Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-11-12

Anna May was little girl to be
trusted She had never disobeyed her
parents, and they had the most i'm
plicit faith In her. II was this faith
in her little 10-year-oold daughter that
made the motoher so willing to ALLOW
the little party to be given during her
absence from home.
| After her mamma had kissed her
goodbye and driven away In her car
riage-she was going to the country
to spend the Jay with sick friend
Anna May put on her Jacket and hat
and went among her playmates, invit-
ing the to come to her house for lunch
en- at noon and to remain for play all
afternoon Then she hurried home t.
assist the cook and husemaid with
the preparations for the party which
was being got under way so hurriedly.
She ran several erranGs for the cook
going to the grocery store, the con-
fectioner's and the florists She
selected the bonbons and the bouquet
for the luncheon table, her mamma
having given her consent for the
purchase of these things before leav-
ing home that morning.
The little comrades arrived on the
hour, and gay time was had during
luncheon. Then they adjourned to the
big, cheerful sitting room to partici-
pate In games and play. Thus an hour
passed by. Then, weary of quiet
games,' one Of the little visitors sug-
gested that they play and Hide-ani
Seek, using all the rooms of the house
in which to hide.
ooh. we mustn't use the parlor," ex-
plained Anna May. Mamma forbids
that. We might break something, you
know
Hereupon the little friendly name
Polly Penn-began to pout. well,
when have company my mamma al
lows me to entertain them in the par
lor' she declared warmly. But my
mamma knows and my company are
not pigs, nor cats, nor dogs. We know
how to behave in parlor just nice
ly as. though we were grown-ups, 50
we do"
And always take my company into
our parlor,' said Helen Richards, espa-
ciai chum of Polly's. II think it a
/ very funny way to do-to tell your
company they are not good enough to
enter your best room"
ut isn't that" apologized Anna May,
her face growing very red. Mamma
allows me to have company in our par
lor when-when-she's at home. But
when she's away we might get to
playing and forget about the break
able things that are on the tables and
mantal. That's the reason why nam
ma told me to not take my company
into the parlor.''
Polly and Helen looked knowingly
at each other; then they fell 10
whispering in each other ears. From
their own ears they spread the whisp-
ers about in the ears of the other lit
tie guests.
Anna May was now most unhappy.
She felt that her guests had taken Of
tense at not being allowed in the par
lor. But what should she do? She
wanted very much to entertain her
company most cordially, but when dc.
ing So interfered with her obeying he,
mother could she consider it for one
moment?
4; well, spose we go to my house,
where we can go all over it-play in
the parlor and in mammals own room
If We wish to- suggested Polly. II
don't think it any fun to be cooped up
in enc room. What sort of party is
that?''
I'VE can go into the library, too,
declared Anna May. 1--WE can alsn
play in the hall and the dining room
mat viii make lots of places for hid
ing Come, Polly, let's do that. Won't
your" And Anna May put her arm
about Polly coaxingly.
But If we are careful in the parlor
it won't be any HARM" persisted that
spoiled little maid, who had her own
way so much Lnat it interefered with
her good manners. "I'll take care to
not break the furniture This last
Polly said sarcastically.
"And I'll be careful" cried chorns
Of voices. Polly's influence being Sc
great. in the little circle Of friends.
Anna May stood irresolute. In her
own mind she was trying to solve i,
problem, the problem Of either dis.
obeying her mothers orders or of
Tending her most unmannerly littl .
guests. or course, Anna May was tol
young to understand how perfectly i'm
proper 1t was for her guests to be
have SO. Her one wish was to make
them happy and give them all that the
house held save that which was for
hidden by her mother.
"Well, If you're not going to allow
US In the parlor we'll just go to my
house." again suggested Polly.
"All right" agreed Helen. Then two
or three other little girls half assent
ed to this proposition, not wishing
to be in bad favor with Polly, who
had SO many new frocks and owned 9
beautiful Shetland pony and cart.
Let's get our wraps and hats" said
Polly, starting toward the hall where
they had put their wraps and hats on
the hall tree.
Polly's ugly influence worked its
mischief on Anna May She quickly
stepped across the broad hall and
drew open the great sliding door which
led into the parlor Come in" she
said, her voice full of emotion. but
we must be very very careful to not
upset anything. And it's rather cold
in here. too, for the register has not
been turned on for several days When
you've all got enough of the parloI
we'll hurry into the library, whe e
it's so nice and warm.