The Savannah morning news., 1901-12-08
NURSERY TALES.
The Adventures of Peter md Ellen.
BY Gertrude Smith.

N~NPS@Ao'Nf N~N@f -
1.-THE BIRTHDAY SURPRISE.
Peter was 6 years old and dear lit
tie Ellen was {.
Peters birthday came on Tuesday
and Ellen's birthday came on Thurs
day. but they had their birthday treat
on the very same day.
When they came down to breakfast
on Wednesday morning their mamma
said:
20, my dears, this is the day for
your birthday treat. We will open your
little red banks right away now, before
breakfast. and see how much money
you have"
All the year papa and mamma and
grandpa and grandma ana all their
uncles and aunties nd friends dropped
pennies and nickels and dimes and dol
lars into Peters bank and Ellen's
bank, and when the birthdays came
the banks were opened and the money
was counted. And Peter said:
II know what / am going to buy. |
am going to buy a little white pony.
Papa laughed.
'Ha, ha. Peterl 1t takes a great
deal of money to buy a pony!"
And little Ellen clapped her hands
and danced around the room, and
said:
II know what I shall buy with my
birthday money. / shall buy a pet
tame monkey, and a wonderful par
rot that talks"
And mamma laughed.
ELLEN, you darling child, do you
not know it would take a great deal
of money to buy a pet tame monkey
and a parrot?"
And Peter said:
"Once. when grandpa did not know
/ was in the room, l saw him put a
IS gold piece in our bank"
Mamma went out of the room. and
when she came back she brought the
two little red banks. and put them on
the table. and said:
Now papa will open the banks, and
Wen all count the money"
And grandpa came in just then, and
he said:
4, and We'll all count the birthday
money!"
And grandma came in just then, and
she said
open the little banks quick, and
Wen all count the birthday money!"
And papa took little key out of his
pocket, and said;
NOW, Peter, open your brown eyes
wide, and Ellen, open your blue eyes
wide. and be prepared for splendid
surprise!"
And papa turned the little key in
one little bank, and then in the other,
and o, o. o! out tumbled the money,
all over the tablet Dollars were there,
and dimes and nickels and pennies,
and, yes, there were gold pieces, too
two bright IS gold pieces in each little
bank.
And Peter opened his brown eyes
wide-he was too surprised to speak
And Ellen opened her blue eyes wide
she was too surprised to speak.
And papa counted the money. Five,
10, Is, 20, rs. 80! Thirty dollars for
Peter. Hurrah and hurrah! Twenty
five dollars for Ellen!"
And little Ellen danced about the
room, and laughed and clapped her
hands. and said:
Now 1 can buy my pet tame mon
key and a wonderful parrot that
talks"
And Peter jumped up and down and
said:
And may l buy a little white pony,
grandpa? May l buy a pony?"
And grandpa laughed, and said:
"Ha. ha! Yes. you can buy a pony,
and little red saddle. tool"
And papa said
I'VE will go right away and buy your
pony, Peter, the minute we have fin
ished our breakfast"
And after breakfast papa and Peter
and Ellen all went hand in hand down
the beautiful road to a little white
house near the river.
And papa said.
THE man who lives here has a little
white pony to sell, Peter"
And in a moment a very tall man
came to the door of the little white
house. and when he saw Peter and Ell
len he laughed, and said:
"Ha! ha! know why you have come
10 see me. You have come to buy my
Baby Louisev'
And little Ellen opened her blue eyes
very wide, and said:
mo. sir: we didn't come to buy
baby; we came to buy a pony!"
And the tall man laughed.
Ia. ha! My pony's name is Baby
Louise, you dear little boy"
And Ellen said:
why. I'm not little boy; I'm lit
tie girl you very tall mani"
And the tall man laughed, and said:
20, hi. no! is that SO? Well, you are
dressed just like your brother; / sup
posed you were little boy!'
And Ellen said:
Pete hasn't lovely long curls like
mine, and l only wear overalls when
play. Little girls wear overalls when
they play"
And the tall man laughed and said:
why yes so they do. Now come on
and Wen all go out to the barn and
see the little white pony"
And they all went out 10 a little white
barn, and there was a little white
pony! And Peter said:
90 you dear little ponyl May I
buy that pony. ard have 1t to keep,
papa?"
And papa said:
Yes: this Is your birthday present
my dear little son, and she is a beauty
too"
And Ellen threw her arms around the
little pony's neck. and said
20, Baby Louise, VIII love you. too,
and I'm glad you are coming 10 live
with US and be our own little pony!'