Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 197, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 August 1913 — OUR BOYS and GIRLS [ARTICLE]

OUR BOYS and GIRLS

A Lot sf Fun

By HILDA RICHMOND.

“Children, I wouldn’t do that if I were in your place," said grandma, looking up from her knitting. “I just •aw a dog running as fast as he could. He thought some ono was shooting.” "You did!" cried the children rushing to the porch. “O grandma, this is such a lot of fun. Just listen!” And three bags exploded at once. "Wasn’t that finel” Grandma was looking after the children while their mother was away, and they could not play out of doors on account of the rain. To get them out of her way in the kitchen Mary had given them a number of empty paper bags, and they filled them with air and burst them whenever any ono was passing. "Yes, it may be fun for you, but you might frighten some one on the street,” went on grandma. "Horses do not like sudden noises.” "I haven’t seen a horse pass this afternoon,” said naughty Betty. "Bursting bags doesn’t scare people, grandma.” ■ . “I wish we eould scare oM Mr. Gray,” said George. "Ho is so cross to* us boys." "I’d like to scare Tim Hudson,” said Bennie. "He's awful mean to the little boys." "If you’ll put away the paper bags, I'll tell you a story,” said grandma. "It doesn’t seem like much fun to me.” But the children went on bursting the bags, and Mary was glad they were not in her way. “Here comes a lady!” said Betty, as she saw an umbrella turn thecorner., “Walt till I say ’Ready!’ and then burst together. I want to see her jumfr.” And the lady in the rain cloak under the umbrella did jump when the bags went off. Betty laughed and laughed to see her parcel roll into the street and break open right In the midst of a mud puddle, and the boys laughed, too, till they saw It was Aunt Lucy, and she was coming Into the house. “What do you thlnkf" she said almost out of breath when she came in. “Just as I got in front of the house some one shot off a revolver or gun just behind me, and I was so frightened I dropped the bag of candy I was bringing to you children. lam so sorry, but it fell Into a puddle and is all dissolved by this time." s "I wish we had minded grandma,” paid Betty, going out with the boys to see the pink streaks in the dirty water. “I just love peppermints.” "And it wasn't much fun after all," said George. “I’m going to put the rest of the bags in the stove. Never mind, it will help us remember the next time." —Sunday School Times.