Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1911-05-31
CHAPTER Ix.-ConcIuded.

In Few minutes she appeared at
the door with the soap-boxers in her
arms and announced herself as ready
Ethel Maud had picked up Blossom.
and Luella had darted across the
street for young Jim, and so skillful
was the extraction of the sleeper from
his cradle that he had never even
opened his eyes. and it seemed likely
that he was to have the adventure of
his life in a state of Inconsistencies
With a great flourish of manner
their beaming friend seated Miss Sc
lima Lue in the tonneau, and under her
direction and with the assistance of
the meek young man, he packed the
children in around her.
Lets see, / can hold both the
Flarities in my lap. and prop Glenn
ME and Pattie In on this offside.' she
directed, with an eye both to comfort
and security. 'Luella can set on the
seat by me and hold young Jim in her
lap. No, Bonnie, can't let you hang
on behind; you and Sammie set on
this little side seat and Ella Virginia
and Ethel Maud on that one Ether
Maud, you take Blossom in your lap
and help one of the others by the
sleeve to stand up in front of you.
Everybody else fill in the cracks
where they can! Now, we are all
ready, mister, and you can let him go
as soon as you are mind to. l shure
do feel safe with you up in front and
the young man looking so careful like
have jest got confidence in his back,
even"
Miss Selma Lue's merry eyes were
dancing with excitement and the wide
garden hat that Miss Cynthia had
trimmed with purple lilacs was set at
a rather adventurous angle over her
soft hair. which was flying tiny gray
curls in every direction.
Lands alivel won't all he folks
over to the landing be s. prised if
they come back and find us gomez"
she exclaimed All her neighbors had
sauntered over the Bluff. to take din
ner pals to the men passing on the
noon boat, and so were in ignorance
of the expedition on which their vari-
Gus families were about to embark
Perhaps never in the history of the
"ottermobile" family had one carried
such a load of jubilant, seething JOY
as was packed in that very fashion
able member. AS 1t whizzed and spun
up the river road all the passengers
squealeI with delight, and as they
cose ed down the other side of the hill
t1ey rose to their feet as one child.
They danced and yelled, waved what
ever head-covering was possessed by
one or two of them and stepped on
one another's toes in a frenzy CT de-
light. At the top of the far hill they
slowed up, for their host was impress
ed by the sweeping river view and he
turned to point it out to Miss Selma
Lue.
Yes, indeed, II looks like there
never was SIGH a view OF the whole
world laid out before you anywhere
else. have set on the grocery steps
and watched the top of this hill In
winter and in summer, sun-up and
shutdown, in storm and clearing, and
all the time a-wondering what was
here on the other side that never ex-
pected to see in this life. l am glad
l always laid 1t out in my mind as
beautiful as / could, fer I woulder
been ashamed If had gone and made
little of it to myself because | hadn't
ever seen 1t, and maybe never would.
Things always measure up to what
you expect-and it's the same with
people, too; a-looking fer saints you
ara mighty apt not to run on sinners
Now. Sammie, Bonnie, all of you stop
climbing out! S'pose he was to start
of all of a sudden?"
Miss Selma Lue was busily en-
gagged in settling the squirmers as the
machine swept slowly around and
started down the hill A far, faint cry
reached her ears, and she turned sud
denly.
Lands alive. mister" she called,
we've done spilled Ethel Maud, with
all that climbing around! If we was
a.tEkiLg a ride on the golden streets,
tnet lid woulder fell out into the
set OF glass. Please turn around and
pick her up" Some distance back a
bunch of blue calico sat in the road
and lifted up a voice Of lamentation.
How ever did you happen to fall
out, honey?" said Miss Selma Lue, as
she squeezed up Ella Virginia and
started to tuck the stray down beside
her.
L didn't fall! climbed climbed
TO get the gentleman a hower-and
now It's done broke!" she sobbed, as
she held up a crushed. blue corn.
flower
Upon my word, that's a sweet little
girl to get = posy for an old man
c'you hear "a sweet little girl! Come
ever here and sit by ne and III hold
y3u in, and the baby. too" And so as
TIE big red machine pulled down the