The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-05-11
A BROWNIES sTRATAGEM.
BY LENA M'oAULEY.

BY LENA M'CAULEY.
Intense excitement reigned on Perry
Street. The saloon which had been
closed on account of hard times was
rented. Strange wagons unloaded
stranger packages at its doors and even
Peter Berger, the leader of the rough
boys OF the block, could see nothing af-
ter he had climbed the telegraph pole to
gaze through the upper windows. A
mystery was novelty in that neighbor-
hood where the walls we're so thin, the
doors and windows SO loose, that family
secrets were common property. Men
discussed it over their dinner pals and
lest the saloon should return and de-
mand tribute from their scanty purses.
The suspense was broken the morning
before Thanksgiving day, when Kin
dergarten sign with an invitation to
children to Thanksgiving dinner, ap-
peared
The Berger boys lounged before their
window in the next block. The icy wind
was finding its way through the broken
glass and five year-old Bob and baby
Tim had crept under the quilt which
was tucked around crippled Johnnies
knees and overcome by the chilly dis
comfort had fallen asleep. Pm not
goin' to school this afternoon" said
Peter the eldest. "Thanksgivin' is all
they're talkin' about. And what's you
and me got to be thankful fer, Johnnie,
now that mothers dead?"
I'm thankful the cable took only my
feet, Pete" said Johnnie. what would
the young ones do when you are at
school, if wasn't here?"
"That's so Johnnie, but you should
just see those fellers at school, takin'
things to the kindergarten to give
to folks that haven't any. Every
Teller was to bring one potato-and there
were barrels of them-carrots and po-
tatoes and apples, l got nothin' to be
thankful fer"
Mrs. Schmitt says | got one friend,
Pete" returned Johnnie" Its one of them
girls that brings things to thesi baby.
She says they're Brownie girls and one
OF 'em sent me this flower and his little
thin hand pulled from under the quilt a
crushed flower that he had tucked away
from the cold.
Il don't want no Brownie girls" said
Pete. you and me can take care of the
kids. They don't want no kindergarten
and you keep the door locked so folks
can't get in. There they are now"
Across the street walked the girls in
earnest consultation.
"Since our kindergarten opens to-
night" Alice was saying, II would be
perfectly happy if that Berger family
was reached. Peter leads all the boys
around here. and not one will come out
to our dinner unless Peter Does"
yes, it's Peters fault" returned Mar
gle. Johnnie saves all the flowers Elsie
sends him, but it is SO cruel of Peter to
keep the door locked and tell us through
the key hole, he dosen't want girls for
friends"
at is shame" cried Kitty. Here's
that turkey and just the things boys
like, left in our baskets"
81 don't see how we can manage"
said Alice, ''unless we get Peter to do us
favor first and then we can pretend to
thank him. o, dear. how slippery it is
be careful Kitty, there's that slide down
to the steps before the Bergers' house,
and" Il have it. have it," cried Elsie.
What, what?" answered the chorus.
"It's my secret" replied she. II shall
enter the Berger fortress by stratagem."
Peter and Johnnie watched the girls
cross the street.
"Here they come" said Peter, "How
I'd laugh to see them get on my slide
and tumble down the steps,
AS if in answer to his wish the pref
test girl of all stepped on the treacher-
Gus slide. She wavered, lost her balance,
rolled over and over down the steps land
ing head foremost in the snow-bank by
Peters door.
Peter burst into loud laugh, which
was checked by Johnnie's cry of dismay,
"Oh the girl that brought me my flower,
she's killed, she's killed." Even Tim
and Bob, Just awakened, joined in the
cutlery.
Peter, either moved by his own fears
or Johnnie's grief, rushed out and for
getting his luminosity lent his strong arm
to carry the forlorn little Elsie into the
house. AS the anxious girls were bend
ing over her they saw the mischievous
eyes open, and heard whisper. my
stratagem; do your best, girls"
Alice quickly turned calm face to
Peter and said. 1--WE will stay here awhile,
Peter, and let Elsie rest"