The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1900-04-13

1 Y WAS "A radiant March mornin".
i the ground all mantled with new
fallen snow, the sparrows clamoring
Mt the window ledge for crumbs, like
bold little beggars as they were, and
the sky bluer than the blucst ribbons
on little Phillis' winter bonnet. And
the children all looked at each other
as they scrambled out of bed.
One thought was in all their minds.
This was the day upon which Uncle
Eric sailed, with his vessel, for the Bcr-
muda islands.
81 wish to goodness | was going with
him. said Nathan. I'D like to be a
sailor and pipe all hands on deck, and
climb up the rigging when the sea was
mountains high
POOH said Sam. contemptuously,
you'd take to your heels if anyone
threw u washboiler full of water on the
deck"
But he had to jump pretty nimb'y to
get out of the way of the wash basin
full of CASTLE soapsuds. which Nathan
flung at him, in reply to this haunting
speech.
Hes going TO the summer land"
sighed little Phillis, where there is no
snow nor ice, and where dear little
brides don't starve to death. / wish /
could 60"
That's where the new potatoes and
the asparagus come FROM" said Patty.
And the nice Strawberries, before ours
in the garden have even begun to bios
SOM"
Patty thinks of nothing but things
to eat and drink" said Sam, ironically.
81 do, tool" said Patty, wrathfully.
81 can say my French verbs a deal bet
ter than you can And Uncle Eric is go
ing to bring me home n talking parrot
from the Bermudas, when he comes
back"
"Ilumph!" said Sam. 81 should think
sou were parrot enough for the whole
family
Sam was certainly very disagree.
able BOY. lie was always teasing and
tormeating the other children.
just chen n voice called up the stair
way to them.
" ONE. children, are YOU never COM
ing downstairs? Breakfast is smoking
hot on the table. And here are four
little farewell gifts which Uncle Eric
sent over for YOU last night, after you
had gone to bed
This piece of news had the effect of
Fastening the ,oilets Of the four little
people in a truly astonishing degree.
And presently the" tumbled down
STARS, one after the other like four
uIruly kittens, into the breakfast
room.
What is it, mothcr?" cried PHF4s
LET me see it, said Patty.
I'm the Oldest" bawlcd sam.
But Nathan Tipped him deity up.
and loaping over his PROSTATE form
got to his mothers side first. lcayino
the champion sprawing like an inn.
mense beetle on the carpet.
give MS look at it. mother" said
Nathan, hugging his mother around
the neck.
Not look for one Of you" the
mother firmly answered. until You
bave eaten your breakfasts"
From this decision there was no an.
peal; so the children sat down. re.
luctantIy enough TO their milk and
water, oatmeal porridge and broiled
ham and eggs, And when even little
Phillis the slowcst of the family. had
finished her meal, and folded up her
napkin and put il into its ring, Mrs.
Buddington opened mysterious-looh-
ing package, and gave Nathan a little
paper-boX which happened to lie on
the top
For n Buddington, she read.
reading the label before she handed il
to him, "'With Uncle Eric's love-"
"llo, ho!" cried the little lad. joy
fully; tits Uncle Eric's silver fruit
knife, with E, b. engraved on the
blade in jolly Old English letters, and
little sharp spike for nutpiclS"
For Phillis Buddington, said the
mother,
And Phillis' eyes sparkled at the
sight of a pretty little clock, about
the size of silver dollar, which she
had many a time admired on Uncle
Eric's study table.
sand | think this must have been
given to you to teach you to be a
more punctual little girl"
"oh, oh-how beauti1ul" cried