The Virginia enterprise., 1907-09-20

added, trying to appear casual and
disinterested. One Ben Covington
would compensate for whole roomful
of Dave Midges.
'Are those our chickens dipping up
| the flower seeds you planted yester-
| day, Josie?" queried Mrs. McCanopy.
i've got my lap full, or I'd go out
and shoe 'em.'
'1've got my hands all over dough-"
began Josie. Send Clara; she's only
drumming on the piano."
"Cla-ra!" called Mrs McCanopy.
No answer.
! "Cla-' she began once more.
"Oh, 1 might as we'll go first as
last" mumbled Josie. When she re-
entered the house her hair was blown
and her face was red.
Dear me-" she sighed, "a party's a
dreadful sight of work."
Its YOUR party" reminded Mrs.
McCanopy, putting her lips together
firmly. eve are trying to make your
birthday pleasant"
| Josie, who was somewhere between
II and 80, was looking forward to the
day when the family was planning to
pay up its Indebtedness, not only
with a party, but with gifts freely
limited at in the home circle as ''some-
thing-you'd never guess what's" and
st-wait-till-you-sees!"
my only regret is I've got to have
that mean old Dave Midget" muttered
| Josie, as she sat down to stone rails
| ins and plan what she would say to
Ben Overton.
Those bees your father was fool
| enough to buy at the Miller's auction
seem to be acting funny" observed
Mrs. McCanopy, gazing out of the
| kitchen window. Il wonder what we
| ought to do?"
i've heard of them all swarming
off," said Cousin Phoebe. But I
think if some one was to go out and
! throw shawl over 'em, they'd calm
down, and when it comes night you
could slip the cage, or whatever you
are!"
Clara left the room hastily, and
Josie moved uncomfortably on her
chair.
I'D go if I wasn't so slow on my
feet" said Mrs. McCanopy. Il couldn't
do it quick enough Josie, it would
please your father, after all he is do
ing for you-' hinted her mother. 1T
certainly would be great disappoint-
ment to Chester to lose 'em.''
Josie, with the resignation of a.
saint and the courage of a matador,
grabbed the big gray shawl and went
out toward the community of strik-
ing honey makers. While Cousin
Phoebe wasn't an authority on bee
culture, the proposition as a whole
looked as reasonable as the usual mis-
sions upon which Josie was sent. Ac-
customed to look after the family
pets, she was willing to dust the hive
every morning if her father wanted
to keep few bees, but she hoped the
perches didn't have to be disturbed
often.
Unfurling the shawl, Josie f1oated
like a great winged bat toward the
buzzing cloud. She did just as
Cousin Phoebe had advised.
Afterward, when she had been re-
ieved from pain as much as possible,
her father said:
"You ought to have more sense.
Josie, even if the others didn't have
any" Which shows that gratitude is
apt to be proportionate to the amount
of success attendant upon the good
; deed.
"And to-morrow's the party!" groan-
ed Josie, avoiding the mirror.
Some BETTER" answered Josie. "the
swelling has commenced to 10 down"
Poor Josie, and It's your birthday.
too!' condoned Clara. "You will be a
sight at the party
Never mind, dearie," said Mrs. Nc.
Canopy cheerfully. Here's what vour
father and I have bought for you!"
"Why-it's rug!" gasped Josie. 'I
thought it was going to be a.
Don't YOU like it?" demanded ho,