The Holly chieftain., 1903-12-25

Come now children and have some
supper, Grandma's waiting for us
Then Mr.. and Mrs. Jackrabbit lifted
each one of them into a. high chair
and tied a big bib around his or her
neck, so that the children would not
spill anything on their clothes. And
what feast they had! There were
baked apples, ginger bread. doughnuts,
cookies, and jam, and afterwards they
had nuts. raisins, taffy and popcorn.
Now Grandpa" said one of the
children. with big piece of taffy in
his mouth, Please tell us where you
got this new baby tonight"
We'll" said Grandpa, last week l
was passing Mr.. Blains' house and the
baby was out playing in the garden.
| hid behind the snow man she was
building, so that nobody but she could
see me, while | told her about the
| party which we have here every New
| Years Eve, and ! asked her if she
would like to come. When she said
she would, told her not to tell any
one, but to be awake at midnight on
! New Years night and | would come
| for her then"
"Es," said Baby Blain, "it was
l fot it I'D never tum. but it did tum
and I'm having a gate time. Tan
tome here again."
20 yes!" said Grandma. I'VE will
have another party next year and
hope you will all be here
"Yes!" cried all the children at
once, well all come if we can
well now" said Mrs. Jackrabbit.
come and have game with Grand
ma, and then it will be time to go
home"
Lets play tag and We'll all try to
catch Grandma" said one of the chill
dren and they all rushed toward her,
but Grandma was too quick for them
and had darted across the room be.
fore any one could catch her. OFF they
ran after her, Grandpa and all, but
Grandma bobbed around like a cork in
pail of water, till she was all out Of
breath, and then Baby Blain, the lit.
tlest one of all, was able to catch
her.
"Ho! Ho! Ho! You're caught at
last" laughed Mr.. Jackrabbit. well
its time that our little ones were 60
ing home for it will soon be daylight"
The children were all sorry that the
party was over, but Grandma and
Grandpa put on their coats and hoods
and muffled them up warm. Then Mrs.
Jackrabbit kissed them and wished
them all happy New Year, and told
them to be sure to come again the
next New Years Eve, when Grandpa
Jackrabbit called for them.
But where was Grandpa? He had
disappeared while his wife was kiss
ing the children, and in his place stood
the funny little animal with the long
ears. which had brought the children
there, and which is called a jackrab-
bit. Grandma lifted the children on
his back, all together, and opened the
door, and away the rabbit scampered,
up the hole and over the snow. When
he came to the nearest house, he let
one of the children off and then turned
down the road, letting child of at
nearly every house he came to- Baby
Blain's house was the farthest off OF
all, and before they reached it, Baby
| COulu STE tUdl IL was DeSluulHB u HeI
light away in the East, where the sun
rises. The Jackrabbit saw the light
too, and flew along, faster than ever,
till the wind whistled past Baby's
ears, for if he did not get home be.
fore daylight, some one might see
Jackrabbit and shoot him for their
dinner. But it was not long before
they came to the Blain house.
"Dood-by, Grandpa said Baby, as
she slid down off the rabbits back,
"and sank 90 vezy much" and the rab
bit was off like shot.
Baby opened the door and then shut
and locked it after her, and she ives
| soon all undressed and in her little
bed. When father and mother got up,
there was the baby, fast asleep, just
as she was when they went to bed the
night before, and they wondered what
made her sleep so late for she was al
ways first awake in the morning. They
never found out, however about the
Jaclrabbits party, for Baby had prom
ised not to tell Baby went again next
year, and every year until she was
| five years old, but after that she could
not go any more for the Jackrabbits
| never had any children over five years
old at their parties. She is big girl
| now, and her father and mother don't
call her Baby any more, but Marguer-
| ito, but she will always remember the