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Show How Two Boys and a Girl Kept House. "Tell me, Oh, do tell me about the day you and uncles kept house for grandmother!" Xorris was having the time of his life. He was geting over the measles. Indeed, there was only one measle left to tell the tale. He must have felt mas-le-y inside, for his wants were many and almost peevish. But mother understood, and the stocking basket piled up to running, over, while she invented ways to keep the small invalid happy, so that the last measle should disappear properly when its turn came. "It was such a stormy night," began mother, tucking the corners of the afghan about two restless rest-less little legs, "and grandmother was invited to a party." "A very important party," amended Xorris. "Yes. Be sure to tell me, dear, if I leave anything any-thing out!" said the mother, smiling down into the roguish blue eyes. "We were all at home from school Uncle Dell, Uncle Bill and mother. Grandmother said she could not possibly go, but grandfather said she must, for there would perhaps never again be another party like it." "I know why!" The afghan waved wildly, and two scarlet-stockinged legs flew into the air. "Shall I tell?" . "Yes! We will take turns, if you like. Such a jolly war to tell a story!" "Well, grandma's schoolmates were coming to the party to talk about all the fun they used to have when they were little and and " "My turn? Such a troublesome afghan, sonboy, it will not stay in place. Yes, they were going to talk over - school days. So, to make a short story long " , "Oh, make it longer yards and miJes! grandfather called Uncle Dell and Uncle Bill and the little girl" "That was you! You ve grown up since then, haven't you?" "Some! and made them promise not to get into mischief, for he was going to take grandmother to the party, and perhaps tsay to bring her home again. There was cold meat in the pantry and a big pie, buttermilk in the cellar, and nuts to crack if we grew lonesome." "Xow come3 the 'citing part! May I tell?" "Yes. if you can coax that afghan into behavior." behav-ior." "Hardly was the door closed and old Grey, the family horse, whisked around the corner, when Uncle Un-cle Dell, who was always thinking up something npw now it's your turn. I'm measle-y inside of me!" "Poor little measle-boy. But you are sure you haven't heard this story before ?" Then mother and measle-boy laughed; for it was one of the really-truly really-truly all-in-the-family tales that never wear out from generation to generation. Xorris thought he knew it by heart. "Uncle Dell said: 'Eve a splendid idea it will keep us out of miseMef. You know father has meant to whitewash the kitchen ' We all shrieked, for we knew what his idea was. How surprised they would be when they came home! It was such easy work! Just to mix un the whitewash and water, and " then make the big brush go flap-slap, flap-slap, flap-slap, flap-slap, up and down the wall. The mixing was soon done. We meant to be very fair and time one another, an-other, each taking five minute turns. But we were hungry. "You had dinner just two hours before." " "Fes. Did you ever hear anything like it? So we got out the meat pie and buttermilk, and when we had had what we considered a light lunch Xorris!- if you giggle! we brought in the heavy whitewash white-wash pail and went to work." "And you did not clear the table." "Oh, no; we were too busy. Children do get busy now and then, yon know. We were just beautifully beau-tifully started. Dell" "You should say 'Uncle Dell' !" "I beg his pardon Uncle Dell had had his five minutes. Uncle Bill three and a half of his, when we spied Cross Molly in the garden." "Mother!" The measle-boy wrestled frantically ! with the afghan and sat straight up. "I am sure if I had been there your five minutes would have come first. The story is not ever just finished, 'cause you ' never white'washed in your life!" "Xo. sonboy, then nor since. Whose turn is i; : now? Mine? We were all afraid of Cross Molly. Her horns were sharp and crooked and she hated children. But there she was among grandfather's cabbages that precious crop of cabbages that was to stock the cellar for all the coming winter, besides be-sides the good dinners right along through late summer and early fall. Something must be done! We dashed out of the house and held a council of war. It would never do to chase her. Grandfather never permitted his cows to be chased. Besides, Cross Milly would do more damage with her hoofs than if we let her munch away among the rows. "'I will lasso her!" said Uncle Bill, who had been practicing on his pet pony. His rope was stout and he had a pretty steady hand, and, sure enough, in five minutes Cross Milly was lassoed, and, to our astonishment, submitted to be led back to the barn,- where we locked her in. "Feeling very joyful over the saved cabbages, we went back to the house; and there what a sight met our eyes! When Uncle Bill had gone for his rope he had left the door of the yard open, and when we ran out we all had. left the house door open behind us. The dogs, young and old, had gone in. ' Old Bess, the watch-dog too old to do anything any-thing but bark at strangers wa3 in the. whitewash pail. Tray was on the table, both feet in the meat platter. The rest of the dishes were smashed on the stone floor, and the three pups were having a glorious glo-rious time. Bess must have slipped off the table, and dragged the cloth and dishes with her." "And then what happened ?" "If you will keep very still I think I can tell you since you never heard the story before!" The afghan subsided. "While we surveyed the wreck, laughing at poor Bess in her frantic efforts to climb out of the mess, a stern voice said behind ud : 'Might this be a spring cleaning?' "It was grandfather, unexpectedlj' returned. And then" "Then there was another council of war," said Xorris, reflectively. "Well, mother," he added, comfortingly, com-fortingly, snuggling his head down on her shoulder for a nap, "it's all over now, you know!" Rae Mitchell. |