Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1909-02-24

That's good enough to steal"
Esther B. Tiffany, in the Home
Herald.
BEE AND THE BABY.
Her whole name was Beatrice
Florence Londley, but everybody call
ed her Bee. Aunt Margaret was Wis.,
iting at her home with little Robert.
and Bee greatly enjoyed the privilege
of taking him out to ride In his car
riage. 80,
One day several girls stopped at
the door and asked Bee to go down
town with them.
81 can't now: I'm taking care Of
Robert" she answered.
"Bring him along" they suggested;
and so he was put into the carriage,
and they all started for the post-of-
fee.
There's Helen Slade," cried Bee.
"and she's got her little niece out
for ride. Hello, Helen! Come
along down to the postoffice with US"
Helen Joined the party, and, just
as they reached the Office, a third
girl with a baby-carriage appeared.
The babies we're all left sitting in
front of the building. while the girls
went in to inquire for the mail When
they returned, Helen suggested that
they all go with her to the grocery
store. and on they went.
Each girl had an errand some.
where, and each time the babies were
left out In front to wait. Sometimes
one OF the girls stayed with them,
and sometimes. II the errand was a
brief one, they were left alone. At
last they all started for home. and
at the corner they separated, saying
their good-byes hurriedly, for 1t was
nearly supper-time. When Bee reach
ed home. Aunt Margaret came out
and peeped under the parasol on the
carriage. saying, "Peek-a-boo, Robert.
Did you enjoy your ride? Did you-
For mercy's sake!" and she stepped
back and viewed the carriage, and
lnen looked at Bee, and then at the
carriage again. Finally she snatched
the baby out and began to examine
It.
Why, Aunt Margaret, what's the
matter?" asked Bee, who could see
no reason for all this strange excite
ment..
why, Beatrice Londley. this isn't
my baby at ALL This is somebody
else's, and where is Roberto"
sWhy, that must be Robert. auntie.
haven't
.why. my dear child, don't you
see? This, child has golden hair and
blue eyes, and you know Robert has
back hair and eyes"
But, auntie, don't see"
Just then Helen Slade came hurry
ing along wheeling baby carriage.
and, as soon as she could get her
breath. shs exclaimed:
"Oh, Bee. Caroline says this isn't
her baby at all, and that must have
exchanged with you"
| And sure enough that was Rob-
ert. Aunt Margaret began to laugh.
and Bee looked very much ashamed
as she said, -
"well, anyhow, the carriages are
almost exactly alike, and I never
looked under the parasol to see
whether 1t was Robert or not"
Neither did l." said Helen, as
she took her little niece and started
down the street.-R. F. Knapp. In the
Sunday School Times.
THE LONG MEADOW PICNIC.
When Marjorie and Helen first
came to grandpa's they were little
lonely. The hause was so far from
the village and they were so unused
to the country that the little grove
back OF the house seemed very dark
and solemn after sunset. II could
forget about the shadows" Helen
said, "if 1t weren't for the screechy
tree-toads!"
But grandpa explained about the
habits of these little animals. and
they seemed more friendly. and 1t
was not long before their song seem
ed as natural as the babble of the
brook.
They used to go to the post office
every day to get the mail. and after
a while they began to say "Hello!"
to the children they met on the
way; and when the sewing circle
met at grandma's. some of the num-
Der brought their children.
One day they received an invita-
tion written on birch bark. 1t said:
',Marjorie and Helen are invited to a
barefoot picnicA long meadow Sat
urday morning.
They could not egine what kind
of picnic this cot, be. and could
hardly wait for the q
When they were read, start that
morning. grandpa gaveN nm some
wonderful toy boats, newlyN ged and
painted. They were SO pleased with
these they wondered II they ought
to take them to the picnic when the
others could not have them: but when
they Joined the children at the cross
roads. they found that grandpa had
provided one for each child, and the
barefoot part was to be wading in the
brook.
Us Ehoi julie anu r1cicu utu pecu "
many parties and learned to play all
the jolly house games. but they new
er had so good a time as they did
that day. sailing boats in the long
brook.
The company was divided into
"sides.s and the navigation of the
brook was established. At first the
girls felt little. shy to be playing
in this fashion with the others, but
they soon forgot this in a busy at
tempt to get cargo Of wheat safely
from the Great Lakes to the Gulf
Of Mexico.
Each one had brought a small bas-
ket of luncheon. which they ate un.
der big elm tree. while the boats