The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-04-10

her maid as to whether the pals con-
tanned toads or berries. They finally
came to the conclusion that Miss Debo-
rah would not have given up church for
anything less unusual than toads. Dr.
rectly after dinner Mrs SimOnds tele-
phoned the news to Mrs. Lutterworth.
II fancy Deborah Wyatt will have all
the toads she wants for one while before
she gets through" she said.
And, indeed, before Monday was over
Miss Deborah had already regretted that
her advertisement was destined to APP
pear in two issues of the paper.
This makes eight children who have
been here already" she said as she
bought modest quartette of toads Mon
day morning. Lucy, l shall have to
trouble you to see the editor when you
are down town, and tell him to stop the
advertisement II he'll give me my money
back for the time it isn't put in the pa
per, SO much the better, but / would
rather pay for something l don't have
than be inundated with toads. If it goes
on much longer 1 shall be ruined"
II don't believe you'll have any more
toads brought you," said Lucy soothing
ly.
"You don't know anything about It,"
And this proved to be true.
When Lucy came back Miss Deborah
met her with a tragic gesture. you
noGUn tel me IIdL SIldH nave any
more toads brought me. This thing Is as
bad as one Of those endless chains. Every
child tells ten other children that l will
pay cents a toad. The Baxter boys
have been here again with ten more toads,
ten-Lucy, do you hear? And some
friends of theirs came with six. I wish
John were here to swear for me. 1 am
ready to consign those toads to eternal
perdition. Lucy, you needn't laugh in
that heartless way. Not another toad will
pay for; I've told them not to come
again, and to tell all their friends that
the market is overstocked."
In spite of this warning, the doorbell
rang again late in the afternoon, and
Bridget came up with her face wreathed
in those maddening smiles.
"WeH who is it?'' asked Miss Deborah
shortly
"They didn't give their names, ma am.
but there's two Of 'em, little girls, this
time and they've got. basket"
''Confound it!' Miss Deborah spoke
with deliberation and certain relish. 1T
Is a little late in life to begin to swear"
she said to Lucy. 'I don't know what
Letitia would say. 1 won't take another
toad, not one. I have thirtytwo already.
I shall land in the poor house,
But you promised said Lucy
Hang it, Lucy, can't help it if did,
She descended the stairs In a stormy
the children, II have all the toads want.
I did not mean to keep on taking them
all summer"
Tears came into the eyes of the small
er girl THE paper said the lady would
pay 5 cents for every road she remark
ed in a faltering voice.
you can never believe all you see in
the paper said Miss Deborah with dig
nifty.
The little girl lifted up the cover of
the basket in hesitating way. There's
six. and we worked real hard to get
athem,' she said.
Miss Deborah was beginning to feel
heartily ashamed of herself. Come into
the dining room and will make you some
lemonade" she told them. After all,
promise is a promise l will take the six
toads. Thirty eight" she added under her
breath.
The next morning she took another
notice to the editor, stating that no more
toads were wanted, but in spite of this
fact toads arrived in rapid succession. Be
fore the week was over Miss Deborah
found herself the possessOr of sixty of
these interesting creatures. Lucy always
took the childrens part, but when the
high water mark of sixty was reached,
even Lucy thought it time to call a halt.
eve spent So on those cOnfounded
toads," Miss Deborah said, mot to men
ton the 20 cents for frogs I didn't keep;
If it goes on much longer it will be worse
than one of the plaques. 1 am sorry
Letitia IS so disturbed. She writes that
we are making ourselves the laughing
stock of Eppingham. suppose Sarah
Lutterworth has sent her one of her lively
letters. 1t is funny. Of course 1t is fun
ny! 1 can see myself that there is an
amusing side to it, but 1 don't see why
Letitia should mind when she Is neatly
out of 1t. Who would have supposed that
toads were SO numerous in Eppinghan?"
After Miss DebOrah's sixty tOads had
been carefully disporting themselves in
her garden for a few days. John Forsyth
unexpectedly arrived to spend a night