Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-06
t on mothers blue silk with the long

put on mothers blue SILK with the long
"oh, are your" cried Nanette, "then I
win put on the muslin. We won't go out
doors"
grown-up little maids, holding up their
trailing skirts daintily, started downstairs
to the parlor where they found Fred and
Louis
The girls shouted with laughter when
they saw the boys. Louis had on a gay
striped smoking Jacket and broad brimmed
straw hat. Fred's overcoat trailed on the
ground and his fathers new silk hat almost
served as hat and ear muffs. too.
ALLOW me to help you into the carriage,
Mrs. Hunt" said Louis politely
with tipped-over chair in front for the
horse. When they were all seated Fred
| gave great ''cluck' and they started on
their drive.
! Before they had gone far there came
knock on the front door.
The children all jumped out Of the car
rage in hurry.
You go. Elsie. said Fred, beginning to
turn the chairs around.
"Well. now, you remember. no matter
who 1t is. you are to stay in the parlor and
The children all sat down and listened
breathlessly.
Good morning. miss" they heard sruff
Vo "f a snS my MAJ s they heard Elsie say.
| hesitatingly. Anyhow, I am Mrs. Hunt"
The children giggled audibly.
Now look here. miss, you can't fool me!
| Run and call your ma I have some very
pretty dress goods to show her.
| "A peddler!' whispered Fred.
eff you do not care to show your goods
Elsie determinedly. II am the lady of the
house"
well. lady," said the man roughly.
''Show me into the parlor and while am
getting out my goods you can bring me
drink of milk and piece of pie.
Certainly said Elsie with dignity.
II am awfully scared!' said Nanette.
II don't believe he's good man. I'm go
ing to hide" and she scampered behind the
| sofa.
| "Fraidy" whispered Louis.
Elsie entered with the peddler. This is
my husband, Mr.. Hunt. and this is Mr.. Sa-
ville," she said politely to the peddler, who
| laughed loudly at sight Of the bashful look
| ing boy-men.
"Why, where is Mrs. Saville?" asked
| Elsie.
"she heard one of the children crying up.
stairs" said Louis.
The peddler looked puzzled.
us Mrs. Saville your ma?' he demanded
of Elsie.
ooh, no indeed" Elsie answered quickly.
"she is Mr.. Seville's wife," and she pointed
| to Louis. Now while you are showing
| something to eat
IT amt goin' to unpack my goods just
for kids" said the peddler when Elsie had
disappeared. II passed what looked like
| a circus procession as came along. Don't
you youngsters want to run down the road
| a bit to see if it is comin'?'
Without moments hesitation the boys
| started. They forgot. in their eagerness to
| see the circus, all about little Nanette who
was left alone in the room with the ped
dler.
| the peddler began to stun into his pockets
valuable little trinkets that lay about the
| best parlor, jeweled paper cutter. solid
silver bon-bon dish, a cut-glass vase and
| lots Of other things.
Nanette, peering cautiously from the cor
ner of the sofa, saw him stealing. Forget
| ting how frightened she was, she began to
shout at the top of her lungs: Louis. Fred!
Lizzie! Hannah! Come quick! Stop! You
| horrid man! That's my aunties!''
The man was SO surprised at her sudden
shrieks, which came from behind him, that
| he dropped the thing he was just picking
| up, took his pack and started out of the
house as fast as he could go. Nanette, for
getful of her mothers dress started after
and. Fred, Lizzie, Hannah and Elsie and
the hired man came in answer to her cries.
He's got his pockets full Of Aurtie
Hunts things"' painted Nanette.
! WELL 1 guess he'll want to show them
| to the sheriff." said the hired man. Then
| he and Hannah and Lizzie walked the man
off to the next door neighbor, who was at
| home and would know just what to do
| about the matter.
| Fred, Louis and Elsie turned to praise
| Nanette for being brave.
| She was down on her knees, holding up
i the front breadth of her mothers beautiful
| dress. Square in the center was big
| three cornered jagged tear. y
"1-caught ton the sofa-when--I ran
| after the peddler,' she sobbed. And NAM
ma will never, never love me any more
| and-I-I am going to my papa now!
never-never want to be grown-up again.
| Boo hoo-hoo!"
| The children took off their grown-up gar
! ments and spent the rest of the day in try
| ing to comfort Nanette and in trying to be
good. They all felt very young and small