Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-08-08
The Grass Party


the habit easily.
Aunt Abbie used to treat them to
hot gingerbread and lemonade some
times when they stopped to call at the
little white cottage on their way to
and from the postoffice. She called
them her Observation-Disclosures
nephews and nieces," and told them a
great many interesting things about
the trees and plants and flowers that
she loved and about which she knew
much. Charlotte, Agnes, Bob, and
their cousin, Jimmy Spooner, had come
from Boston, and they found life in
Chesterfield full of delightful interest
Miss Abigail used to talk to them
about their studies, and, when Bob
said that learning things in vacation
was unfair, and Jimmy declared that
boys who thought that driving mules
to the station with vegetables was
more fun than roller skating were just
"hay-eaters," the little old lady looked
at them over her glasses in a very
uncomfortable sort of way. "Hay-eat-
ers," she repeated, and then she said,
II wonder If any one of you know
what you eat every day. l wonder If
you know the difference between
asparagus and watercress and parsley,
for instance
30 a vo vo0ot . hloo
everybody knows about answered
Charlotte Parsley is just to make
things look pretty, but"
Parsley" interrupted Jimmy. who
eats grass?" and he pulled handful
of the tender spears and thrust 1t
through the bars of the fence where
old Dobbin was nibbling, except
horses and COWS and sheep" he added
as Dobbin began to MUNICH the grass
he had put within his reach.
People aren't like horses and cat
tie, Aunt Abbie." remarked Agnes.
ooh! Aren't they?" said Aunt Abbie.
well, admit some of them are a
little less useful than my COW, Bess.
or old Dobbin here, who makes my
garden for me and who carries me
about, a few are less obstinate and
set in their own notions than the
mules that take Farmer Seavoy's corn
to the mill, and still smaller number
of them give the coats from their
backs to keep us warm"
This was the first time Aunt Abble
had talked in this fashion, and the
children were both Interested and
puzzled.
You mean the sheep, don't you,
Aunt Abbie?" said little Agnes, clap
ping her hands, and all the children
begged her to tell them some stories
about the animals; but Aunt Abbie
shook her head.
"You will have to learn great deal
about the other grass eaters before
you will like the best sort of stories
about the animals" she SAID
Are there any grass eating people,
Aunt Abbie?' asked Charlotte and
Jimmy in breath.
Aunt Abbie replied rather vaguely,
they thought when she said, Dear
me! more than half the people in the
world have very little else for food"
and she added, II don't think much OF
the way they teach children botany in
the schools these days"
Several days after their visit the
rural free delivery man dropped four
letters at the Seavey farm addressed
to the Gresham children, and each let.
ter was the same, This was what they
read:
You are cordially invited to a
Grass Party on Friday evening at 6
O'Clock. II convenient, please wear
green cravats and ribbons. Dobbin has
agreed to carry you home. Affection
ately yours, Aunt Abbie.'"
What can a grass party be7" said
Charlotte, and Mr.. Gresham laughed
as he answered, you may be sure
Aunt Abbie's party will be original.
and one you won't forget. Perhaps she
remembers tina told her had
brought you to the country to Craze;
she thought was disrespctful to her
four-footed friends, maybe. Domestic
animals are her particular and abid-
ing hobby"
What an interesting thing it was to
be invited to such a curious entertain
ment as a grass party! The children
could talk of nothing else, and each
had different solution Of the mystery
Wheen the eventful Friday afternoon
arrived, they were arrayed in their
best clothes, and each had some adorn'
ment In the way of green ribbon.
Charlotte wore green sash, and car
ried her mothers green silk parasol;
Agnes had very large Nile-green
bow on the top Of her golden head;
Jimmy and Bob wore streaming ties
of green and a bit Of the same color in
their button-holes. So gay did they
look as they filed down the dusty road
that old Mrs. Ryan left the wash-tub
to watch the procession. Sure an
they look like Saint Patrick's day in
August" she murmured as they dis
from view.
They were in flutter when at last
after wiping their dusty shoes on the
grass, they knocked at Aunt Abbie's
door
A cherry Come in" answered their
rap, and in a moment they were in the
coolest, most delightfully."- refreshing OF
parlors, where Aunt Abbie. in a black
silk gown and a cap adorned with
green ribbon bows, seemed to be a
presiding goddess over table loaded
with odd things. There were pieces
of sugar cane, little sheaves OF wheat