The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1901-09-06
A LESSON IN PING PONG.

ISL I the weather AWFUL! Sd1u AAoAsASr+
1T is. rather" l admitted. l was.
nearly wet through. :. q
Il couldn't get fly or anything at the
station, so had to walk continued;
II suppose you're bit damp sue.
Just a trifle:" My hat had made a
She turned to me quickly. =
ION. I'm dreadfully, bored" she sa'd'
Il thought started, that Mr.. .-.--,'
and l was going to recount the VISITORS
at the house.
She stopped me.
II know what you are going to say.
But they don't cou:::. They won't play. =
PLAY what?" l asked innocently. :;
do make haste anu get those Wet
things off. want you to play Ping fong
with me.
W Yon do on earth is th s5e asked pcred
ulously "Oh, hurry up
And did. Maisie is always charming.
l had not seen her for several months,
and had had something OIL my mind Tor
ii considerable time. She was waiting
for me as came downstairs.
Come along" she said, and took me to
one of the rooms Wnere Il s.X-l0ot dlnln
table was cleared, save for tiny net;
across the middle.
What's that for?" asked.
Ping Pong she laughed.
''Sounds Chinese"
no, il English; just like tennis
"Wel?'
But 1 don't like tennis" l remon-
strated II think it's fnicky game" >,
Pm going to teach you Ping Pong, y
she replied
| succumbed.
VERY well.' I murmured.
She gave me ridiculous little battle-
dore with parchment sides.
You know how to play tennis, don't
your
nodded.
Ping Pong is almost the same she
concluded
But wanted to have chat with you,
Maisie," I demonstrated.
"Afterward-if you are a good boy,
and she smiled so sweetly that dropped
"Look. you've dropped it,. she called
quickly: and returned crestfa!len.
Then the excitement began.
Do YOU know Ping Pong? You play
with celuloid balls and battledores on a
table instead of tennis court. The lit
tie balls naturally bounce; abnormally
when hit by the parchment-sided battle
(iore.
My first ball went straight for the por-
trait of one of Maisie's ancestors. l was
alarmed. but Maisie only laughed.
'You hit toe hard.' she said.
| tried gentler methods. and succeeded
in hitting the ceiling and almost every
thing in the room, but in vain did l en-
deavor to return the balls into Maisie's
court or side Of the table.
l have the reputat ton of being good
81 of no ho1
about like bullets. and Maisie bobbed
| every now and then to let them pass her
head. At last had no more balls to hit.
Now you must gather them," said
Maisie. Il think you're Improving
I smiled and crawled beneath chairs,
cropping with my hands in dusty corners.
| It was really wonderful where those
balls rolled to. When emerged Maisie
| Now you must try and win the next
set?'
Don't YOU think we might have a
rest?' l suggested.
| "Afterwards,' she smiled
Ping Pong evidently produced enthusi
aSts.
! believe improved, for I almost won
the next game, and then Maisie passed
me and just crept up to the end.
"Confound it!'' I said, and brought my
battledore down on the corner Of the
table
Oh shrieked Maisie, pointing to nly
weapon. There was cash through both
sides.
Tin afraid I've broken it, apollo
gized.
And ! haven't got another said
MaiSic. $50 YOU must play on with that
| ! did as | was told
MaiSie kept on winning. and we came
to the last game Of the set | was sery.
| ing.
| .'Lnve-forty.' called Maisie.
| l put down my battledore.
| I'll give you this game" I said.
| you're beaten" she laughed.
'On this condition." added. ignoring
her retort. that as YOU have the forty
you'll let me have the love-
She laughed. but tinge of red suf
fused her cheeks.
You agree?' l asked.
You'll learn Ping Pong?' she pa-ried
| 'Of course"
When YOU heat me- she started
| "'Mell?' l stretched out my hand.
Then YOU can ask me again." and she
ran out of the room M1isie is almost
as exasnerating as the Ping Pong balls
The King. ~
FOOD VALUE OF VEGETABLES