The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1892-12-30

little, you know, and girl that's
hitler than he is that makes the
jingly noise, when the boy grinds on
the organ. And it's q real little cum
ming organ, and plays lots of things,
and they went in there to keep out Of
the snow some, and they've been
there ever'n ever so long. And they
both of 'em bowed and said Happy
New Year. real p'lite, when they saw
me, and the monkey did, too, bowed,
you know cummings could be. and
low down, and his cap'tunbled off and
he put it on again. And the boy said
his names Jocko, the monkeys isyou
know, and his very own is Peter, and
the little girls is Elsie. Isn't that a
pretty one? And 20 mamma, I
"Wellf" said mamma, smiling. l
I think she knew pretty well what the
little fly-away Meg was coming to.
81 want to have my 'ception, after
all, and have them to it and the mon
key. 0 mamma, can't I? cause /
just the same's know they haven't
had any thing to eat to-day, not so
nice, any way; and I'm sure they're
real good. behaved. And it's New
Years, you know, and oh, can't I,
mammal"
What could mamma say? I don't
believe she would have said anything
but yes for the world.
So Peter and Elsie came in, hanging
back little bashfully, as was quite
natural, but looking very pleased and
happy for all that And close behind
them came Jocko, who didn't seem
bashful bit, and was quite ready to
make friends with every body.
What funny little fellow he was!
Meg declared over and over again
that she didn't believe there was ever
any thing half so cunning before.
How gracefully he danced when Peter
and Elsie played 'Dixiev'
Meg clapped her hands until they
were red and smarting, and laughed
until her sides ached and Elsie and
Peter laughed. too, and their black
eyes shown with pleasure though it
was nothing new for them.
"Now Jocko, be gentleman, sir" said
Peter.
And Jacko climbed into chair and
sat down, crossing his legs as grave as
a Judge, and holding the paper which
Peter handed him upside down before
his funny nose. Meg fairly screamed
with laughter, and mamma had to
join in, too.
"Jocko, be soldier now, sir" said
Peter.
Whereupon Jocko took his little
wooden gun and strutted up and
down the room with it on his shoulder
with very soldiery step indeed.
And by the time this was done,
Meg had set the table in the best of
style, and lunch was ready-the little
tarts and jumbles and frosted cakes
with a flower on each, and turnovers,
and q great deal more beside. Idon't
believe Peter and Else had ever seen
such feast before, much less tasted
of one.
They were so hungry! Meg felt sure
that they hadn't had any thing to
eat before that day. And Jocko sat
upswith the rest and eat as much as
any OF them; and what he couldn't
eat he stuffed away under his jacket
which made them all laugh harder
than ever.
And right in the middle of the fun
the door opened, and there were Dolly
Ingalls, and Mamie Dixon and Louis
Porter, whose throat wasn't so sore
but what her mamma could bundle
her up and let her come in the sleigh
with Uncle Tom and Mamie and Dolly
and a nice treat of nuts and candy.
"Oh, you're most too late" cried
Meg. "But there's enough, l guess.
Oh, isn't this the splendidest!"
So it was, of course; and of course
there was enough, too, for every body.
And when dinner was over, Jocko
went through with all his tricks again
and again before the merriest little
audience he ever had, I am sure.
And at last he pulled off his funny
cap and passed it around gravely just
as he had been taught to do, though
Elsie blushed and Peter scowled at
him and said: ''No, no, Jocko" a
good many times.
But Uncle Tom laughed and said he
guessed Jocko was business sort OF
a chap; and then he divided a hand
full OF loose change among the children
and Jocko passed his cap until he
got every bit.
So Meg's reception was complete
success, after all. The little girls de-
clared they never, never had so good
time before in all their lives.
"I'll have another 'ception next
year." said Meg, when her sleepy lit
tie head was laid on it's pillow that
night; "and I do hope Elsie and
Peter'll be to it, and Jocko."
And then she went to sleep and
dreamed that a red and blue monkey
was Offering her q turnover in his
cap.-Ada c. III. Stoddard.
BINDING A SHARK
How Diver Dodged a Shark by
Means Of a Mud Bath.