The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1906-04-20
. And what did you sse

Beasts, thank ye,' said Macgregor
And how's Robert?'' asked Lizzie,
with some haste. z =
Robert IS keeping we'll, thank you:
hut he's sorry he cannot leave the
shop this evening. His young man was
unfortunately run over by an electric
car yesterday"
"Oh, those cars!" said Lizzie. "I'm
always feart fur. Macgreegor gettin'
catched, an comm home wantin'
leg.'
Roberts young man got conclu-
sion of the brain," said Aunt Purdie,
with great solemnity. "He was car
rying a dizzen of eggs an ham
when the melancholy accident oc-
Cured"
do We tell me that?" exclaimed
Lizzie. AN was the eggs all broker"
with two exceptions" And Aunt
Furdie went on to describe the acct
Gent in detail to Lizzie. while John
and Macgregor looked out of the win
dow, and wee JEANNE, who had been
found amusement in pulling to pieces
a half-knitted stocking which she dis
covered in a basket under the sofa.
Soon the little, rosy-cheeked maid
entered with the teapot, and they all
took their places at table, wee JEANNE
being lifted on to her mothers knee,
and warned not to touch the knife.
Mr. Robinson" said Aunt Purdie,
looking very hard at John, kindly ask
blessing"
John turned red and mumbled some
thing, at the end of which he wiped
his brow and loudly blew his nose.
The hostess, after looking for mo-
ment as if she thought it rather an
inferior "blessing," commenced her
duties.
Conversation tagged for the first
five minutes. Then Mrs. Purdie broke
the silence.
"Have you been going out much
this winter, Mr.. Robinson?" she in
CURED, in her best style.
For an instant John gaped. "Dod.
Mrs. Purdie, I'm glad to say I've not
been off my work a day since the New
Year."
Il mean out to entertainments, par
ties and conversonies," said Mrs.
Purdie, with a plying smile.
"Oh, ay. Well, Lizzie an me likes
the fireside, but we've been to the zoo
an the pantymime an two or three
parties"
II like parties" observed Mac.
gregor, digging into pot of jam. BY
strange mischance he had already
dropped two pieces of plain bread
and-butter on the floor, but to his
credit it must be recorded that he had
remembered his mothers injunction
not to attempt to recover them.
assist yourself to a cookie, Mr..
Robinson" said Mrs. Purdie. "And
pass your cup. Mrs. Robinson, is your
tea out?'
"Thank you," said Lizzie '"This is
real nice cake, Mrs. Purdie.''
1T was recommended to me by Mrs.
McCluny, the doctors wife. Mrs. Nc
Cluny is very highly connected, quite
autocratic, in fact. Her and me is
great friends. 1 expect to meet
her at the Carmunnock conversonie
on Monday night-a very select gath
ering. Her and me-"
Paw, I want a TART
mo, john" said Lizzie, hes had
one."
Il want another, maw"
Eye Gamma haze another, Macgreegor
Weel. Mrs. Purdie, We was sayin'-"
II was observing"
Paw, gle us curran' cake said
Macgregor, in whisper.
John winked at his son, and
stealthily moved the dish of dainties
in his direction.
The two ladies were discussing the
coming "conversonie," and appeared
oblivious to what was going on. The
plate came nearer and nearer, and at
last Macgregor's eager paw went eau.
tiously toward it. The currant-cake
was secured, but as the boy drew back
his hand his mother detected him.
''Macgreegor! she exclaimed.
The hapless youngster started
guiltily. Over went the jam-pot,
spreading it's contents on the cloth;
over, went Macgregor's teacup, which
was smashed to atoms on the floor.
Wee JEANNE, with a gurgle of delight,
evidently under the impression that
something in the way of entertain
ment was expected of her, tipped her
mug after the cup, while her father,
rising in confusion, sent a plate OF
five cookies to swell the wreckage.
John stood helpless; Lizzie sat
speeches. and pale; wee JEANNE, dis
covering that it wasn't a joke, after
all, set up dismal wailing; and Mac
gregor, with quivering lip and misty
eye, stared at the ruin he had
wrought. No one dared to look at
Aunt Purdie. Her expression was