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

/ out ana maue hh H"StO W 'H0 A-'
group.
"Daniel. said she, "what has hap
pened? What children are these?
How came YOU here with emp
why" he answered, showing ell
his yellow teeth in one broad smile,
"thev're them young une from Mrs
Emory'sl The cutest children you eve
seeni"
"Bless their little hearts, ~ said
Idrs. Gribbage, her pale blue eyes wat
ering.
"And l say, Hammer, " hesitated the
old farmer, They've only had a snack
O. cold stuff for dinner. Don't you
s'pose you could come back with MS
and cook MS somethin' real good for
supper? Hot flannel cakes now, OF
corn fritters or wafles?'
"Whv. of course 1 could ! said Mrs.
Gribbace. "And 1 will What's your
name, little boy? Will you kiss me-
Little Tom promptly kissed the
guardian angel, who was supposed to
be capable of flannel cakes and corn
fritters. and Nelly completed the con
quest by putting up her own cherry
lips for similar caress.
my" cried the old woman; "aint
they darlin's?"
They just be-" said Daniel CRIB
bage.
Not until the supper-a stupendous
effortof fried chicken, hot cakes and
honev-was over and the little ones
were frolicking on the door stone with
the cat. did Gribbage speak out all that
was in his heart.
"Hanner!' said he, after little
hesitation.
Eyes, Daniel"
She laid aside her knitting work. 1t
was getting too dark to see without a
lamp.
"Them children hain't neither fathe-
nor mother. They told me So
Il know it, Dapnel Mis- Emory
said so last week.
Pretty tough on EN-, amt it, Han
ner?7
Eyes, Dannel-yes, said the old
woman. "The Lord have mercy on
all fatherless an motherlss children -
"Wen Hammer, ! was thinkin'-
Suppose we keep en-
What" Ms. Gribboge could
scarcely believe her ears. "Do YOU
mean for good and all?'
He nodded resolutely. Just then
Mrs Emory herself came up the path
We like it here, Aunty Emory,
SAID Nelly.
we want to stay all night ~ cned
Tom. There's a gray pony here, and
peacock, and two guinea hens.
So that it was some time before the
Gribbages could explain their new
ideas 10 Mrs. Emory.
"But." " faltered poor Mrs. Gribbage,
ri were really to have children here
and the darlings are as welcome as
flowers in May-I-I would like to make
room for poor Nancy's little ones
too
She looked almost apprehensiyely et
her husband.
eyes, he said, drawing the back Of
his hand across his eyes, 81 was a.
thinkin' 50 myself Write to the
people out West, Hammer. Tell 'em
to send Nancy's orphans, too. 1t sort
o. seems as if one child made way for
another Wen have the old house
bright ag'inl'
"Dont you know" cried Mrs.
Emory, clasping her hands and look
ing from Gribbage to his wife. "Have
you never suspected--'
Mrs. Gribbage uttered a cry as she
clasped little Nelly to her breast.
'Its Nancy's baby" she cried.
Tom, come here TO grandma! !
Danncl, them children are our own
flesh and blood -
There was the trace of tears on Mrs.
Emory's kindly cheek as she went
homo to Matty Dorrance that even
ing.
"It's all right" cried Matty,
joyously. "Oh, I can see in your face,
Aunt Phebe, that it's all right
"My little plot has succeeded,
Matty," said Mrs Emory, "and l
don't know which is the happier-thc
old people or the children.
Matty danced rapturously about the
floor.
"Stopl" she cried. "There's one
pack of fire-crackers left of those that
little Peter Popham was blazing off on
the doorstep tonight, l picked it up,
and now I'll celebrate with it. Stand
back, Aunt Phebel There they GO
Hurrah, hurrah, hurrah for the Fourth
of July Saturday Night.