Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1902-09-01

iust the right size mine feet by fve),
but the double edges gave a sort of
piquancy to the play which l thought
would be- lacking in a mere ordinary
table from professional place. Miriam
da was to look after the tea, and | was
to lead off against the vicar, who, in !
stead of practicing, went to the British |
museum to hunt up ancient authorities. ,
He said that before undertaking so Sc |
rious task he wanted to see whether !
the Athenians had ever played the |
game under another name. But, in !
spite of his putting it in that way, he
grew Just as keen about pingpong as
anybody else and actually made his
wife practice with him one evening.
They quarreled for the first time in
their lives because she would serve into
his waistcoat and he said it was TAX
ing a mean advantage.
When the eventful evening came, we
had the old sewing clubwomen on one
side Of the room and the blanket fund
old men on the other-"Montagues and
Capulets," the Rev. Arthur called
them. Burridges and Hindleys would
have been nearer the mark. Then the
vicar opened tke proceedings in his
usual absentminded way. as if he were
at penny reading, and from mere
force of haISt announced that "Mr.
Recitation would give a Smith," Be
fore he could be prevented young
Smith began on 'It was at Flores, in
the Hazores." and Noel was the only
person present who had the pluck to
stop him. He has hated her ever since.
We started with myself and the vic
ar, and he didn't play badly for be-
ginner, although between serves he
frequently stopped to explain that he
had seen picture of prehistoric Ping
pong" in Punch and that if any one
would give him Mr.. Reeds address he
would communicate with him on the
subject, as even prehistoric animals
had their feelings and could doubtless
be influenced for good if treated with
kindness. When he lost, he became
little testy; SO we played it all over
again. and | let him, as Noel said,
''romp home an easy winner" That
dear child is learning the most eX
traordinary expressions from her bos-
ON friend the landlord Of the Spotted
Dog.
After Miranda had won her game
against the churchwarden no one else
in the village professed to understand
pingpong or to have the hardiho0d to
play it in public. so about 8 o'clock we
came to the Capulets and Montagues,
the Burridges and the Hindleys. the
blanket fund and the sewing club
Noel told me afterward. with a seraph
ic smile. that she and the landlord of
the Spotted Dog had arranged with
the villagers that they were not to in
terfere. The landlord had a dim sort
of idea what Miss Jarvis was going to
do, and he worshiped Noel to such an
extent that the child believed that if
he could have "got at the Rev. Ar
thurs modest glass of table beer be
Ghe landlord) would have "hocused"
the poor curate or painted his bit"
whatever that may mean.
When old Mrs. Burridge's name was
called, she smiled at Miss Jarvis and
said, 'Do e tell the gentry, dearie. as
his reverence is goin' to play for me,
and God he good to us ALL" She went
to sleep again. and old Hindley got up
and said. Little missile be a-goin' to
play for l, and I've got four quarts on
herr
Then this seraphic child. with eyes
of heavenly blue shes only twelve),
her golden hair flowing down her back
(blue rbbon), white tennis things. blue
sash round her dainty waist, white
doeskin shoes and another blue rib
bon at her pretty throat. floated up tc
the table, produced q lucky penny with
a hole in it from her pocket and held
it out to the Rev. Arthur, with smile
so sweet so pure so holy. that ole
Mrs. CANNED burst into tears and sale
"the pretty creetur' is a mort too goot
for this world, and it do seem savage
like for grit big man to worrit he
so."
"W-what's that for?" asked the Rev
{ Arthur, taken aback.
"Toss for service, please" said Noel
"Your CALL"
The Rev. Arthur called, Head"
.: "Tail, think" said Noel politely
/, eyes. tail it is. | serve"
"Cer-certainly. By all means, Mis-
Noel" said the Rev. Arthur.
''You go to the other end" said Noe
''and. mind you, keep within the line
Of the table,"
"I-I don't see any lines" proteste
: the Rev. Arthur.
Noel explained.
"You-you won't think me unkind
: l winT' asked the Rev. Arthur. who
the tenderest hearted man in til
/ world.
. Certainly not replied Noe
"Twouldn't be sportsmanlike."
Z 81 think we are ready to begin,
!. said the Rev. Arthur after a bewi
= dered pause.
- 81 have been ready fer the last fiv
- minutes" Noel declared.
81 am anticipating your service