October, 1938
T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
335
Junior King's Business By M A RTH A S. HOOKER
TH E BIGGEST JACK-O ’-LANTERN B y H elen F razee -B ower Illustration by Ransom D. M arvin
I T W A S the biggest and the best pump kin that Sister had ever seen. For weeks she and Danny had guarded it as it lay concealed under the leaves of the huge pumpkin vine that covered most of their "very own” part of the garden. Not even Mother knew it was there. It was their Big Secret. There were moments when Sister had almost told—only a quick warning finger upon Danny’s lips had made her re member. But the need for silence was almost over now, for today was Hallow e’en, and tonight they would spring their Big Secret. They had divided up the honors: Danny was to carve the face, and Sister was to put the jack-o’-lantem in the kitchen window to frighten Mother. She could not remember when she had been so excited. Never be fore had she had a secret from Mother. It had been great fun keeping the secret, but it would be even better fun when she could share it. Letting Mother in on things al ways made them better. Happily for the children, this was the day for the Missionary Society to meet, and Mother left right after lunch. Julia, who came in to stay with them on the few oc casions that Mother could not be at home, thought the Big Secret was wonderful and gladly provided Danny with the tools to go to work-—a large butcher knife to slash out the huge mouth and the round staring eyes, and a smaller paring knife to be used in carving out the teeth. The children hur ried to the garage in high spirits, and as Danny worked upon the jack-o’-lantern, Sister danced around him singing a song they had both learned at school. “Be still, will you?” said Danny. “You make me nervous. I’m afraid this knife will slip and I’ll make a mistake. Girls are a nuisance anyway. Here I do all the hard work and you get the fun of putting the jack-o’-lantem in the window and still all that you can do is make it harder for me.” Sister became serious at once. “W ell, I’ll be good, Danny. I do think you are a peach to let me put it in the window—even if I did find it first. Not many brothers are as good to their sisters as you are to me.” "W ell, never mind the bouquets,” said Danny. “What do you think of the jack- o’-lantem? Am I doing all right?” "He’s wonderful. He almost scares me," said Sister. "I can hardly wait to see
Mother when she walks into her kitchen and sees that thing in her window. I don’t think we’d better show it to Baby. It might frighten him too much.” "W ell, we'll let Mother see it first and see what she says. I think myself it will be too much for Baby.” Danny finished the great grinning mouth and began notch ing it for the teeth. "W h at we better do,” he said, "is for me to keep Mother in the living room while you put the pumpkin in the window. Then you can come and tell her some one wants to see her out in back. When she goes out into the kitchen, before she turns on the light, there will be our Big Secret staring at her from the window, and won’t she be surprised!” "I think she will be more than surprised,” laughed Sister. “I shouldn’t wonder if she would squeal right out. I wish we could scare Father, too.” "W ell, we can’t,” said Danny. "He works until ten tonight, and you know Mother wouldn’t let us stay up that late.” "I suppose not. Are you about through now? Let’s put it right here on the shelf behind these tools. Then I’ll know just where to find it. Now we’d better go and wash ourselves and get the pumpkin smell off before she gets home.” The children were cleaned up and wait ing when Mother arrived, her arms full of packages from the store. Danny ran to help her. Sister pointed proudly to the table she had set for dinner. Julia was dismissed and soon the family were gathered about the table for their evening meal. Sister was so excited that Danny thought he would need to make a little conversation to keep Mother from noticing it. “Did you have a nice meeting, Mother?” he asked. “Very nice, Son. W e had a fine message and a little social time later to honor our missionaries who are leaving for India. That is the reason I was so late.” "Did you have any refreshments?” asked Sister. "Yes, we had some coffee and pumpkin pie with whipped cream.” At the mention of
"Whatever is the matter with you, Sis ter, tonight?" asked Mother. “You act so strangely. What has happened?” "Nothing has happened —, yet,” • said Sister. Danny glared again. “Mother, could you help me with my arithmetic tonight?” he asked. “I’m not getting along very well, and I want you to explain something.” "Certainly, Son. Suppose you put Baby to bed tonight, Sister, and I ’ll go and help Danny. W e can all do the dishes later.” "That’s a good idea,” said Sister and gave Danny a knowing wink, which was her way of telling him, "And as soon as I'm through I’ll go and get it.” Danny nodded. Fifteen minutes later, when he and Mother were in the midst of a problem, Sister came bursting in. "Oh, Mother, some one wants you out in back,” she announced. “W ho is it? W hy didn’t you ask them in?” said Mother, hurrying to the door. The children held their breath waiting for Mother’s squeal from the kitchen, but they heard nothing. They looked at one another in astonishment. Presently Mother returned. “W hy, Sister, what’s the matter with you? There was no one there,” she said. Danny looked confounded. “W hat in the world— ” he began, but was interrupted by a great sob from Sister. “Oh, Danny, I forgot to light it. No wonder she couldn’t see it! I forgot the candle. Oh, oh!” “W ell, if that isn’t just like a girl,” said Danny. “What are you children talking about, anyway?” scolded Mother. “I can't make any sense out of either one of you tonight.” “Oh, oh!” sobbed Sister, throwing her self into Mother’s arms. “It was our Big Secret. And now I ’ve spoiled it all. W e ’ve kept it for weeks— the pumpkin, you know. It was the biggest and the best one I ever saw. Danny carved the scariest face on it today, and I was supposed to put it in the kitchen window to frighten you to
night. And now the fun’s all spoiled. Oh, oh!” sobbed Sister. “Never mind,” said Mo ther. “Let’s go and see what a good job Danny did on the jack-o’-lantem, and then let’s save it to scare Father. He’d
pumpkin pie, Sister let out a nervous whoop and quickly covered her mouth with her hand. Danny glared at her.
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