The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-06-21
Mar,oris's Surprise Party.
BY A. w. B.

Weekly.
Marjorie's Surprise Party.
BY A. w. B.
Clear in the soft, warm sunshine,
the Easter chimes were ringing. 1t
was little Marjorie Deans birthday,
and she had come to pass few days
with her grandparents at their country
place.
Like all good little girls, Marjorie
went to church with her grandmother,
for the child took much pleasure in
listening to the choir boys sing; but
the greatest delight of all was march
ing with the other little children up to
the chancel, where each child received
an Easter plant to carry home.
Being Sunday, Marjorie's birthday
could not be celebrated until the fol-
lowing day; and Mrs. Dean, not wish
ing the child to be disappointed, prom
Used her that Martha the old cook.
should bake large birthday cake on
the morrow This was enough for the
little girls happiness, and she ran OF
to find Martha and to plan for the
beautiful cake.
Monday morning came, and with 1t
the warm. bright sun peeping mat
Marjorie's window After breakfast the
child ran out to find James in the barn,
for she knew the cows were to be
milked,and nothing delighted her more
than to look on. Sometimes, when the
cows would switch their tails across
James face, he would pretend to be
very cross, just to hear the little,
missiles" happy laughter.
That afternoon Mr.. Dean told his
granddaughter there were some new
nests in the barn. and as grandma
was In need of some eggs, he suggest
ed that Marjorie should amuse herself.
hunting the nests. The old gentle
mans suggestion seemed to please the
child immensely, SO, hand in hand, they
started for the barn, happy in each
others company.
Marjorie hunted about, peeping into
all the hooks and corners of the loft
until she found almost enough eggs
to fill her apron. AS she was leaving
the barn, she spied an old sleigh by
the door. ooh. look, grandpa" cried
she, would find any; eggs there?..
But Mr.. Dean was outside talking with
James and did not hear the question.
So Marjorie stepped upon the runner
and was about to peer under the seat
when out few old Buffy. the mother
hen. and for an instant startled the
child so she almost dropped the cor
ners Of her apron. She looked into the
sleigh and to her Joy found nest con-
tanning three large, warm eggs. After
putting them in her apron, she ran to
find her grandfather, to tell him Of old
Buffy's flight and the discovery OF the
eggs.
Then they returned to the house
When Marjorie had deposited the pre-
cious eggs In Martha's care, grandma
called her to dress for tea. At S o'clock
she was ready in her clean white frock
and started downstairs to find her
To her establishment. in
the hall stood nine little girls, all in
their crisp, fresh gowns, looking very
much like 9 party, thought Marjorie.
Its a surprise, a big surprised" cried
they all in chorus. Just then grandma
appeared at; the door of the dining
room to find 10 of the happiest little
faces one could wish to see. She led
them into the rom, and there, on the
tea to Die. was. the promised birthday
cake. It was frosted in white and pink,
with nine pink tapers burning bright
" in the center. The children, over
toyed at such sight, clapped their
hands. and soon the room was filed
with their happy voices.
Tea being over, Mr.. Dean took the !
little ones to his study, where he and
his wife had prepared surprise for
ALL From chairs to sofa, tables to
book shelves. windows to stove. were
stretched strings of all colors. Mar
lorie was the nrst to ask "Why,grand-
pa what are all these strings It looks !
lust Ike large spiders web"
Well. Marjorie. you are nearly right.
Tor i is called q Cobweb Party" re.
Piled Mr.. Dean, as he gave I string to |
zach little girl. And now you must
keep winding until the ends are
!"
Such excitement prevailed for the
next few minutes that Mr. and Mrs
Dean were kept busy -disentangling the
webs On went the children from one
md Of the room to the other, around
he chairs, under the tables, over the
'ofa, until at last the strings ended and
shouts OF joy went up as each child
'olnd tied to her s tring a little
yreen basket holding a brightly coli
bred! egE
Marjorie had not finished; her web
'eemed longer than the others. but
inaily the string led her to the stove. i
vhere the hre was burning bringhtly.
nddenly the child uttered little
cream. and bending by the side OF the
toye. cried out:
Oh! grandma, grandpa. come quick
Z and see! real live chicken.
4 hey 81; ran 20 where Marjorie was
q ne Moor and saw 70 thsir