The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1890-11-27
THE SURPRISE PARTY.
How "Punkin Hollow" Got It's
Queer Name.

How "Punkin Hollow" Got It's
Queer Name.
1t was . fine morning in early Ooto-
Der, and the Hildreth yard had been
full of children. Now it was deserted,
but the mufled 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 year.
II tell you what let's do-let's get
up something's circus, or race" said
Harry.
"Oh! no." answered Fred, Il think
we had better give a performance"
"Well, Polly and won't 20 one step
to it, will we Polly?'' said Betty, ''be-
cause party is the very best thing to
have, isn't it, Polly?"
Eyes, q party, par,yv' screamed
Polly.
"Pooh! boys don't care about parties"
said Harry.
!. Eyes they do too, sometimes" replied
Betty.
'"Ihey don't"
j, Eyes they do"
And Harry and Fred and Betty began
to look rather excited.
Don't get into a 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 a
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.
Eyes, indeed it would" said Betty.
Il mean real grown-up one. I heard
mamma say before she went that she
had got to have tea party, and get it
of her mind. before Thanksgiving.
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 grown
up look. Eyes, let's have it s'prise
party. too"
II 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
have to be lots here-let's have 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 YETI
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
tera"
"Polly, if you don't stop talking and
let US make out list you shall 20
right straight home this minute" and
as Harry looked decided, Polly kept still
awhile.
''Of course we must invite all the
neighbours" said Betty. ''Your family
would all come, wouldn't they?"
''Why of course" answered Harry,
I'VE are the nearest neighbors of all
we could come right through the corn
house crack"
{ "Well! Harry Andrews, that would be
great" said Polly. II guess we shan't
come. squeezing through that hole, in
all our best clothes l shall wear my
very best sash and shall come round
by the street, and shall 60 right up to
the front door and ring the bell, and /
shall say: Are the ladies at homer {"
and at the thought of all this elegance
Polly began to walk across the ''cob
stairs fl oor with her toes turned out and
''wig-wagging'' her shoulders.
''Po1ly feels proud now, I s'pose,"
said Betty. ''See her wag."
Come back here, Polly, and you may
help plan," and Fred mo7ed along so
Polly could sit beside him, for he was
afraid from Betty's looks that she and
Polly would soon begin to quarrel.
I'VE must ask the minister an old Mrs.
Crump and Captain Jennifer and Mrs
Flutterbucket." n
'She won't bring any thing" put in
Harry.
'Neyer mind" answered Fred, 1--WE
shall have to ask her, and the Gibbons
girls, and Jane Maria Gray and old Miss
Hepsy." .... ......~
For mercy's sake, are you going ia
invite that old cranky thing?" asked
Polly, "she don't like US one BIT, and
she scolds If we so much as look at her
sweet apple tree going by. Iwouldn't
ask her to toaTs party!"
well. Polly" said Betty, when peo'
pie have parties they have to draw 9
line, or else they can't draw one, I don't
know which, but / know they have t.
e" be very particular about it, Is'pose we
must ask Miss Hepsy, but l hope she
won't come"
After awhile they concluded they had
thought Of everybody, and they put on
their hats and raced down stairs and
out into the street and ran from house
to house and invited people. Some
looked = little surprised. for the
!. Hildreths never went to surprise parties
themselves. But the children seemed
very eager about it, so the. invited
guests supposed some one had given
them leave to have such a party.
"But isn't your mamma gone now?'
asked the doctors wife. II =
EYES," replied Fred, '.but this is fol
papa, and they raced of before She
could ask any more questions.
Almost every one said they would
come; even Miss Hepsy, though she did
dislike children so much. Il 'spose you