Omaha daily bee., 1909-07-04
Little Pink's Fourth of July
ny Maud walker.

IAN right. you may co." said Plnk's
father. And I'll give you car fare. Have
you any pennies. daughter"
Twelve pennies" said Pink. That's
quite enough to buy some cream putfs and
a herring and some crackers for my
Fourth OF July lunch"
So the plan was completed for Pink's
Fourth of July In the country. When the
Fourth arrived Pink's mother dressed her
in her blue print frook, put her little
luncheon in a small pasteboard box and
told her to hasten to the place where she
was to meet the ladies with whom she
was to go. Pink had not thought to mem
ton the fact that she had not asked per-
mission TO be included in the party ar
ranged by the two women whom she had
overheard making their plan for a Fourth
In the country for she had not the least
doubt but that they would gladly welcome
her.
So, box in hand, and little purse in pocket
Pink set out for Murry street, Just two
blocks away. But on arriving there she saw
no party OF picniokers waiting for the
car. And as hurry street ran In two direc-
lions, Pink wondered which way to go.
'TH ask the policeman at the corner" she
EalQ TO nefSelI. mel Know 80 hne went
to the policeman stationed at the corner
and made known her dilemma. "Ah, take
the car going north for the country, miss"
said the officer. The southbound car goes
direct to the horsepital grounds and the
brewery"
So Pink, not wishing to go 20 the 'horsc-
pitaI' nor to the brewery, boarded the
northbound car and told the conductor
she wished to ride to the end. She paid her
fare and sat enjoying the cool breeze made
by the velocity OF the car. For a long time
she rode, and much Of the way was in the
suburb OF the city.
And then the condutor came and told
her they were at the end OF the line, and
she jumped off. A road led before her.
going off over a wooded hill. This Pink
followed, for she felt so certain she would
soon come to the grove where the picinc
party she was wanting to Join would be
holding forth in gaiety. But on and on
she walked, going through a wood and
then into the open, where about her
stretched farms. Becoming very tired and
thirsty, Pink decided to stop at one of the
farmhouses and inquire her way to the
grove which contained the fine spring. She
went into the yard OF a lovely. restful,
we'll kept farmhouse and spoke to a dear
faced old lady who was sitting on the
porch. The old lady said; why dear child,
you came the wrong way, for the picnic
grove lies OFF to the west. You should have
transferred at the junction OF hurry and
State s~teets, and gone west TO the end OF
the line. But, my dear child, since the
party you are in quest of does not expect
you. why not spend the day with me and
my husband? Wen show you about the
farm, and will hav q nice little chicken
and custard pie dinner at IL o'clock"
Pink was delighted at this turn of af-
fairs and thanked the dear old lady for
her kind invitation, and taking off her hat.
sat on the big cool porch to rest The old
lady called to her husband TO join them,
and he came out, smiling pleasantly on
Pink.
The day passed with PIN beng royalty
entertained by the old couple, and when
the time same for her to go home, they
decided to ride into the city with her to
"see that she got safe home" And when
they saw how poor was Pink's home, and
how gloomy her surroundings, they pre-
vailed upon Pink's parents to allow their
little girl to come to them every Saturday
and to DO their guest till Sunday evening.
And also did they invite Pink's dear
parents to come on Sunday rs often as they
could and to accept Of their country hos
pitality. And you may all better believe
Pink's parents were only too thankful to
the good people Cor their generosity, and
promised that Pink should be their guest
every week end as long as they desired her.
And so ended q most happy Fourth OF
July for Pink and her parents, and for the
old farmer couple as we'll, for Pink had
come into their home and hearts to warm
the place made empty 30 many years ago
by the death Of an only child.