Free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1888-1908, 1904-01-02
Suddenly the music S

Sudoe4ly the music stopped ana
Grandpa said:
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 a 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"
Well said Grandpa, last week
was passing Mr.. Blains' house and the
baby was out playing in the garden.
I hid behind the snow man she was
building. so that nobody but she could
see me, while l told her about the
Years Eve, and l asked her if she
would like to come. When she said
she would, l told her not to tell any
one, but to be awake at midnight on
New Years night and l would come
! Tor ner JneQ.
"Es," said Baby Blain, ait was a
drefful long time till New Years too.
l fot it I'D never tum, but it did tum
and I'm having a gate time. Tan
tome here again?"
80 yes!" said Grandma. I'VE will
have another party next year and ]
hope you will all be here"
''Yes!" cried all the children al
once, well all come if we can"
We'll now" said Mrs. Jackrabbit,
come and have a game with Grand,
ma and then it will be time to go
| home"
Let's play tag and Wen 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
a 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 al
last" laughed Mr.. Jackrabbit. well
| It's llm0 II1dI our IIll0 ones were 90
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 muf1ed 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 Ions
ears. which had brought the children
there, and which is called a tackrab
bit. Grandma lifted the children or
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 lei
one of the children of and then turned
down the road. letting a child or al
nearly every house he came to. BABY
Blain's house was the farthest on OF
ell, and before they reached it, BABY
could see that it was beginning to get
light away in the East, where the sun
rises. The Jackrabbit saw the light
too. and few 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 theiT
dinner. But it was not long before
they came to the B1ain house.
'Dood-by, Grandpa" sa.u BABY. as
she slid down on the rabbits back
and sank 90 Vezy much" and the rab
bit was of like a shot.
Baby opened the door and then shut
and locked it after her, and she was
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 cut, however about the
Jackrabbit's party, for Baby had prom
Used 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
fun she had at the Jackrabbit's party
Montreal Herald.
| some of the old faces have disappear
ed, but love welcomes the one and
! faith still catches an occasional