The Meeker herald., 1893-01-21
the little girls is Elsie Isn't that a
pretty one? And % mamma, ]

the little girls IL Elsie. Isn't that a
pretty one? And % mamma,
want
"Well?" said mamma smiling.
think she knew pretty well what The
little hy-away Meg was coming to.
81 want to have my 'ception, after
all, and have them to it aud the mon
key. o mamma, can't /? 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 l,
mammal"
What could mamma sayS | 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
bashiul bit, and was quite ready to
make friends with every body.
What n funny little fellow he wasl
Meg declared over and over again
that she didn't believe there WAS ever
any thing halt SO cunning before.
How gracefully he danced when Peter
and Elsie played "Dixiel'
Meg clnpped 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 foI them.
Now Jocko, be gentleman, sir" said
Peter.
And Jacko climbed into chair and
sat down, crossing his legs as grave as
n 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 struttod up and
down the room with it on his shoulder
with n 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 flower on each, and turnovers,
and great deal more beside. ldon'b
believe Peter and Else had ever seen
such n feast before, much less tasted
OF one.
They were so hungryl Meg felt suro
that they hadn't had any thing to
eat before that day. And JoCEl sat
upswith the rest and eat rs much as
any OF them; and what he couldu t
ent he stuffed away under his jacket
which made them all laugh harder
than ever.
And right in the middle OF the fun
the door opeued, and there were Dolly
Ingalls, and Manic 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 n nice treat OF nuts and candy.
"Oh, you're most too Intel cried
Meg. But there's enough, guess.
Oh, isn't this the splendidestl"
So it was, OF course; and OF course
there was enough, too, for every body.
And when dinnor WAS over. Jooko
went through with all his tricks again
and again bsfore the merrisst little
audience he ever had, am sure.
And at last he pulled oil his funny
cap and passed it around grsvely Just
as hs had been taught to do, though
Elsie blushed aud Peter scowled a t
him and said: mo, no, Jockop' a
good many times.
But Uncle Tom laughed and said he
guessed Jocke was a business sort OF
chap; and then he divided hand
full OF loose change among the children
and Jocko passed his cap until he
got every bit.
So Meg's reception was a complete
success, after all The little girls de-
clared they never, never had so good
time before in all their lives.
wPll have another 'ception next
year." said Meg, when her sleepy lit
tie head was laid on its pillow that
night; "and ! do hope Elsie and
Peter'll be to it, and Jocko."
And then she went to sleep and
dreamed that red and blue monkey
was Offering her II turnover in his
cap.-Ada C. II. Stoddard.