Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1890-11-27
THE SURPRISE PARTY.
How "Punkin Hollow" Got Its
Queer Name.

1t was a fine morning in early Octo-
Der, and the Hildreth yard had been
full of children. Now it was deserted.
but the muffied 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 dor every year.
II tell you what let's do-lets get
up something's circus, or race" said
Harry.
.'Oh! noe answered Fred, ST think
we had better give performance"
.'Well. Polly and 1 won't 60 one step
to it, will we Polly?" said Betty, ''be-
cause party is the very best thing to
have, isn't it, Polly?"
Yea a party, party1' screamed
Polly.
''Pooh! boys don't care about parties"
said Harry.
.'Yes they do too, sometimes" replied
Betty.
''They 8oA's"
eyes they do"
And Harry and Fred and Betty began
to look Father excited.
Don't got into a broom, don't get
into a BROOM" said little Polly, who had
heard her father soy; Don't get into a
brush over H." when his men were dis
putting over their work.
''Oh! Polly, % BROOM don't get into a
broom!' roared Harry, and the boys
shouting and laughing, rolled over and
over down Che pile of cobs.
AFTER ell o party might be some fun"
said Fred.
Eyes, indeed it would" said Betty.
voaap roal Ona hoard
mamma say before she went that she
had got to have tea party, and get it
off her mind. before Thanksgiving. I
presume 1T 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. eyes, 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 shalA 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 tt
the supper part yet"
'.No, indeed said Fred, 1--WE mus
plan it all out first"
swell, you said some jam yourself
and Y guess { can plan cake and frit
ters"
''Polly, if you don't stop talking and
let us make out list, you shall e.
right straight home this minute" an(
as Harry booked decided, Polly kept still
awhile.
''Of course we must invite all thu
neighbors,r said Betty. ''Your famil.
would alAcome. wouldn't they?"
"Why q course" answered Harry
1--WE are the nearest neighbors of all
we could come right through the corn
house crack"
..Well! Harry Andrews, that would b,
great" said Polly. II guess we shan
come squeezing through that hole, il
all our Best clothes. 1 shall wear NJ,
very best sash and shall come roun,
by the street. and shall go right up t.
the front door and ring the bell, and
shall say: Are the ladies at homer
and at the thought of all this eleganc
Polly began to walk across the ''co
stairs floor with her toes turned out an
s'wig-wagging" her shoulders.
''Polly feels proud now, s'pose,
said Betty. ''See her wag."
Come back here, Polly, and you ma
help PLAN" and Fred moved along 8
Polly could sit beside him, for he wa
afraid from Betty's looks that she an
Polly would soon begin to quarre,
1--WE must ask the minister an old Mr..
Crump and Captain Jennifer and Mr..
Flutterbucket"
''She won't bring any thing" put
Harry.
"Never mind" answered Fred. sw
shall have to ask her, and the Gibbon
girls, and Jane Maria Gray and old Mis-
Hepsy."
For mercy's sake, are you going t
invite that old cranky thing?" aske
Polly, 'she don't like US one bit an
she scolds if we SO much as look at he
sweet apple tree going by. Iwouldn
ask her to t0dTs party!"
well. Polly" said Betty, when pc,
pie have parties they have to draw
line, or else they can't draw one, 1 don
know which, but 1 know thew have
De very particular about it 1 s'pose "
must ask Miss Hepsy. but 1 hope .sh
won't come"
After awhile they concluded thew hs
thought OF everybody. and they put q