articlesforchristians

Starting for the Fair

Polly ran into the house from school one day. She banged all the doors.

“Next week is fair week! Next week is fair week!” she shouted.

Peter was in the house. He heard Polly. “Next week is fair week! Next week is fair week!” he shouted, too.

“How do you know, Peter?” asked Polly.

“Because you said so,” answered Peter. “Besides, the blacksmith said so. His horses are going to the fair to get blue ribbons. Do horses like to go to the fair? If we go, shall we get blue ribbons?”

Father laughed. “You certainly are a prize,” he said. “You ought to get a blue ribbon.”

“Then will you take us so that we can?” asked Peter.

And Polly said, “Oh, will you take us? School closes for two days so that all the children can go.”

“Yes,” said father. “I mean to take you. Mother is going, too. If it does not rain, we shall have a good time.”

“Goody, goody!” cried both children.

“Shall we drive Mary?” asked Polly. “Tim is going on the train.”

“I think so,” said father. “But we may go on the train. That will be just as mother says. You must ask her.”

“Are you going on the train, mother?” asked Peter. “I wish to go on the train.”

“If we do, you will have to help carry the luncheon,” said mother.

“Oh, shall we take things to eat?” shouted Peter. “Goody, goody! Then let us go in our carriage.”

“I think that will be easier,” said mother.

The day of the fair was warm and bright. Mother and father were up early. So were Peter and Polly.

Mother got the breakfast, and washed the dishes, and put up the luncheon. Father fed the horse, and milked the cow, and fed the hens.

Polly made the beds. She was in a great hurry to get them done.

She smoothed out all the wrinkles in mother’s bed. She smoothed out all the wrinkles in father’s bed. She smoothed out all the wrinkles in Peter’s bed.

When she came to her own bed she said, “I shall not smooth out all my wrinkles. It takes too long. I wish to be downstairs and know what is going on.”

You see that mother and father and Polly were all busy. And Peter was busy, too. He was busy getting into everybody’s way.

He stood just where mother wished to walk. Then he went upstairs and stood just where Polly wished to walk. But he did not mean to do so.

At last mother said, “Peter, why don’t you run out and sit in the carriage? In a few minutes, father will harness Mary. I am almost ready now.”

“I will,” said Peter. He got his hat and his coat. Father had drawn the two-seated carriage out of the barn. Peter climbed into it.

He waited a long, long time. He thought that he had waited all the morning. But it was really only half an hour.

At last Polly came. Then father brought out the luncheon basket. He harnessed Mary. Mother came out of the side door. She was ready, too.

Mother and Polly sat on the back seat. Father and Peter sat in front.

Down the hill they went. Past the store and through the woods, past Farmer Brown’s and on, on, on to Large Village the road ran.

“I never was so happy before in all my life,” said Polly. “Just think! We are going to the fair, and we are going to have a picnic, too. I must jump up and down.”

“Jump then,” said mother. “But remember the blacksmith’s pig. Do not jump out.”

Through Large Village they went. Then the road became crowded. There were many carriages. There were more automobiles.

They had to drive very slowly. But at last they came in sight of the Fair Grounds.