The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1890-11-28
THE SURPRISE PARTY.
How "Punkin Hollow" Got It's
Queer Name.

1t was fine morning in early Octo-
Der, and the Hildreth yard had been
full of children. Now it was deserted,
but the mutfled sound of hammer com
ing from the "cob stairs" told where
they had gone. Crack, crack, went the
butternuts, yet the pile on the corner
never seemed to get low, though SO
much cracking was done every yeah.
II tell you what let's do-let's get
up something's circus, or race" said
Harry.
"Oh! no. answered Fred, 81 think
we had better give performance.
well, Polly and l won't go one step
to it, will we Polly?" said Betty, be
cause a party is the very best thing to
have, isn't it, Polly?"
''Yes, party, a party"' screamed
Polly.
Pooh! boys don't care about parties"
said Harry.
Eyes they do too, sometimes" replied
Betty.
They don't"
Eyes they do"
And Harry and Fred and Betty began
to look rather excited.
Don't get into broom, don't get
into broom," said little Polly, who had
heard her father say; Don't get into
brush over it," when his men were dis
putting over their work.
"Oh! Polly, "a BROOM don't get into
broom!" roared Harry, and the boys,
shouting and laughing, rolled over and
over down the pile of cobs.
after all party might be some fun,"
said Fred.
YES indeed it would said Betty.
81 mean a real grown-up one. l heard
mamma say before she went that she
had got to have tea party, and get it
off her mind, before Thanksgiving. l
presume it would be relief to her if
we had it during her absence"
And Betty, who was fond of using
long words, leaned back in the old, one
armed rocking-chair with quite a grown
up look. "Yes, let's have it s'prise
party, too"
81 say, Fred, that would be jolly"
and Harry came and sat down by the
block and began to crack again.
"Whom shall We invite, that's the
next question: said Fred; ''there'll
have to be lots here-let's have a regu-
lar jam and :"
"Oh, yes, do, raspberry jam and cocoa
nut cake and fritters, began Polly, who
was fond of these things
"Oh Polly, do stop, we haven't got to
the supper part yet"
mo, indeed" said Fred, I'VE must
plan it all out first"
''Well, you said some jam yourself,
and guess l can plan cake and fritz
ters."
Polly, if you don't stop talking and
let us make out a list, you shall go
as Harry looked decided, Polly kept still
awhile.
''Of course we must invite all the
neighbors," said Betty. your family
would all come, wouldn't they?"
"Why of course" answered Harry,
tive are the nearest neighbors of all
we could come right through the corn
house crack"
"Well! Harry Andrews, that would be
great" said Polly. 81 guess we shan't
como squeezing through that hole, in
all our best clothes. shall wear my
very best sash and shall come round
by the street, and shall go right up to
the front door and ring the bell, and
shall say: Are the ladies at home?
and at the thought of all this elegance
Polly began to walk across the ''cob
Stairs floor with her toes turned out and
''wig-wagging" her shoulders.
Polly feels proud now, I s'pose,
gaid Betty. See her wag."
Come back here, Polly, and you may
hOlp PLAN and Fred moved along so
Polly could sit beside him, for he was
afraid from Betty's locks that she and
Polly would soon begin to quarrel.
1--WE II ast ask the minister an old Mrs.
Crump snd Captain Jennifer and Mrs.
EiGtterpucket"
She won't bring any thing" put in
Harry.
Never mind" answered Fred, we
shall have to ask her, and the Gibbons