Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1893-07-07

VI July "AAA hO AhOAV w iuV IMAM oAAy
other day, and late crowds. I'd a
heap rather stay peaceably to hum.
But you can go if you like.
But whatll you do for your din
ner?"
'You can bile up lot o rice and
I'll eat rice an milk. -"
Mrs. Gribbage's life was one of
monotony, and the prospect of little
Fourth of July festivity appealed pow
erfully to her torpid nature.
So she ironed out her bonnetstrings,
shook the crease from her best bomba-
zine gown, boiled a tin pipkin Of
snowy-white rice, and left saucer of
the ripest red strawberries on the pan
try shelf.
Hes pretty stiff to stoop down
much," said she, and p'raps he
wouldn't think to gather EN- himself; ;
and, anyhow, they'll be sort of a
relish.
And early in the morning, before the
sun had blazed above maple tree-tops,
she started off for the hospitable man
sion of Mrs. Philander Jenkins, in the
village near by, with all child's joy
Gus anticipation of a days pleasuring.
She had hardly been gone an hour
when there came a soft tapping at the
front door-so soft that it had to be
repeated twice before it attracted the
attention of the old farmer, who was
nodding over the Weekly Palladium,
by the shady kitchen window.
"Eh?" said he, starting up. Come
in"
On this invitation, the door opened
and two small fgures-respectfully
those of boy and a girl-trotted in,
holding by one another hands.
please, we're Tom and Nelly, said
the taller, a mite of seven years old
from Mrs. Emory's-and she and
Matty have gone away for all day, and
couldn't take us, and Mrs. Emory says,
please may we stay here until night?
And please, producing a small news
paper parcel, "we've got our dinner
wrapped up here, and we won't make
no trouble -
"B-but, falteredthe girl, haxen-
haired doll baby whose coarse little
shoes we're all powdered with the dust
of the road, 81 want a drink! 70
"Sh-sh! Nelly, comforted the boy,
III get You some if Mr.. Gribbege
will show me where the well IS. -
4 want some 'trawberries - per
sisted the child, suddenly catching a
glimpse of the saucer Of big scarlet
berries hat Mrs Gribbage had gathered
that morning.
"Nelly, hush :" reproved the boy.
Remember, We sn'ttoask for things
Farmer Gribbage burst into great
laugh.
Come here, little gal, said he,
"and give me q kiss Don't fret, little
bov-vou shall both nave some straw
berries
tie reached the saucer down, de
lueed its contents with sugar and
cream. and supplied two thin silver
spoons, wherewith the small creatures
eagerly devoured the treasures, while
Mr. Gribbage looked on, with strange
sensation of satisfaction.
Very small they were, with fair, sun
blcached hair and blue, smiling eyes.
Their clothes were plain and much
mcnded, but there were dimples in
their cheeks and they looked shyly up
at him as they ate
Pears like [ was dreamin', said
Gribbage to himself. "Ihere hain't
Leen a child in this house for fve-and-
twenty wears before. Yes, children,
you can play around if ye like
eve won't make any noise, sir, -
said Tom.
Mr.. Gribbage stopped to pat his
head; the silky touch of the tight
curled yellow hair sent sort of mag
netic thrill to his very finger ends.
That's the way they play, is it?'
thought he. "Well, it sort o brightens
the old house up. Graciousl l guess
the old pussy cat thinks the millennium
hes comel Now they're lookin' at the
pictur's in the almanac. 1 wonder if
there amt no picter-papers up garret?
The boys the prettiest of the two no,
he aint-the gal is. Now they're gone
dancin' out to the well. Pretty little
creeters, so they be. wonder what
Hammer would say if she could see
EN-? Hammers dreadfully fond Of chill
dren.
Just then the small, thrill voice of
the girl, not unlike the piping note of
bird, sounded from beneath the great
sycamore tree by the well
Tom, do you pose if we climbed
this tree we could see the Fourth O
July procession at Middleville? /
never saw a Fourth o July possession,
Tom -
''Bv lingo. vou shall - cried Farmer