Middletown transcript., 1903-04-11
|, I have had a jolly
good time this after
noon, mother! exclaim-
ed Nina Wilton as she
BY I. R. AYERS.

~ ed Nina Wilton as she
burst into the cheerful
dining room, where her mother
was preparing to set the table
Tor supper. Wait minute, mar
NEE, until / get my things off,
and I'll set the table while I tell
you what have been doing, she
continued, bnstling away with
her coat and hat, and as rapidly
returning without them.
All right, dearie. lam anxious
to know, for your eyes shine like
q acouple of stars, which is a sure
sign that you have been doing
something pleasant. And Mrs
Wilton smiled with pardonable
motherly pride on her winsome
little daughter.
Nina had been spending the
afternoon with her friend Annie
Merrill, on a neighboring farm.
Annie had been away for a few
months, staying with her aunt in
Boston; this was their first visit
since she had come home. Al
though she was older than Nina,
the two girls were intimate
friends. Annie and Nina were
not the only ones who enjoyed
these visits, for Annie's younger
brother, Burt, was always as
glad to have Nina with them as
was his sister. Burt and Nina
were twins lat least, that is what
Burt always declared), for they
began their lives the same year,
month and day. Yes, you are
my twin brother, Nina would
say to him, but please to remem-
Der that I have lived in this
world three thousand six hun
dred seconds longer than you
have, therefore you owe me a
certain degree of respect.
You know, marmee, began
Nina, as she emerged from the
pantry, that I always had an idea
that I should enjoy having cam
era, and now I am quite sure of
it. You see ! went over to An
nie's early and I found her in the
midst Of developing some pic
lures that she took in Boston. I
would not let her stop for I want
ed to see how she did it; so she
let me help her, and we worked
on them two whole hours. It
was heaps of fun and l learned
considerable. Annie says that
hy the time I've had another try
at it she thinks can do it alone.
Then Burt came in after his cam
era; he was going down by the
river to see if he could get pic
ture of the rapids. You may be
sure that I, for one, was glad to
accept his invitation when he
asked us to go with him, SO we
all went; they showed me how to
use their cameras, and I've had
a jolly good time. Now I want a
camera. I want it more than l
ever did anything in my life be-
fore.
Well, dearie, put in Mrs. Will
ton, I wish you might have one,
but you know your father thinks
such things are all nonsense, and
while he would willingly give
you other presents, he would
probably think money spent for
q camera was wasted.
I know, marmee, and I haven't
the least idea that can have one
unless I earn the money myself,
and, as you know, chances to
earn anything around here are
scarce.
inst then Mr.. Wilton entered
ready for supper. I'd like to
know. he said, what has become
of nv oats. After we thrashed,
about two weeks ago, I put the
oats in that long bin across one
end of the granary; the bin was
nearly full then, but, l YUM! !
looked in the further end OF the
hin tonight and I swear it was
not more than half full. Some
body must have been helping
themselves, but how anyone can
oct at them i can't see, to save
my life.
You lock the granary every
n;cht. don't you? inquired his
wife.
That I do, he answered, and,
what's more, the windows are al
na;led down securely, so l cant
saa how any person can get in
.hare. lam going to leave Major
n the granary tonight, and Il
anyone goes to meddling there
.be dog will be apt to let US know
!. I'VE marked on the bin just
Row ~ full it is. so I'll know II any
are taken out.
. r r may be the work OF on,
,,,sor down the road, ven