Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-15
A Game of Checkers.
BY NANCY SCOTT.

When mother called us into the sitting
room Monday morning after breakfast we
knew that something was up.
We had just settled ourselves comfort
ably to paint some newspaper pictures to
send in for prizes, and we didn't like to
be disturbed. but We went pleasantly.
'Can you all bear q disappointment"
she asked. That is just like mother. She
doesn't beat around the bush and try to
soften things for fifteen minutes before
telling you what's the matter.
Ef1e and tried to look brave. while
Wallace. who was more like a girl than a
boy, looked az II he were going to whimpsr
and Sue looked frightened.
1--WE will have to give up our trip to
grandma's," mother went on. Father has
had trouble In his business and cannot Let
me have the money. You know 1t costs q
good deal for the tickets
Not one Of us said a word, because there
was q queer feeling in our Threats, 30 we
couldn't speak. We had planned that trip
to grandma's for months. and now. Just az
the sleighing was very fine. our plans were
spoiled. j
Sue burst into tears at once. which
Doesn't mean much, for Sue usually cries
when the rest Of US are laughing.
II think It's q mean shamer' declared
panied. she Rugged her and declared she
didn't mind q bit.
Wallace pouted. He was always cross
when he felt like crying. went over and
looked out OF the window.
Here comes Mrs. Plunkett" said.
"She's coming IN here"
II am more sorry than I can tell you.
children. mother went on, and I hope
you will try to be brave
Then rs.~Plunkett came In and we all
smiled and looked jolly, for 1t would never
do to let any one else know We were dis
you must excuse my early CALL" painted
Mrs. Piunkett, who was the druggists wife,
but I came on business"
'Buslnessr exclaimed mother, smiling.
Eyes," answered Mrs. Plunkett. You
have such a raft Of workers over here that
! thought perhaps you would like to help
Mr.. Plunkett out and earn q little money"
picked up our ears and wagged our tails
delightedly. Mother looked at US out Of the
corner Of her eyes as she answered:
What is the work Mrs. Plunkett7 Is it
'Oh, yes" laughed Mrs. Plunkett per
haps you've noticed the new cough candy
that Mr.. Plunkett has Just patented Well.
1t is SO successful that we can't get It in the
little boxes fast enough; there are so many
colds in town that they sell like hot cakes.
II you can do 1t we will send some over at
once
We children were nearly dancing with ex-
element. How fascinating 1t would be!
Almost like keeping a candy store.
Would you like it. children" asked
mother.
We forgot our manners, and fairly
shouted "Yes!''
That settled 1t. In less than two hours
big. two-horse wagon drove up to the
load barrels Of cough drops and millions
1t seemed to us-of tiny boxes to be filed.
We were SO excited that we could hardly
keep still. and Sue and Wallace kept stand
inc fHcf on ono fnnf md han he 9TH
like two storks.
We started work in the dining room, and
inside of two minutes 1t looked like fac
tory. We all had aprons tied around our
necks-except mother-and the aprons gave
out. so that Sue had to make believe with
q towel
wish you had been there to see us work,
and to help US. We had more fun! Why,
1 got so skillful that not even mother could
beat me when she found time to help. We
had all sorts OF queer games which played
as we went along. And time Just few!
We had such fun over our game Of
checkers checkers" they were
caIled-that we forgot all about our disap-
pointment. And mother looked so happy
and SO proud Of us that we all beamed.
The great load that was left with us was
slowed away inside of the boxes In two
days. And how many do you think there
Twenty-seven hundred and flfty-eighti
And Mr.. Plunkett paid US cents hun
dred.
Well. by the end Of two weeks we had
finished all that Mr.. Piunkett could get
manufactured. and we had earned enough
money to take us all to grandma's for our
two-weels' visit. And what do you sup
poser We had the beautifulest snow
storm just after we got there, and all the
coasting and sleighing we wanted. And not
one OF us WAS cross a minute for two
whole weeks.
Grandma smiled in her wise way when
mother told her about it, and said she knew
why we were having such q good time. I
wonder what she meant.