Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-23
Wilie's Visit.

Out of the train on jump. Ave wild
leaps across the railroad platform. and into
the little old phaeton like hurricane! That
is the way William Hammond Greene ar
rived at the little station where he was to
visit his elderly Aunt Martha
II knowed 1t was you. Aunt Mat" he
exclaimed. cause pa told me you would
be here in an old wagon that looked as II
it came out of the ark! 1 saw you before
the train stopped
This was willie's introduction of himself
He had lived in western city until re-
Gently. and was now coming to spend
month with his mothers oldest sister. Aunt
Mat. as she was Familiarity called. had the
name of being the primest of the prim, and
suc-l whirlwinds as the one she had just
encountered disturbed her wofully.
Mercy on us. child. how you do come!
Is something achasing you? And you are
bareheaded Where Is your hatf
Willie Greene shrugged his shoulders as
he answered: 20. l lost that before the
train got to the second station. And say.
Aunt Mat, what do you think? The con-
ductor wouldn't let me ride on the plat
form!''
Ride on the PLATFORM Well. should
think not. Nobody is allowed to ride on
the platform
Il did till the conductor came along,
20. William." she exclaimed Then
that's how you came to lose your hat
The young man looked serious for mo-
ment. then said. Aunt Mat. nobody ever
calls me William"
Aunt Mat turned herself squarely about
so as to face him and said, Indeed! I
thought that was your name And what do
they call your
Willie and BILL" was the brief answer.
We'll. 1 generally call folks by their
names" replied Aunt Mat
Willie WINGED slightly. dropped the sub
Goodness no. child! You would have US
both spilled along the road, and like enough
the carriage smashed. I'll be glad If you
behave yourself like a sensible young man.
and thankful II We get safe home"
She was scarcely through speaking when
Willie saw chipmunk running along the
top of the fence. Even the chipmunk was
scarcely more nimble than Willie Greene,
| who fairly bounded out Of the old phaeeon
and started In pursuit of the animal.
"Will-yum Greene!" shouted Aunt Matt.
You will certainly break your bones.
never in all my days
| But Willie was out of hearing. almost out
of sight. Aunt Mat clucked to the old
pony. urging him at last into a trot, and
finally came up with the boy tearing down
chipmunk.
Boy, are you wild?" she exclaimed in her
severest manner. Don't you know that
this Is Squire Higgins fence, and that he'll
have both of US in the lookup If he catches
you tearing down his fences! Did you
never see a chipmunk before? You ought
to know you never can catch one Of them.
not II you was ten boys. Now get In here
unless you want to walk the rest Of the
way home"
Willie did not relish the way the stiff hair
in the old phaeton seat reached through his
summary trousers. 1t was that, perhaps
that led him to ask: Say, Aunt Mat, did
this phaeton come out of the ark?"
Aunt Mats only answer was a look of in
tense disgust.
PA said it did" continued Willie
We'll, your pa would have done we'll to
keep you al home, or else have you out
west where you came FROM remarked
Aunt Mat with more spirit than she was
accustomed to show.
Willie's next move was TO snatch the
stump Of a whip from the socket and deal
the old nag good blow.
Now Tony was not used to the whip. He
was talked at. and clucked to, and pulled
at by the reins and sometimes even tapped
lightly by the lines where they went over
his back But blow from a whip! Tony
had not felt 1t for ten years. 1t brought
back his colt days. He gave one spring
which lifted the front wheels clear from
the ground. He started on a mad run.
The sudden leap brought Willie back into
his seat in no gentle manner, still he kicked
up his heels and shouted with delight Poor
Aunt Mat. her head had all 1t could do to
keep itself in place. With both hands she
tugged hard on the lines, trying to calm
down the startled old horse. Willie was
beside himse's with glee- This was grand!
He made a move as If about to give Tony
another blow, when Aunt Mat fairly
| shrieked at him. Stop
With much pulling and more coaxing
| Tony was finally brought down to a trotp
| and then to walk.
Aunt Mat"
| That was as far as Willie got
"Hush!" she commanded. and some way
| he knew she meant 1t.
| They were soon home. Aunt Mat would
,nt tyr,C hnu n hn fiirad wit
| her to unharness Tony, for the animal was
| still trembling.
Take this youngster," she said. land
| hold him fast until I come in. Don't let go
Of him whatever you do
Sure, an he looks harmless enough" re-
| marked Nora.
Don't take your hands off of him for an
| instant" ordered Aunt Mat
Willie was meek lamb. He went into
| the house with Nora, and before Aunt Mat
! came he had asked scores of questions. In
truth they were already very good friends
| he and Nora.
| But Aunt Mat was going to take no more
| risk. Grasping his shoulder she marched
| him upstairs, saw that he undressed and
| Willie told there would be none that
| night Then the door was locked from the
| outside, though 1T was only just sun
| down.
| Barely a quarter of an hour had passed
| when Aunt Mat heard voices at the side OF
1 the house where Willie's room was. Going
| to a bay window, where she could see from
| behind lace curtains. she discovered five
| boys of about Willie's, age looking up to-
| ward his room, apparently much amused
| And what should Aunt Mat see but VIII
| lie himself sitting in the window. in his
| night clothes his bare legs hanging down
| outside, and eating an apple which one OF
| his new friends had evidently tossed him.
| Aunt Mat was at her wits end. She went
| quietly upstairs, and the boys on the ground
| below soon afterward saw the legs of their
4 new acquaintance disappear without cere-
| mony and with great suddenness.
So here the curtain drops.