The news & observer., 1897-12-19

really. Sle was trying to decide what
things she was to get for the children's
Christmas. The decorati tions for the
tree-,of course-'those were easy enough
but the toys. They puzzled her, baffled
her strangely. She couldn't seem to re-
member
They've been gone so long, the chill
dren have" she muIInured. wistfully
That's why, but | should think I'd
remember. / should think I'd know
what Elsie'd like, and the Grille twins
and little Peck O'Mischief.-I don't
see why I'm so stupid l can't remem-
ber-I can't decide. o, dear"
Roxy, the children's nurse, came into
the room on an errand-or was it to
make sure the children's mother was
quite safe?
Roxy" the children's mother said,
abruptly, "did you ever have any little
sisters and brothers?'
Me, mem? / had a little brother
once, but he di-he went away when
he was a baby" the girl answered
quietly.
''Oh! Then you can't help me. l
thought you might be able to remember"
Marjorie began her restless rocking
again, with a little sigh of .disappoint-
ment. Then her eyes fell once more on
the little red-mittened band outside.
They were just putting on the snow
mans head. The oldest girl was hold
ing the baby up to do it. Mechanically
the pale woman at the window counted
little cold blue noses. why" she
cried SOY, "why, Roxy,"-but Roxy
was gone-"there are four of them!
There are just four and-why, they are
almost the same sizes, too! One, two,
three-three of them girls and the little
ones a boy"
She sat up, mildly excited. Little red
spots blossomed out in her white
cheeks. Just four and just-almost-
the same sizes! Then she had an in
spiration.
30, yes, they'd know" she cried.
"They'd know everythingr'
She raised the window a little way
and called down to them in her clear,
sweet voice that carried" distinctly.
''Little children! Little girl-you old
est one! Won't you please come over
here and see me a little while? | want
to ask you something"
The children stopped their play and
looked at each other with round, as
tonished eyes.
80, myr" said Nip, excitedly.
30, myp' said Tuck.
Nip and Tuck always said the same
things.
LETS go tell MOTHER advised Ann
| Sophy wisely. "Ill ask my mother,
| ma'am," she called up to the eager face
at the window.
''Mother, mother" they all chorused,
'the Queer Lady wants us to go over
| there an see her-she called us out o.
the winder, honest she did! She wants
| to ask us somethin'."
"Yes," Ann Sophy recapitulated with
slow emphasis, "honest"
"Well, of all thingsp' calculated Mrs.
| Cooper in amazement, 81 declare! Well.
I 'spose you'll go. She's harmless and
they say she has to be humored. But
you've got to clean up. Ann Sophy, you
scrub the baby's face. Nip, you braid
Tucky's hair over again-smooth, mind
you, and you may tie her best ribbon on,
| Hurry"
After a good deal Of hurrying and
| smoothing down and washing up, the
small Coopers went, i'm solemn little
procession, to the Queer Lady's.
She was waiting at the front door.
"Come right in" she said eagerly,
"and you'd better take off your things"
so, no-m," Ann Sophy cried hurriedly.
"We couldn't. We only had time to
clean up Outside-keep your mittens
on" she whispered in shrill aside to
Nip and Tuck.
Mrs. Graham pointed to chairs, but
Ann Sophy arranged them in straight
line, side by side, before they sat down.
Then she seated them gravely, accord
ing to sizes, herself at the head and the
baby at the foot. They sat up primly
and folded all their gay little mittens on
their little shabby laps. The baby's
stout, abbreviated legs stretched straight
out before him, and barely reached the
chairs edge.
"Now, ma'amw Ann Sophy said, ex-
pectantly, taking a last sidewise view
Of her line Of parade.