The sea coast echo., 1910-06-18
MAMMALS FIRST PARTY.

tired of that story YETI Sne Salu'
"No. indeed, mamma. I won't ever
be tired of it." cried Lucy, nor OF
any of the stories about when you
were a little girl"
So Mrs Clapp began: ut was Wnen
I was between four and five years
old. l did not know much about par
ties, as I had never attended one, nor
had one myself, but I imagined they
were the most wonderful and delight
full things in the world, and | thought
l should be perfectly happy If | could
go to one. But | didn't know that
people were not expected to go to
party unless they were invited.
"One pleasant day in June, my
mother'-"And my Grandma Hunt
said Lucy.-"Yes, your Grandma
Hunt. went to the church sewing so
ciety, leaving me at home with Nora,
the hired girl. She went right after
dinner, because the society had
good deal of sewing on hand, and she
wanted to come home early.
Before she left she charged Nora
to change my dress and comb my
hair soon, and keep an eye on me all
the afternoon.
"I want to go out and play now,
Moral | said, soon after mother had
gone.
Welt Nora replied, I guess you
may as we'll play in that dress till /
get the dishes washed So l went
out"
You put on your shaker first" said
Lucy.
"Oh. yes, I put on my shaker. It
was not old, but it was badly soiled
and broken. My dress was quite dir
ty, too, and there was a big tear in
it, although it was clean and whole
when l put it on that morning. |
was pretty hard on my clothes, I'm
afraid.
well, went out to a pile of sand
in the back yard and was soon work
ing happily with old pals and cups
and spoons, just as little folks do at
their sand-piIes nowadays.
"By and by l heard children's
voices-there seemed to be a good
many of them,-and l went around to
the front gate to find out where they
were.
"'Nettie Fisher, a little girl several
years older than l was, lived across
the street, and in Mr.. Fishers yard
there were now many prettily dress
ed children, laughing and playing to-
gether.
"'Oh, it's a party!' I exclaimed.
Then I rushed out of the yard and
across the street.
after watching the group on the
lawn a few minutes, l opened the
gate and went up the walk to the
other children. There were several
among them that / knew, but all
were older than myself.
els this a party?' l asked.
Yes Nettie replied, I'm having
a party on my birthday
"'Then I've come to it, I said, TAX
ing off my shaker and throwing it on
the grass.
"The yard was shady in the after
noon, and the other children were
bareheaded. They all laughed, but
they were very good to me, and |
was soon playing merrily with the
rest"
Il wish I'd been there" sighed
Lucy.
when Mrs. Fisher came out, she
asked me some questions. I told her
my mother had gone away, and ]
guessed Nora didn't care, so she let
me stay.
about five o'clock some ice cream
was brought out on the lawn
And cake" said Lucy.
yes. and cake. The children seat
ed themselves on the grass and on
the veranda steps, and Nettie lifted
me into a big lawn chair, placed a
saucer of ice cream in my lap, and
gave me a piece of cake. At that
very moment l heard Nora calling
me, but I did not pay any attention
except to say to the children, who of
course heard her too, I s'pose Nora's
ready to change my dress, but I'm
going to eat my ice cream anyhow
Mrs. Fisher was in the house.
mora said afterward, that she
looked out several times, but I was
still playing in the sand, and she
thought it wouldn't be worth while to
clean me up till I got through. And
when my work was DONE she said,
I was that tired l just lay down to
rest for a minute, and the first thing
ever | knew / was fast asleep, and |
never once woke up till five o'clock,
and / was that scared. My goodness
mel
while / was eating my ice cream
with great enjoyment, one of the girls
said, There comes your mother,
Kathie.'
"I looked up. Sure enough, there
she was, hurrying up the walk! Her
face was very red.
"Then / began to eat what was
left of my ice cream as fast as
could. | wanted to make sure of that
anyway, and / kept on eating even
when my mother stood right before