The Hattiesburg news., 1916-12-05
Bedtime Stories
For Little Folks
The Tea Party.

Iout of the window watching the. big
drops OF rain chase each other down
the window pane and end in one big
splash on the sill outside just as some
times the tears from PriscilIa's pret-
Fly eyes splashed on her clean white
dress.
1t had been raining all day and
Priscilla could not go outdoors to play
"Oh! dear mother" she said at last, 7
want somebody to play with; | wish
1.-THE rain would go away"
"You have Betty and Teddy and
ITabitha Grey. said her mother,
Betty is my dolly said Priscilla,
eand Teddy is Teddy Bear, but who is
Tabitha Grey, mother
why don't you know who Tabitha
Grey is?p asked her mother with a
smile. @You think hard and see if you
cannot guess
| Priscilla stood thinking for a min
lutte and then she laughed. "oh,
know, mother; you mean my kitty,
ITabby.m
| "But mother, don't mean Betty
Ior Teddy or Tabby mean little girls
Ito play tea party with. cannot play
tea party with Tabby or Teddy or
Betty
81 think we can have a nice tea
party with them," said her mother.
.9You set your little table and | will
Isee what can find in the pantry for
Itea"
4 Priscilla knew that her mother was
sjust the best playmate little girl
could wish for, SO without asking any
more questions she ran away to get
the table and dishes.
i When it was ready her mother
drought in some little crackers and
Iput them in one OF Priscilla's. little
dishes, and she put real tea in the
teapot, and cake cut in tiny little
squares was put on little plate, and
best of all Priscilla thought was a
dish Of little red and white candies
Priscilla drew up her little chair
eager to begin her tea, when her moth
er said; why, you are forgetting
Iyour guests, Priscilla; bring the
chairs for Teddy and Betty and Tab
by"
"How can Tabby sit at the table
with us?" asked Priscilla when she
brought the chairs.
Il will show you,n said her mother,
''you get Tabby."
Tabby was sleeping under a chair
, but she was used to being awakekned
and did not murmur at being pulled
out from her sleeping place now.
: "Get a bonnet of Betty's" said Pris
cilla's mother. Then she took the scis
, sors and cut from a piece Of cloth q
little bib and tied 1t around Tabby's
: meek. Priscilla came running back
with the bonnet and watched with big
: eyes what her mother did.
The bonnet was tied on Tabby's lit
tie head, and then Priscilla's mothel
said: Miss Tabitsha Grey, you are in
: lvited to tea party, and hope yo'
will be a nice-mannered kitty, ant
show you have been we'll brought up.
; ,-a.by winked and yawned in reply
. and then Priscilla's mother set Tabb,
= in one of the little chairs.
= Tahby winked and blinked and the
. she closed her eyes and sat very sti
! just as if she knew what was expecte
Z of a well-behayed kitty.
Priscilla laughed and cla2ped he
hands when she looked at her an
freddy Bear and Betty all sittin
! around the little table.
Priscillas mother sat down on II
= floor beside Priscilla's chair and hel
! ed eat and drink tea
!, All went we'll for little while al
no one noticed that Tabby opened h
i eyes, but she did, and then somethil
! happened. Tabby jumped, the tab
= was upset and over on the floor we
!, poor Betty and Teddy Bear, and Pr
ella. too.
). Tabby was under the sofa and TT
Il ella and her mother thought TAB
!, was tired Of playing tea party, but
minute she came running back, 2
= bonnet awry and her bib on her pa'
\, but in her mouth she carried son
thing which she brought right to
little table which Priscilla had
again, and on it Tabby laid mou
This time Priscilla and her mott
We Jumped and the table went over aga
and the mouse ran, for Taboy
brought it alive to them; but when
y saw it running, she chased IT. and :
/" time she did not return with her P
lof the treat. Priscilla and her mot
~ laughed when they got over II
'lng fright, and Priscilla said: 7 ga