The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1908-10-20
The kidnapping of
Araminta Amelia.
BY EFFIE STEVENS.
sS5515aSE515a5aSa5ESa5i


walk with Araminta Amelia. carefully
wrapped up in grandmas gray knit
shawl, in her arms.
Araminta Amelia was just recover
ing from an attack of the measles,
and one could not be too careful,
Patty thought.
Usually Araminta Amelia INDUCED
IN the murnps-the measles were
something new in her somewhat
varied experience of diseases.
When Patty reached the big maple
tree next to the street, she placed
Araminta Amelia upon the bench that
was built around its trunk.
THE sun is considered good for
sick people, Patty said to herself,
unconsciously initiating Aunt Kate's
decided tones.
Then Patty ran over to the other
side Of the yard to see how her flower
garden was growing. Alas! it was
not growing very well. Patty was
such a little girl that she often for
got to take proper care of it. While
she was mourning, the minister came
3 along. He lived near by, and was
Patty's very good friend.
Hello! Who is this young lady?n
ne cried, picking Araminta Amelia
up.
FATTY came running to the spot.
Oh, you mustn't" she exclaimed.
breathlessly. That's Araminta
Amelia, and she's got the measles.
You might catch them"
The nnfricfar Ioid Aro~o;..4.
down upon the bench very suddenly.
and pretended to look very much
alarmed. The minister was splendid
at make-believes, almost as good as
Patty herself. That was one reason
why they were such good friends.
Why didn't you tell me before?"
ne asked. Il haven't had the measles
since was two years, three months.
and two weeks, to say nothing of
days, hours, minutes and seconds.
Younger than you are, Miss Patty.
and sometimes people do have the
measles twice, you know"
Patty nodded her head wisely. She
knew all about it.
"Araminta Amelia has had the
measles four times since last Friday.
she remarked, gravely. Friday was
the day on which Patty had learned
tnat there was such disease as the
measles.
You don't say so! cried the min
lster in well simulated establishment.
Well, if you leave her out here all
<alone am afraid some one may kid
nap her"
Then the minister hurried awav.
+ and Patty sat down beside Araminta
Amelia with a perplexed frown upon
her chubby face.
Patty was just beginning to dis
cover how many new things, especial
~ words, a very little girl has to
learn about.
she puckered up her tiny brows
and pursed her rosy lips, as she had
seen grandma do when she was in
doubt about anything. but it did not
help her to understand the meaning
of the funny word.
kid-nap," she said slowly to her.
self "Kid-nap. l know what a nan
IS. Araminta and take nap every
afternoon. But kid-kid-"
"OoAS hiu gloves, she re- |
memDered after moment "Gloves
and going to sleep Oh, dear. that
uoesn't mean anything at all! This is
bad something that might happen
70 Araminta Ameria. I'll run and
ask mamma"
So the little girl, forgetful of the |
possible danger that might befall her
beloved dolly, left her on the bench
alone, and ran into the house.
20 mammal" Patty cried, what is
a kid?s
Mamma was busy, but she stopped
a minute TO answer her little daugh-
ter's question.
What is it about a kid?" she
asked, wonderingly.
What is kid?r Patty repeated
eagerly, an idea coming to her sud-
denly. What animal is a kidd"
oh, {" replied mamma, "a kid is
baby goat, We saw one in the park
while ago, you know"
Il remember" replied Patty, her
face fairly beaming with smiles.
THANK you, mamma, and away She
trotted.
suppose the minister meant that |
kid might come and trouble Ara
minta Amelia while she was taking a
nap" she unused, though why he
didn't say so can't see.
When Patty reached the bench, she |
stopped and stared and stared
Araminta Amelia was gone!
Patty looked on the ground; she
looked up and down the street; she
even looked up into the branches Of |
the tree above her, although, of !
course, she knew better than to think
Araminta Amelia had walked off or
climbed tree by herself; but no
Araminta Amelia could she find.
Patty began to cry as if her heart
would break
Just then her big brother Tom
came along.
why what's the matter hereg" he