Evening star., 1907-08-24
THEIR NOVEL VACATION.
How Two Little Girls Were Disap-
pointed.
BY NJ. G. AMES.

| pOlAtcO.
| BY NJ G. AMES
| They were swinging out in the garden on
limb of the old apple tree, which had
| served generations. They had been sent
| out to play. as little girls often are when
| papa and mamma are talking seriously. and
they had not felt like playing at all. be-
| cause they were dreadfully disappointed
! You see. mamma had been getting all their
| beautiful summer clothes ready for a month
! in the mountains, with Alice Dean and her
| father and mother: and Alice was their
| first cousin and most intimate friend Trudy
j and Madge looked forward to a month of
| bliss But this morning at breakfast papa
| mad received telegram announcing the ILL
ness of his business partner. All their
| plans were therefore upset. as papa would
! of course, be kept at home, and mamma
would not leave him. And that meant that
Trudy and Madge would not go to the
mountains after all.
My only consolation" said mamma .sis
| that we do not live in town. The children
Will miss the novelty, but in our pretty
home. with its garden and the lawns they
can live out in the open air and have a
jolly time
She smiled across at the two grave little
faces, and then papa had said
Kun out into the garden, L want to speak
TO mamma moment"
So Madge soon found herself in the swing.
while Trudy gave her several run UNDER
pushes. which sent her high in the air
The house was built on hill. and had
rolling lawns. which soped down almost to
the edge OF the river. These lawns look ed
like green velvet and with the sunlight
sparkling on the water and the white ills
OF the small craft standing clear against
the blue sky, the scene was very beautiful
The children looked at it with delight and
| in some way their disappointment felt less
keen.
", When en- tn, they ran to tell their father good
have our outing after all. We won't go so
far; but We'll be very happy
All that day mamma kept them busy
packing up their clothes. as IL they were
| going away. They piled her with questions
but she only shook her head and laughed.
How would you like to stay all night
with grandmother she asked
They pranced about delighted; heir grand
mother lived about mile away. in the Old
homestead. and visit there was an eagerly
sought treat
So mamma took them. promising to come
| for them the next afternoon. and they had
most Joyous time for the dear old lady
spared no pains to entertain them.
On the following afternoon they said good
| bye reluctantly, and stepped into the car
| riage beside their mother.
Good-bye. said grandmother. with a
kiss for each. Il hope you'll enjoy your
summer outing" Her eyes twinkled as she
said this. and Trudy and Madge bubbled
over with curiosity. but mamma would
| give them no satisfaction.
John drove along the river bank on the
way home.
Il thought we'd walk through the
orchard" said mamma. when they reached
| their destination. So they got out, and
mamma said: -
Goodbye. John: we will be away for a
| month; Just keep your eyes on things gen.
orally. Have the trunks gomez"
did you see about the boats and ham
mocks and the fishing rods and tackle?'
John touched his hat.
"All right. See that the horses have an
airing every day"
The children stared in wide-eyed surprise,
but light suddenly came to them as they
entered their own grounds. There under the
apple tree cleaned a white tent. and fur
ther down on the slope there was another
even larger. They gave a shout. and ran
| to look. while mamma followed to enjoy the
fun.
The first tent arranged as a kitchen
and dining room: the other one was to be
used for sleeping. being partitoned off into
two rooms. Into these tents everything
which could give enjoyment or comfort had
been moved.
The house is all shut up" said mamma
We couldn't go far. as 1 told you. but
think we are going to have a delightful hol-
| iday. Papa will come every afternoon by
| boat. and We will meet him at the landing.
| He will bring out provisions, and we will
| do our own cooking and catch our own fish
| a dip in the river"
Can we go across on the other sIde?"
asked Trudy. 'The woods are lovely there"
when papa has time to take US; in short
| we are going to act exactly as if we were
| in the country. and perhaps-I can't tell for
certain-but perhaps-Ance may spend a
week with US when she comes from the
mountains"
Trudy and Madge gave another shout
which woke the echoes.
There comes the boat" said mamma
See who will reach the landing first!'' and
away she ran like a girl. the children fol-
lowing at breakneck pace
And SO began the summer holidays out
in the garden. Long days of fun and frolIc
with evenings of song and stories: and rare
nights of deep sleep. with soft winds and
the swish of the river In their ears In the
morning the twittering of the birds woke
them bright and early. and one friendly
squirrel always invited himself to break
fast.
When Alice arrived their happiness was
complete. and when at last they broke camp
merrier. heartier. more sunburnt party
never came home from a summer outing.
In the garden things settled back into the
old calm; the tents disappeared. the boats
were put up for the season. the birds chirped
fussily over their autumn leaves, and only
the disconsOlate squirrel was left to regret
the days that had been.