Democratic Sentinel, Volume 19, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 April 1895 — FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS. [ARTICLE]

FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS.

EASTER EGGS. •*O Maggie, I am so glad you have come to see mo to-day!” said Lulu, as she ran to meet her little friqpd who rode over with her papa on aload of hay which he was taking to town. Maggie had on her new, rod frock and white apron with a ruffle all around and carried her doll “Clarissa Belle,” close in her arms “See,” said Maggie, “I have brought Clarissa Belle; won’t we have lots of fun?” “Let’s not play with dolls to-day, because I have something better. You know to-morrow is Easter. Yesterday mamma got me a whole box of paints and she says I can have half a dozen eggs to paint for Easter because I went to the dentist and had that horrid old double tooth pulled that was so full of aches and pains.” Lulu ran and got her paint box and the little girls went down to the kitchen together. Mamma spread a newspaper on the table and told Lulu to get two of her old long sleeved aprons, one for herself and one for Maggie. The little girls were soon ready for work and mamma placed a little basket of eggs on the table and left them to amuse themselves. “What a lot of eggs,” said Maggie. “Let’s see how many there are; one two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight. 0, how splendid!” “Here are two paintbrushes,” exclaimed Lulu. “They must have known two little girls would want to paint at the same time. What color are you going to paint yours?” “Let’s paint one two colors.” “All right, I’ll paint mine red and blue.” “I’ll paint mine just like yours,” said Maggie. The young artists soon executed their designs in red and blue, and each received a great deal of praise from the other. Four more eggs were painted and all set aside to dry. Only two remained in the basket. “Howshall we paint these?” asked Maggie. ‘‘The last ones must be the prettiest of all.” “I’ll tell you what we will do,’’ said Lulu. ‘‘Mrs. Jones has company, a lady and a little girl, and I expect the little girl will not have any Easter eggs at all, because you know Mrs. Jones is poor. Now let’s paint these two eggs just as pretty as ever we can and give them to that; little girl. ’’ This plan was readily agreed to. It took some time to decide what color should be used. But the eggs were finally finished to their satisfaction. “Which is the prettiest?” asked Maggie. “I don’t know; they are both so pretty,” answered Lulu, looking first at one and then at the other. “I think one is just as pretty as the other.” And I think you would have said so, too, for one was red and blue and yellow, and the other was yellow and blue and red. Lulu went to get her mother’s permission to take them over to the little stranger. But Mrs. Gray, thinking the little girls would be occupied all the afternoon, had gone out to see a sick neighbor. Lulu came back and said, “I can’t find mamma, but I know she would let us go. We must hurry, for your papa will come for you pretty soon, and you will have to go home.” So, without oven stopping to take off their aprons, they put on their bonnets and went “across lots” towards Mrs. Jones’ humble cottage. Queer looking objects they were with their hands and faces as well as their aprons marked with every color in the paint box. Mrs. Jones was trying to entertain her sister, Mrs. Evans and Mabel, who had come from the city to make her a visit. But she found itdifficult to amuse the child who had been accustomed to every luxury heart could wish. Mabel stood by the window and saw our little girls coming across the meadow. “Who are they, auntie?” she asked. .“One of them must be Deacon Gray’s little girl. Perhaps they are coming to see you. Lulu Gray is a nice little girl, and you will like to play with her.” Mabel went with her auntie to the door. She could hardly help laughing at the little gypsies. But her good breeding saved her from being rude. Lulu, when she saw the little girl dressed in silk, forgot what she meant to say and looked at Maggie; but Maggie was even less prepared than Lulu to make a speech. So Lulu stammered out: “We brought some Easter eggs that we painted,, but we must go right back 'cause mamma don’t know we came.” Mabel took the eggs and thanked the girls very politely, but they would not go into the house. ‘ ‘What do you suppose she thought of our eggs?” asked Lulu, as soon as they were out of hearing. “I don’t know. Oh, there is a lot of paint on your face!” “There is on yours too. Just look at these horrid old aprons. Oh, dear! ’ ’ iland they ran toward home as fast as they could. When they got back Lulu’s mamma had returned and inquired where they had been. Lulu told her all about it. Mrs. Gray tried to look sober but smiled in spite of herself, as she told them they bad better not do good deeds without permission. Mrs. Gray knew that Mrs. Evans was rich and proud and thought she ought to send an explanation, but wisely concluded that the matter would explain itself. Easter morning Lulu Gray and

Maggie Dean each raceived a large, square envelope containing a beautiful silk fringed Easter card, accompanied by an invitation from Mabel Evans to visit her whenever they camo to the city.