The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1903-11-13
A Great surprIec.

A Great SurpFisc.
It was just too queer for anything!
Tommy was walking slowly down be-
mind the barn, with his usually merry
face all scowls; and Teddy was peep
ing through the Slated fence into
Tommy's garden, with a whole great
family OF wrinkles in his little fore
head. Now, what Go you suppose that
II was all about2
Out in Teddy's yard grew a great,
tall horse-chestnut tree, and one crisp
October morning a shower of pretty
brown nuts came tumbling out Of their
thick, green shells,-down, down,
down, until at last they reached the
broad gravel walk and smooth, green
lawn. Tommy spied them as he came
hWrying nome from school at noon,
and then the scowls came to make him
a visit.
THAT new boy has everythiugr" he
exclaimed Grossly He has tops, an
balls, an bicycle! 'Tain't fair, so it
isn't" Then poor little Disseminated
Tommy looked crosser than ever.
Tommy didn't realize that down in
his garden grew something that the
new boy Teddy. had always wished for
and longed to haye-a bouncing yellow
pumpkin. How Teddy did wish that
his papa had bought Tommys house
and TOmmys garden and Tommy g
pumpkin-all three!
Teddy sighed as he thought Of the
Jack-o'-lantern that he could make If
he only had one Of those wonderful
yellow treasures for his very own. 1t
was a very loud and sorrowfuI sigh,
and Tommy heard it; and then be dis
covered the new boy peeping through
the fence.
"Hallo!" called Tommy, quickly.
Teddy jumped. He didn't know that
anybody was near
Don't you like living here?" inquir-
ed Tommy. You look as ii you were
homesick. Won't you come over and
look at my pumpkins? I've got a dan
dy lot Of them, and they are all my
own, every one"
Teddy sighed again. 1--WE been a.
waitin for a pumpkin for years an
years" he said sadly. But they dom
have gardens with pumpkins in the
city, an so l never had any"
Tommy looked surprised. ''Wout
you like one?" he asked quickly
Cause I'd be delighted to give you
one of mine, if you would. Come over
an I'll give you one right now"
Teddy climbed over the fence in ;
hurry and he smiled and smiled al
Tommy took his iackknife out of hi
trousers pocket and cut off one of hi
biggest pumpkins with snap.
You have everything, don't YOU?
said Teddy, regretfully. You hay
pumpliins-whole garden full of then
an apples an grapes, an"
This information was a 5reat sur
prise to Tommy. Il have everything!
lie said in establishment why,
thought you were the one that ha
everything a few minutes ago. Yo
have tops. an balls, an a bicycle, al
horse-chestnu;s, he said.
Why, so l have" answered Teddy
thoughtfully Il wanted a pumpkin S
much that l most forgot all abou
everything else. didn't remember tn
horse-chestnuts. Maybe you woul
like some. Would your
Tommys eyes danced with delight
You can have a big bagful," dc
clared Teddy. An II you'll get som
toothpicks I'll show you how TO MAX
a Brownie man"
An III help you make your lanter
after school, said Tommy. We
help each Other, an divide our thing
won't we? An then we can both ha,
everything, really and truly"
why. so we canl" said Teddy.
Then those bad scowls and wrinkl,
had to run away in a hurry. The
ran away TO see If they could ind tv
cross, disconnected little boys.
hope that they ga nat era yor n
Christian Reg