The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1890-11-29
THE SURPRISE PARTY.
How "Punkin Hollow" Got Its
Queer Name.


Queer Name.
It was a fine morning in early Octo-
ber, and the Hildreth yard had been
full of children. Now it was deserted
but the muffled 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
mp something-a circus, or race" said
Harry.
41Oh! no." answered Fred, 81 think
we had better give performance"
'sWell, Polly and l won't go one step
TO it, will we Polly?' said Betty, "be-
cause party is the very best thing to
have, isn't it, Polly?"
Eyes, a party, a partyP' screamed
Polly.
Pooh! boys don't care about parties"
said Harry
''Yes they do too, sometimes" replied
Betty.
''They don't"
''Yes 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.
%Ohl 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.
..Yes, indeed it would" said Betty.
81 mean a real grown-up one. | heard
mamma say before she went that she
had got to have a tea party, and get it
off her mind, before Thanksgiving.
presume it would be a relief to her if
we had it during her absience."
And Betty, who was fond of using
long words, leaned back in the old, one
armed rocking-chair with quite grown
mp look. ''Yes, let's have it a 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.
.sWhom shall we invite, that's the
next question:" said Fred; 'therell
have to be lots here-let's have regu-
7ae jam and"
''Oh, yes, do, raspberry jam and cocoa
mat cake and fritters," began Polly, who
Esas fond of these things.
-'Oh Polly, do stop, we haven't got to
the supper part yet"
mo, indeed" said Fred, 1--WE must
plan it all out first"
E'Well, you said some jam yourself,
and guess 1 can plan cake and frit-
csers."
Polly, if you don't stop talking and
let us make out list, you shall go
right straight home this minute" and
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,
a@we 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
come squeezing through that hole, in
all our best clothes. / shall wear my
very best sash and i 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 homer "
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.
''Poily feels proud now, / s'pose,"
said Betty. ''See her wag."
.sCop,a baaG bopa Dolly md ,,o, ,oo., |
help plan" and Fred moved along SO |
Polly could sit beside him, for he was
afraid from Betty's looks that she and |
Polly would soon begin to quarrel.
1--WE must ask the minister an old Mrs.
sCrump and Captain Jennifer and Mrs
Flutterbucket
''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"
''tor mercy's sake, are you going to
Invite that old cranky thing?" asked
Polly, "she don't like US one ba, and
she scolds IL we 30 much as look at her
sweet apple tree going by Iwouldn't
ask her to toad'S partyp
"Well. Polly" said Betty, "when peo-
pie have parties they nave TO draw a
line, or else they emit draw one, don't
know which, but know they have to
be very particular about 1t. s'pose we
saun ask Miss Hepsy, but / hope she
wont come"
After awhile thoy concluded they had
Of everybody. and they put on