Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1901-07-24
PING PONG.'

small pool.
ooh, Pm dreadfully bored. Do make
haste and get those wet things OF.
want you to play ping pong with me-"
"What on earth is that?"
"You don't know" she asked incred-
nlously. oh, hurry up"
And did. Maisie Is always charm
ing. had not seen her for several
months. and l had had something on
my mind for a considerable time. She
was waiting for me as l came down
stairs.
"Come along" she said, and she took
me to one of the rooms where a six
foot dining table was cleared, save for
q tiny net seven or eight inches high
stretched across the middle.
whats that forT" I asked.
"Ping pong" she laughed.
sounds Chinese"
"No, it's English. Just like tennis"
"Well?
you've got to play"
"But 1 don't like Tennis" remon-
strated.
think it's finicky game.
"I'm going to teach you ping pong"
she replied.
/ succumbed.
Every WELL" murmured.
She gave me ridiculous little bat
tledore with parchment sides.
you don't know how to play tennis,
don't your"
l nodded.
ping pong is almost the same" she
concluded.
But wanted to have a chat with
you. Maisie," demonstrated.
"Afterward. if you are a good boy"
And she smiled so sweetly that drop
ped the battledore and went toward
her.
"Look, you've dropped it." she called
quickly, and l returned crestfallen.
Then the excitement began.
Do you know ping pong? You play
with celluloid balls and battledores on
a table instead of tennis court. The
little balls naturally bounce abnormally
when hit by the parchment sided bat
tledore
My first bail went straight for the
portrait of one of Maisie's ancestors. l
was alarmed. but Maisie only laughed.
You hit too hard" she said.
/ tried gentler methods and succeed
ed in hitting the ceiling and almost ev-
erything in the room, but in vain did 1
endeavor to return the balls into Mai
sizes court or side of the table.
have the reputation of being good
slogger at cricket. The little balls flew
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"
smiled and crawled beneath chairs,
cropping with my hands in dusty cor
ners. 1t was really wonderful where
those balls rolled to. When emerged,
Maisie said:
"Now you must try and win the next
set"
Don't you think we might have
rest?" suggested.
"Afterward," she smiled
Ping pong evidently produced enthu-
eiasts.
believe l improved, for I almost
won the next game, and then Maisie
passed me and just crept up to the end.
''Confound itp' said and brought my
battledore down on the corner Of the
table.
"Ohw shrieked Maisie. pointing to
my weapon. There was cash through
both sides
I'm afraid I've broken It." apollo
gized.
And l haven't got another" said
Maisie. $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
serving.
"Love-40." called Maisie.
Iput down my battledore.
"I'n give you this game" said.
you're beaten" she laughed.
"On this condition" added. ignoring
her retort. that as you have the 20
you'll let me have the love-"
She laughed. but tinge of red sur
fused her cheeks.
"You agree?" asked.
you'll learn ping pong" she par
ried.
"Of course"
when you beat me- she started.
Well" / stretched out my hand.
"Then you can ask me again." And
che ran out Of the room.
Maisie is almost as exasperating as
the ping pong bal.s.-King.
Hindoo Belief.
When the land is contaminated. men
should at the time Of milking COWS let