Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-08-10
THE ARROW HUNT.


Me ticks and know no fear.
THE ARROW HUNT.
The four little Dentons and their
mama were spending month In the
country, in the place where the chill
dren's papa used to live when he was
little boy.
Every Saturday papa came out from
the city and spent Saturday and Sun
day with them, and every Saturday he
thought of some new game to play or
took them to one of his favorite places.
He. showed Benny and Robbie how
to make paper boats and sail them on
the little stream where he sailed boats
when he was little boy; and he
showed Mo!lie and little Jane how to
build playhouses out Of stone by lay
ing stones in rows on the grass and
dividing them off into squares for,
rooms. He showed B.tany and Robbie
how to make johnny-jump-up wrestle.
and Mollie and little Jane how to
make the seeds of the jewelweed pep.
and how to make teapots out OF poppy
heads.
Such good times as they had, and
now it was the last Saturday Of their
stay, for taey must go home on Mon
day.
"Now. Papa Denton said Mollic.
catching hold Of papa's hand as he
stepped of the train. "you must think
of the very best play you ever knew
for us to play this afteraoon!"
Eyes, yes" cried Benny. something
fine and splendid for us to play on our
last Saturday in the country"
Very WE'LL" said papa. II have
thought of q nice game. and will
show You how to play it this aftc.-
noon"
When papa had had his nap he cali
ed she children and said. The game
have thought of for you to play Is
the arrow hunt 1t was may favorite
game when was boy"
4"An arrow hunt! How do you play
that game? cried all tho little Den
tons q, once.
This is tho way said Mr.. Den.
ton. Il am going to. take piece Of
chalk and mark arrows on the walk
and the fence and the trees. or any.
thing choose as | walk along. This
is the way the arrows will look" and
he took a piece of board and drew on
1t an arrow.
II will go ahead, and in fifteen
minutes you may come after me and
follow wherever the arrows lead. You
will have to look sharp and 70 the
way the arrow points. At the end of
the arrow, II you follow them right,
you will find big red arrow, and You
may have whatever the arrow rests
on. will begin on the board walk.
but you must not look to see which
way l 60"
: The fifteen minutes seemed very
long to wait. but by and by they were
past, and away ran the little Deaton's.
Mama stood In the door and watched
them till they were out Of sight at the
turn of the road. Then she put on
her hat, took basket and four colored
hoops and eight pointed sticks and
started off across the fields.
The little Dentons looked carefully
for the arrow marks. They led down
the beard walk. and when they went
out the gate they found them on the
board walk that ran along by .
meadow. AT the turn in the road they
stopped, and it was some minutes be.
fore they found where the next arrow
was marked. 1t was ca the fence
and pointed straight up into the air.
oh said Moliie, ut goes UP into
tie sky, and we can't go up there
Il think it goes over the fence.
said Benny, and he climbed on the
fence and shouted. yes, here it is.
Como on!"
The next arrow was on round
stone. Little Jane found it, and then
they found them on other stones.
1t was great fun hunting for the
arrows, and they led the children In
to all sorts of places. They led along
by the side of brook for quite a
While, then across the brook on step
ping-stones, then up hill, only tc
turn round and lead them down again
They went through stony pasture
and past a field of corn taller thar
the children. and by and by they led
Ein.o pretty wood and along path
which wound IN and out among the
trees.
The children had never been in
these woods, but they knew their
papa would not let them get lost, &C
they, followed the arrows deep into
the wood. until all at once they came
to an open space. and in the yer,
center of the grassy plot was spreat
a table-cioth, and on it were sand
witches and cakes and bsrries, and
four white boxes, which looked yer,
much like candy boxes, and In tn.
center of the cloth were four coloret
hoops and eight sticks, and on toI
of them was a big red arrow
Before the children could say g
word, or even look around, out from
the bushes stepped papa and mama
and papa said:
This is tho end of the arrow hunt
and here we will have our supper
and after supper we will play another
game" Thea they all sat down ant
enjoyed the good things.
4 After supperamama took the prett,
hoops and sticks and showed the chill
dren now to play "grace-hoops.' q
game which sac used to play whei
she was a. little, girl.
When tho syn was nearly dowr
they went home, and when the CHI
dren cuddled sdo@a in bed that nigh
they said is each ether: ~
A .sThis., was the very best day O