The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1901-08-31
RAINY DAY INDOORS.

II was f1aZcr S second GdN III ll"
country, and the rain was coming down
in torrents. Poor Frazer. He could
have cried with vexaton when he jump
cd out of bed in the morning and gazcd
down on the big farmyard, with It's mud
dy pools and dripping trees, only. Of
course, boys never cry over trit1cs At
least, that is what he had told his cousin
| Fanny, when she broke her doll the day
before he left home. and he remembered
it now with pang of sympathy.
There was no use i'll urging his mother
to let him go out in that drcnching
downpour, and Frazer took his seat at
the breakfast table with a rueiul face
and gloomy thoughts of a long, drcary
day indoors
"How fortunate it is that it is raining
| to-day!' said Mrs Parker, Frazer
mamma, in brisk tone. after the family
were seated.
Frazer and Ethel and Nellie. the two
little girls who were among the guests.
all looked up at that in open mouthed
astonishmcnt
Glad its raining" said Nellie. in an
awestruck tone What a strange woman
Frazer's mother must be, she thought.
"Yes," went on Mrs Parker, cheer
fully. "really glad for | have heard of
the incest game to play, and if it had not
rained | don't know when you children
would have found time to play it will,
me. Now we can start it this morning"
ooh, will you play with us?' cried
Frazer. his face Frightening perceptibly.
"Of course l WILL answered his
mother. with that bright little laugh of
hers which somehow always banishcd
the frowns from Frazer's face
As soon as the breakfast things had
been cleared away the farmers wife
built a great woodfire in the old open
fireplace, which was so large that Frazer
could stand in it and see the sky through
the chimney before the logs were light
ed. The children all thought the fire
delightful The logs were so much lar
ger than any they could use in their city
homes that the blaze seemed different
thing. The new game, Mrs. Parker said
was called the memory game The
three children were sent from the room
while Mrs, Parker arranged fifteen ar
ticles on a small table These were
book. penknife, buttonhook, matchbox,
ring. bracelet. glove -buttoner, penholder
penwiper, cardcase. purse. scissors,
thimble, stickpin and little china dog
Then the door was opened and as Fra
zer, Nellie and Ethel bounded into the
room each received piece of writing
paper and a pencil, and was told to walk
slowly around the table three times,
without speaking but looking at the OBJ
jects Just as Ethel. who brought up
the rear. had finished her third trip
around. Mrs. Parker suddenly dropped
great cloth over the table. hiding
everything from sight, and the children
sat down to write the names and descrip-
tions of as many articles as they could
remember. Mrs. Parker and Nellie's
mother were to be judges to see which
one had remembered the greatest num-
ber of things, for that one should re-
ceive.a prize. Nellie and Frazer remem-
bered the same number. although differ |
cnt articles, but Ethel had one more on
her list than the others. There was
moment of expectancy, then Mrs. |
Parker brought out pretty heartshaped
box, tied around with red and yellow
ribbons. When Ethel opened it she
found the most tempting array of marsh
mellows tightly packed inside, enough to
comfort any little girl for a rainy day.
The best thing about the prize was that
the others could share it. too. 1t made
great fun for the afternoon when the
children knelt before the open fire. which
had died down to soft, comfortable
glow. and toasted the marshmelow one
bv one. holding them on the end of long
forks, and laughing to see the pretty
white things grow brown. When at last
night came, Frazer said as he hugged
his mamma and kissed her good night
Il don't care bit if it rains again.
You're such a srick, mamma. dear, we
can have every bit as good time with
you in the house !"-Ncsy York Tribune