
hand tight over his mouth and made Il
queer little gurgling noise But he
followed grandma in through the hall
TO the study.
Grandpa was in the study reading
the latest paper, but he laid it down
and took off his spectacles as his small
visitor entered.
at is some one to see you, think"
said grandma, sitting down and taking
her knitting-work.
Grandpa put on his spectacles again,
and his eyes fairly twinkled behind
them, though there wasn't the first
hint of smile on his face.
''Well, my young friend" he said.
just as he had said good many times
to a good many little boys. "what can
do for youp"
Then this little boy did another
funny thing. He jumped up and down
and clapped his hands.
why. gran'pa!" he cried, "why,
gran'pa, don't you know me? I'm
Teddy"
Oh, how surprised grandpa did look!
And grandma dropped the little red
mitten she was knitting, she was so
astonished.
"Why, can't believe it," said she.
Teddy had curls and wore skirts the
very last time saw him, and that was
only yesterday.
"Teddy-our Teddy-doesn't wear
pants and jacket like-like a grown-up
boy" said grandpa.
''Oh, but yes | do. now!" Teddy
made haste to explain. "'Causo I'm
not Il baby any more, gram pa; I'm six
I mean. I'll be seven years old my
next birthday after this one. And
papa cut off my hair this morning, and
mamma sent gram'ma curl. though 1
don't think it mounts to much!"
Grandma thought it did, by the low
ing way she opened the tiny tissue
paper parcel which Teddy gave her;
and was almost as sure he saw tear
drop upon the yellow curl within it,
though he couldn't see for his part
what there was to cry about. He
didn't feel one bit like crying, himself
"And this is my new suit" said he,
proudly. My very first pants over
had"
well, we'll" said grandpa, after
turning Teddy around and around. to
view him on every side. Il declare if
it doesn't make me think OF the first
really new suit l ever had"
80 grandpa tell about it," cried
Teddy. eagerly. WAS it like mine?"
mo. not exactly" grandpa an
swered. with a, funny smile; IF re-
member, the pants were longer, and
so was the jacket. And there was
waistcoat, too"
whats a waistcoatp" demanded
Teddy, so much interested that he for
got to be polite. He remembered in a
minute. IF you please. grandpa" he
added.
That's right" said grandpa, ap-
provingly. IA waistcoat is vesv.
Teddy, very much like those mon wear
nowadays. l was older than you are
when l got my new suit think
must have been as much as ten years
old. because | cut all the wood mother
needed to burn in the brick oven that
winter" ......
What's brick oven, If you please,
gram'pa?"
Then grandpa laughed. Il do be-
iieve this is Teddy" said he, if there
had been a doubt of 1t in his mind all
along. "A brick oven, my boy, is a
large oven built in the house just as
the chimney is, of brick or stone, and
the fire to heat it is made in the oven
itself. Ours was built Of stone. though
we always called it the brick oven.
Mother used to heat it two or three
times q week. and had TO work pretty
hard, sometimes, to furnith wood for it.
But when strengthening time
came, in the spring, l had my reward.
One day heard mother say to father:
eel want you to save out ono Of the