Democratic Sentinel, Volume 14, Number 9, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 March 1890 — THE LITTLE FOLKS. [ARTICLE]

THE LITTLE FOLKS.

IVhy Baity Jane Didn’t Go to tli© Party, There was to be a “ tea-party ” at Uncle John’s house. Mamma and Papa Warren were invited, and Lew and Becky though it very hard that they should be left at home with grandma to spend the long evening. “I ’most know my eyes won’t stav open till supper-time without mamma to tell me stories,” complained little Becky, dolefully, with her chubby hands wrapped close in her pinafore, while she trudged from window to window’ to catch the very last glimpse of the sleigh before it dashed out of sight over the hills. Lew. I’m sorry to say, kicked the chairs light hard w’ith his copper toes, and scowled blackly. “Oh, yes, they will, dearie!” cried grandma, cheerfully, winding in the numerous balls of bright yarn which had been wandering about the floor, and doubling together the long wool “comforter” she was knitting for grandpa. “Yes, of course they will! And they’ll be bright as buttons, too, for I’ll tell you a story myself.” "A story of when you’s a little girl V” queried Becky, her sleepy eyes opening suddenly. “Oh, but that’s an astonishing long time ago!” said grandma. “But I like the long-agos best!” cried Becky and Lew together. “A long-ago it shall be, then,” said grandma, picking together the burning brands w ith the long-legged tongs, putting another stick on the brassheaded andirons, and brushing the coals from the broad hearth with the gray goose-wing. “It shall be of the time when my lather and mother were invited—not to a tea-party, but to Squire Holm’s daughter’s weddingparty. I wanted to go right bad, and teased and teased, but father and mother said ‘no,’ and I knew that no was meant. “But I thought upon it a long time, and I concluded in my naughtiness that if I could only in some way get there unbeknown, why then it couldn’t be helped, fco I went on planning, till by and bv a bright scheme came into my silly head. “The- sleighs of those days had backs that would reach above the, heads of anybody riding, and the seats were a kind of box, with a lid, that would hold a bushel or two. “Near the night of the party I slyly put on my linsey-woolsey cloak and woolen hood, and crept into this box. “It was a pretty snug, fit, for I was a chubby girl of 8, and the lid wouldn’t come down very close; but when father and mother got in it came down so quick on the top* of ray head that it made me see a whole skyful of stars for a minute. “But I didn’t dare to erv out, and away we-w’ent rumblety-bump across the meadow, through the long stretch of pine woods, down into Rick’s Hollow, then away up steep Young Hill that was nearly a mile long and full of curves and twists. “I giggled to myself, and thought I was having greatt fun. But it was cut short pretty quick. About half-way up Young Hill, iu the very steepest part, was the Elbow. Here it always drifted badly and was awful sidling. Mother wanted to> get out, but father thought ’twas safe. “All at once over we went, bedquilts, hot-water jugs and father and mother together. The lid of the sleigh-seat flew up and out I tumbled with a shriek on to<p of the heap. “■‘Patty Jane Swift!’ (that was my nanue them), ‘where under the sun did you e©me from ‘F cried mother, struggling from under a huge wool bedquili and looking at me with stern astonishment. “I couldn’t say a word. “‘Hid in the sleigh-box, I’ll be bound,’ she added. ’Now you may just march home aloue for your disobedience !’ “There was no help for it. Ah, I shall never forget how I ran up and down hill, for it was now quite dusk! Then there was the long stretch of gloomy pine woods to go through. I stopped on its edge. I thought 1 never could; but waiting only made it worse. I shut my teeth hard and ran with all my might. I was about half-way through when “ ‘Who who —■ Whoo-oo!’ sounded right close beside me. “I nearly dropped in my tracks w ith friglit. “•‘Who! who! whoo-oo!’ “It was only an owl in a tree over my head. But when I got home I xvas ready to stay at home when I was told to by those who know best.”— Youth’s Companion.