The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1892-12-30
MEG'S RECEPTION.
How 1t Prove d a Success Despite
the SnoW-Storm

How 1t Prove d a Success Despite
the SnoW-Storm.
Dear me! how the snow did whirl
down that day, in big feathery flakes
that looked as if it wouldn't take a
great many of them to make pretty
deep drift. And they came so thick
and fast, tool Why, it was as much as
ever that you could see across the
street!
Little Meg Mather, at the window,
could not see across, though her
brown eyes were staring wide open,
and her face was pressed close against
the pane.
But then, Meg's eyes were full of
tears and running over, just as they
had been all the morning. suppose
that made some difference. Poor
Meg!
It was something of a trial, think,
myself, though ofcourse it might have
been great deal worse. That is
what Meg's mamma said, trying to
comfort her little daughter.
"Just think, dear, what If you
hadn't any nice house to live in, and
were out in this dreadful storm! Or
if you were sick, and had to take bit
ter stuff and lie in bed all day! You
must look for the silver lining, dear.
1t isn't nearly as bad as it might
be-"
But Meg couldn't feel sure of that.
It was very hard to find the bright
side of this black, black cloud of dis
appointment, which had spread over
all the New Years day that ought to
have been SO happy. Every thing
was as horrid as it could be, Meg
thought. And then the tears flowed
faster, drop, drop. dropping down on
her cunning ruff1ed apron-a New
Years present from grandma; and the
cloud seemed blacker than ever, and
Meg felt dreadfully miserable, and as
if her heart must break.
II know it will" she sighed. "Oh
dear me! can't stand it one mite
more! Oh dear, dear me!'
Because she had been going to
have New Years reception.
Dolly Ingalls, was invited, and
Mamie Dixon and Louie Porter,
with their dolls on the lower shelf of
the china closet was little store of
good things to eat-tarts and jumbles
and a frosted cake, and some turn
overs of apples and mince. which were
the incest Of any thing. Mary had
kindly made them all just as she did
for the grown-up folks, only smaller,
OF course, on purpose for Meg's recep-
ton. And now-oh dear!
"Louie's mean to have her throat
sore!" walled poor little Meg. "And 1
should think Mamie and Dolly could
come if it did snow!' I would if I
promised-I would! I'd run away.
b'lieve I'd run away. if my mamma did
say couldn't.
Now you know all about it, dom t
you-why there couldn't be any recep-
ton, and all? Louie Porter had sore
throat, and so OF course her coming
was out of the question. And Mamie
Dixon's mamma and Dolly Ingalls,
mamma had sent word very early
that morning that the little girls
couldn't 60 out in storm, so, ii it
should happen to snow
And it did happen to snow, AS if it
never, never meant to stop. And it
kept on showing, though Uncle Tom
said when it begun he didn't believe it
was anything more than a squat.
"But let's don't havea squall inside
as we'll as out" said he chuckling Meg
under her mite of a chin. ''Wipe up
now, and I'll bring you a paper of the
best carmels I can find when 1 come
up to supper"
There was one comfort in all the
grief. But it wasn't q very large one,
because suppertime was long way
of. And so Meg cried and cried, until
her eyes were almost as red as her
cheeks, and mamma thought she
would give up. But she pitied her
little girl, and offered her every crumb
of comfort she could think of.
II don't think it SHOWS quite as
hard as it did," she said, coming
close to the window where Meg sat.
"May be they will come yet, dear,
Harkl What's that?"
Meg listened. The wind whistled
and ratified the widows as if trying
to make all the noise it could, but
through it all Meg's sharp ears
caught the sound of q handorgan. It
was playing Home, Sweet Home"
"Oh myl" cried Meg, forgetting her
tears and trouble for the minute.
20 mamma, where is it? May be
there's q monkey to it."
Mamma smiled, glad to know that
Meg's spirits were on the mending
hand. Shelooked up the street, as far
as she could for the snow. She listen
ed again.
II think" said she, ''it is in our
alley"
"0h," cried Meg, "may go and see,
mammal"
Mamma nodded eyes," and away
Meg rushed. Very soon she was back
again, her hair flying, her face rosy
and smiling.
20 mammal mammal she burst
forth breathlessly, ''thereis monkey
"A beautiful one, mamma, with q red
coat on, and cap, and every thing.
And he'll dance Just as cunningl And
there's = ittlt boy, only not very