The Cooperstown courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., N.D.) 1902-1913, 1902-12-25

was overcome with remorse 70 th1nk
she had neglected her guests, and sew
eral pies soon followed the crullers -
astonement for her din Of omission.
'Now, boys" she said - the process
sion started, each boy With huge
pumpkin pie triangle in one nand and
rosy apple in the other, dinner will
be ready in an hour or two and wewant
you to have good appetitss."
''We'll be there" sang ont the cap
tain, briefly, leading the way buck to
the field. #
II am sorry all the boys can'tstay to
dinner" said Miss Hunt. sDo you sup
pose there would be enough for all? ~
81 am afraid not" said Mrs. Race,
surveying the contents Of pots, kettles
and pans. am sorry, too, for they
are having such a good time together .
''I'll run down and see if Mrs. Lake
has anything to spare. Perhaps we
can arrange for all to stay" said; Mrs.
Brown. 'Now don't object, Julia.
There are six little Lakes out iny your
pasture field and their mother will be
delighted to help"
"Of course she WILL" said Mrs. Lake
at the door. Nellie told me what is
going on down here, and came right
away to offer my services, for of course
my boys are out there with the rest.
I'll be back in few minutes with my
contribution"
"The dinin' room onlysholds twelve"
announced Mary Finnegan, redsfaced
from a struggle with the table.
"Let's set one table in the sitting
room, !" said Julia, forgetting that she
had intended to lock up her parlpr and
sitting-room.
When dinner was finally ready, not
boy was in the pasture field. The bats
were thrown aside, the catcher's mask
dangled from the fence, and the barn
roof reserved seats for spectators were
empty. Far away faint shouts, an
nounced that lively chase was going
on. Miss Hunt was in despair but not
SO the mothers.
"They have seen q rabbit or asquir-
re" said Mrs. Lake, calmly, as she,
rang the big old dinner bell that, had
been silent for twenty years.. ''Aly
dear Julia, if you had ever lived in the
same house with six youngsters, you
would be surprised at nothing. see
Mrs. Brown filling tub with warm
water. She knows what condition
their hands and faces will be in.''
The squirrel hunt was abandoned at
the first sound of the bell, and across
the fields streamed the visitors and
besides all the well boys that the vii
lage boosted. Nearly every one of the
dozen houses in the group was repre-
sented in the motley crowd Of dirty
urchins. Under the direction Of Mrs.
Brown, the whole party was soon
scented with soap and scrubbed to
that lady's satisfaction. They could
scarcely restrain themselves under her
rigid inspection, for near at hand
stretched the long tables loaded with
all sorts of delicious things foreign to
the city waits. Country boys take
good food as matter Of course, but
three hours Of baseball and chasing
the ninble squirrel had made every
body ravenous.
"Golly," said Lame Jimmie, taking in
the turkey, chicken, bread, vegetables,
jellies, pickles, cake, pie, and fruit with
which the long table was filled. II
wisht every day was New Years.
How they all enjoyed that dinner!
Miss Hunt buttered bread till her
fingers ached. Mrs. Brown ladled out
quarts Of gravy. Mary collected a.
peck of bones to make room near the
loaded plates for her dishes of apple
sauce and peaches, while the other
women, who had been Joined by two
more mothers, slised ham, and
answered calls for more turkey and
everything else on the bill Of fare.
IF you ladies will come to the game,
We'll give you the best reserved seats"
said the captain of the city nine, when
plate Of delicious plum pudding was
placed before him. As the best re-
served seats were on the roof Of Miss
Hunts COW barn, the ladies declined
with thanks.
eve are very much obliged" said
Miss Hunt, sbut the dishes must be
washed and preparations made for
supper"
''Does we git supper, too?" asked a
bootblack, LAYING down piece of
frosted cake with sigh. "1'se been
eatin' enough fer supper now.''
'Corse we does" said another.
"Dese ladies is de real ting"
'And to think" said Miss Hunt to
herself as the train pulled out and the
echo of the cheers her guests had just
given for her was still singing in her
ears. II was afraid to have the poor
little souls come into my house. They
said it was the happiest day they ever
spent, and I'm ashamed aof my selfish
ness. They behaved like gentlemen
every one of them, and would not
have injured a thing in the house. When
they come back next Fourth Of July
I'll give them picnic that is worthy
of the name, and do it without calling
on all the neighbors for help, too.
Ohio Farmer.
HAD NO USE FOR TT.
! - Z Nv !