Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1890-11-27

very eager about it, SO the invited
guests supposed some one had given
them leave to have such party.
But isn't your mamma gone now?"
asked the doctors wife.
eyes," replied Fred, "but this is for
papa" and they raced off before she
could ask any more questions.
Almost every one said they would
come; even Miss Hepsy. though she did
dislike children so much. 81 'spose you
expect folks to bring something, don't
you?'' and Miss Hepsy shut up one eye
and looked at them sharply with the
other.
"Why, it's surprise party" said Bet
ty, 'and we've never been to one, papa
doesn't know much --''
mo, I presume to say he don't, ="
snapped Miss Hepsy; ST never saw any
Of the family who debut I'll come"
and she stepped back and shut the door
hard.
''Therer' said Polly. 81 guess we
didn't draw the right line after all 1
don't believe, Betty Hildreth, your
mamma ever would have invited such
hateful squint-eyed old thing as she is,
and 1 told you So"
At last every one was invited. It had
occurred to the children that this party
would be fine way to celebrate their
fathers birthday, for he would be forty
tomorrow. Their mother had felt sorry
to be gone at this time, but this would
be a beautiful way to surprise him.
They said nothing of their plan to
Miss Nancy, distant relative who was
staying with them. But they coaxed
Jane to make a nice cocoanut cake and
sponge cake with a hole in the middle
OF it, and she promised them rolls and
large plate of gooseberry tarts.
ooh! it will be fine, won't it?" said
Betty.
81 hope So" replied Fred, who already
began to feel some misgivings.
The next day was warm and bright,
and the children had busy time, for
they were making jack O. lanterns
with which to decorate the yard. ''Of
course we must have it gay" said Polly,
so they worked and cut and scraped
away on the pumpkins till their hands
were nearly blistered- They did this
work out behind the new shed under an
apple tree. BY afternoon an enormous
pile of seeds lay on the ground and the
grinning jack O lanterns were set up in
a row to wait till the evening festivities
began. The little girls were much
pleased at the great quantities of pump
kins. "Why, boys, where dad you get
so many? We didn't know there were
SO many in the pasture-lot," they cried.
''Never mind where they came from
boys can always find pumpkins" said
Fred and Harry, as they came hurrying
| along, trundling the wheel-barrow
| piled high with the shining yellow
balls. ''I don't believe we had better
| find any more, though" said Harry, in
low tone, cor the old dame will catch
! US surely. I saw her old sun-bonnet
come flying out of the shed just as got
over the fence" At last the lanterns
were done and the children waited for
evening to come and the party to begin.
| It grew dark early and the shades
were all drawn and Mr.. Hildreth sat
reading the paper and Miss Nancy, who
was hard of hearing, sat knitting on a
dark-blue sock. The children slipped
out and with the help of Hiram, the
hired man, who was let into the secret
they lighted those gorgeous jack
o'lanterns! There were eighty in all
set about all over the yard, wherever a
post could be put firmly to hold one,
and forty seed cucumbers adorned the
front fence. stuck in between the pick
| cts. The children thought they never
had seen such beautiful decorations be.
fore.
At seven o'clock the bell began tc
ring and the guests began to arrive
They came by twos and threes and fin
ally by skies and sevens. Mr.. Hill
dreth greeted them with politeness, bu
after awhile no words could express hi:
establishment Betty and Fred were
dancing about. and Polly and Harry
were capering through the rooms will
delight. Mr.. Hildreth began to feel a!
if the very foundations of his house
were being torn up; he had pulled up
curtain and looked out; and seen tn,
jack o'lanterns and then he felt as il
he were suddenly growing crazy. Ht
stormed out into the dining-room.
"Nancy! Nancy" he called, ''wher'
are you, Nancy? why don't you come ant
help me receive these idiots, Ndncy"'
"Wel1 I amt deeJ," replied Mis-
Nancy, slowly, as she came out from he
bedroom where she had slipped away t.
change her cap; and they went back t.
the parlor and Mr.. Hildreth made u
his mind that it was y party and b.
had got to be in it. And the peopl
kept coming, bringing plates and bas
kets, while Jane was going round an
round the kitchen, declaring that sh
was distracted and that everybody y
dishes were getting mixed up.
The two Misses Brownlow came in
bringing fligree basket filled wit
tissue paper, and nine little cakes, witt
very crispy edges and very thin frost
: ing. Dear Mr.. Hildreth," they said
1--WE are so glad to come and celebrat
your natal day." and they held out the
little fligree basket, and Miss Euphe
mia crooked her little finger out owe
l the handle. as she said: "Not NOR
7 than the MUSES. nor less than the Graces
you see."
And then Mr.. Hildreth felt certai
l that he was going mad. And the Brown
lows tiptoed across the room and 81
3 down just as Miss Hepsy came in.
D 81 did intend to bring good-size
I pumpkin pie with me-" was her first II
mark, "but was prevented by circun
stances"
And at this Captain Jennifer, who we
= playing cribbage with Miss Flute
o bucket, laughed so hard that he shoe
s all the pins out of the board and the
had to begin over again.