"THE WASHOE COUNTY FAIR "
[Part two of " HOP SING'S GARDEN "]
By:
Lynne G.
Now that
all the extra vegetables, fruit and berries had been delivered to the general
store in
On Thursday Hop Sing baked three apple pies, one for the contest and the other two were for the Cartwright family. After breakfast, Hop Sing and Little Joe headed out to the fruit orchard to pick the best looking apples for the pies.
After the apples had been picked and washed, Little Joe watched as Hop Sing cut the apples in small pieces and he wished that he could help cut the apples too, but he wasn't allowed to use knives yet.
When all the apples had been cut, Hop Sing put them in a large bowl. In the meantime, he had measured out the right amount of sugar, and cinnamon in a smaller bowl, and they had been stirred together. Hop Sing handed the smaller bowl of sugar and cinnamon to Little Joe and said," you empty bowl of sugar and cinnamon in bowl over apples." "Kay," said Little Joe who was very happy to help, and as he poured the mixture over the apples. " Good boy. Now we stir into apples," Hop Sing said as he smiled at his little helper, and they carefully mixed the apples, sugar and cinnamon together. They stirred it until it looked just right to Hop Sing.
" Now we let stand and we make pie crusts now," Hop Sing told Little Joe. Hop Sing got out another large bowl that he sat down, and then he carefully measured out the right amount of flour, butter, and cold water.
" You put little bit of flour in big bowl now," said Hop Sing as he watched Little Joe. Little Joe had his tongue out the side of his mouth as he dumped some flour into the bowl. Hop Sing added some butter and cold water and mixed that together, then he told Little Joe to add the rest of the flour, plus the rest of the butter and water into the bowl. Hop Sing mixed it all together. He soon had all dough made. Little Joe was very interested in everything Hop Sing was doing. " Hop Sing, dat dunt wook wike pie cust," said the little boy with a puzzled look on his face.
" Not yet. Hop Sing have to roll it out to make crusts," Hop Sing told the child. " Kay." " Little boy go get pie pans for Hop Sing," asked Hop Sing. " Kay." Soon Little Joe had laid down the three pie pans. " Thank you. You big help for Hop Sing," Hop Sing said as he looked down at the big bright green eyed child, who was smiling back at him.
Hop Sing got all the crusts rolled out and into the pie pans. Then he put the apples in each pan. He had made a top crust for each pie and had also made a design on the top of each crust. Hop Sing had also made a little extra crust and apple pie filling so he could make a special little pie for his little helper. Hop Sing had a small pie pan that would be just perfect for his little pie surprise.
Now it was time to bake all of the pies. As the pies were baking, Little Joe helped Hop Sing clean up the kitchen. Hop Sing had to laugh at Little Joe because the little boy had flour in his hair, on his face, and on the apron Hop Sing had made him wear. Of course the apron was too big for this special little boy.
" By the time the kitchen was nice and clean, and Hop Sing had cleaned up his little helper, and they had their lunch, the pies were finished. " It weawee smells yummy in here Hop Sing," said the sleepy little boy. " You go up room for nap now. I be up in couple of minutes to tuck you in bed," Hop Sing said. Little Joe headed for his room, while Hop Sing took the pies out of the oven. The pies all looked perfect with their golden brown flakey crusts. Hop Sing was happy at the way the pies all looked. Then he went up to cover up his little helper. When HopSing got to Little Joe's room, the little boy was sound to sleep, and his thumb was tucked in his mouth. Hop Sing gently covered up the sleeping child, bent down and kissed his curly head.
A couple of hours later, Little Joe woke up from his nap and he went down stairs to find Hop Sing. " Hi Hop Sing. I's woked up," said the yawning child. " You have good nap?" asked Hop Sing. " I's fink so. I's was sweepin', so I's guess I swepted good," the grinning child said.
" You sit down for snack. Here glass of milk, and I make you your own special little apple pie for helping Hop Sing all morning," said Hop Sing as he put the small pie and glass of milk on the table in front of Little Joe. " Fer me? Ya maded me my own pie? Oh fank you Hop Sing. I's neba haded my own pie befo," said the very excited little boy.
Little Joe took a bite of his pie, chewed it up good, swallowed and said," Oh Hop Sing, dis is so good. You hab a bites too," Hop Sing took a bite of pie and he was very happy at how good it tasted. " Thank you for letting Hop Sing have bite of pie." said Hop Sing. " Wants moe bites Hop Sing?" asked Little Joe. " No thank you," Hop Sing said. After Little Joe had finished his pie and drank his milk, he gave Hop Sing a big hug and kiss, and again thanked him for making a small pie just for him. " I's wuv ya Hop Sing," said Little Joe. " Hop Sing love Little Joe very much too," Hop Sing said as he hugged his little helper. Little Joe looked at the three pies and he said," Dem pies sure is purdy Hop Sing." " Thank you Little Joe. They came out very good," Hop Sing said. " Hop Sing, ya make da bery bested pies," Little Joe told Hop Sing. " You help Hop Sing make good pies," Hop Sing said. " I twi ta," the child said.
The next day Hop Sing and Little Joe made some cakes, one for the contest and two for the family. With the extra cake batter, Hop Sing made Little Joe a cupcake. Hop Sing loved to make special things for the youngest Cartwright. He loved this little boy as if he were his very own son. The whole house smelled like chocolate while the cakes were baking.
Little Joe loved to help Hop Sing do the baking because he got to lick the bowls afterwards. This time the little boy's face was covered in chocolate, which made Hop Sing laugh.
After the cakes were baked and cooled down, Hop Sing made some chocolate frosting and he frosted the cakes and the special cupcake. Little Joe got to lick out this bowl too. " Yum, dis chocowate is so yummy Hop Sing," said the child who face had chocolate all over it.
Little Joe was so excited to have his very own little chocolate cake, and he knew that when he woke up from his nap that he could eat his cake
After his nap, he came running down the stairs and out to the kitchen where he sat down. Hop Sing gave him a glass of cold milk and his little cake. As he slowly ate his cake, he keep saying, " dis is so good. Hab a bites Hop Sing." Hop Sing took a small bite and again, he was very happy at how wonderful the cake had turned out. " I's weawee wuv chocowate cake," Little Joe said as he took the last bite of his cupcake, then finished up his mlik. " Fank ya fo makin' dis cake fo me Hop Sing," said the little boy who had chocolate frosting all over his sweet little face. " Thank you for letting Hop Sing taste it," Hop Sing said as he chuckled at the frosting all over the child's face. Hop Sing cleaned up Little Joe and once he was clean, he went to play with his soldiers and their horses.
When Ben and Adam returned home that afternoon, Little Joe told them that he had helped Hop Sing make cakes, and about his own little cake. Ben loved that excited look on his baby sons face.
That coming Saturday was the Washoe County Fair which everyone looked forward too. All kinds of activities were planned for that day. Besides the contest for baked goods, there was a contest for the quilts, clothes, and other handicrafts. There were also animal shows, greased pig contest, a horse shoe throwing contest and many other games for all ages.
Little Joe was really excited about the fair. He didn't get to go last year because he was ill with a very bad cold. He was three years old the last time he was at the fair, but he didn't remember it at all.
After breakfast on Saturday morning, Hop Sing put his pie and cake in the buckboard. He was looking forward to the baked goods contest this year. Also in the buckboard was a picnic blanket, a picnic basket that had plates, forks, spoons, knves, napkins, and potato salad. The rest of the food could be bought at the fair.
Little Joe was so excited that he could barely sit still. Adam and Hoss rode their horses, while Ben, Hop Sing and Little rode with Ben in the buckboard.
The fair
was taking place in a very large open field that had an area with lots of
tree's in the picnic area. This was located just outside of
The Wagner Chicken Ranch was providing all the chicken that was being cooked at the fair and would be for sale for anyone who wanted chicken. There was also lots of potato salad which Hop Sing and several other people had made that would also be for sale. Daisy's restaurant had made all the desserts, coffee, and lemonade that would also be sold.
As soon as the Cartwrights and Hop Sing had arrived, Hop Sing took his pie and cake over to the baked goods tent for the contest. Ben and Little Joe found a perfect place to lay down their picnic blanket, under a large tree. They put their picnic basket down on the blanket and soon they were ready for the fair. Adam and Hoss went off to find their friends, while Ben and Little Joe went to look at the animals that were on display. Little Joe's favorite animals were the horses. He also loved to see the rabbits too.
Adam and Hoss and their friends deicided to try their luck at some of the games that were there.. Some of the games were, horse shoe throwing, throwing bean bags at empty whiskey bottles, throwing wooden rings around bottles and a pie eating contest, which was Hoss's favorite thing. For the little kids, they had a pony shoe throwing booth, a throwing bean bags at small bottles, and trying to rope a large wooden cow.
There were prizes for anyone who won at the games they were trying. For the older boys, there were hatbands, knives, and ribbons. For the older girls who wanted to try their luck at the games, there were handmade dolls, hair ribbons, hair combs for holding hair in place, and pins.
For the children, there were handmade dolls, stuffed toy bears, stuffed toy horses, cats, and dogs. Also, there were wooden carved animals and toy soldiers and their horses. Bags of candy would also be given to any child who tried any of the games.
" Papa, can I's twi ta win sompfing, pweaze?" begged Little Joe. " You sure can sweetheart. What would you like to try first?" asked Ben. " Uh, I's wanna fo dem pony shoes," said the excited little boy. " Hi Ben, Little Joe," said Clifford, who was in charge of this game. " Hi Clifford," Ben greeted. " Little Joe, would you like to try your luck at getting a ringer?" You get four pony shoes for a penny. For every ringer you get, you win a prize. Little Joe's eyes got even bigger than they already were. Ben gave Clifford a penny, and Clifford handed Ben four pony shoes. Ben handed Little Joe one shoe. " Good luck son," Ben said. " Good luck Little Joe," Clifford said.
Little Joe took the pony shoe and stood there eyeing the metal stick in the ground. He took a deep breath and tossed the pony shoe, and he got a ringer. " Papa, I's gots a winga, he shouted, jumping up and down and giggling. " You sure did sweetheart," Ben said proudly. " Great shot Little Joe. See if you can get some more," said Clifford, who was very happy for Little Joe. Once again, the child eyed the stick and tossed another pony shoe, and again he got another ringer. In fact he got all four ringers and he was so excited. " Papa, I's gots em all!" squealed a very excited Little Joe. " You sure did son," Ben proudly said again. " Great tosses Little Joe!" said a very happy Clifford. Little Joe had won four prizes, which were a beautifully carved horse, a toy stuff horse, a basket of full of wooden soldiers and their horses, and a bag of candy. " Fank you!" said the excited little boy. Clifford smiled as he watched one very happy and excited little boy proudly holding all the prizes he had just won.
" Little Joe, I am so proud of you. You did great son," Ben said. " Fank you Papa. It was fun. Ain't dis wooden horsey neat. I wuv da stuffed horsey too and I's can sweep wiv him too," said the happy little boy. " You sure can sleep with the horse sweetheart," said Ben as he carried the basket of soldiers and their horses. There was enough room in the basket for the bag of candy too. Little Joe carried his wooden carved horse and his stuffed toy horse, and he had a big smile on his little face.
All the
prizes had been made by the older people in
Ben and Little Joe watched the greased pig contest, which made Little Joe giggle. Hoss won that contest, and he won a big blue ribbon, and a bag of candy. That made him very happy.
Ben and Little Joe left to get some lemonade before they headed over to watch the baked goods contest. After they had drank their lemonade, they went to see how Hop Sing had done in the contest. They saw Hop Sing being presented with two first place ribbons and Hop Sing had a big smile on his face.
" Oh, Hop Sing, ya wonned fust pwace," said an excited Little Joe. " Congratulations Hop Sing!" said a very happy Ben. " Thank you Mr. Cartlight, Little Joe. Hop Sing very happy to win first place for both pie and cake, and Little Joe help Hop Sing make pie and cake too," said a very happy Hop Sing.
" Hop Sing, wook at whats I's dun wonned fo fowin' pony shoes!" said a very excited Little Joe. " Good boy. You do very good too!" Hop Sing told the child as he looked at the prizes the little boy had won.
" Papa, can I's twi ta win some moe pwizes?" asked Little Joe. " You sure can sweetie," Ben said. Hop Sing, Ben and Little Joe walked over to the booth area where it was 'rope a cow'. Ben gave Tim a penny and Tim handed Little Joe a rope. Tim wished Little Joe good luck. " Fank you," said the child. Ben and Hop Sing held the little boy's other prizes.
Little Joe eyed the cow, and he swung the rope, and he launched it towards the large wooden cow. He roped the cow on his first try. " Papa, I's wopped da moo cow!" shouted the excited little boy. " You really did baby," Ben said as he smiled at his little son. " Good job Little Joe!" shouted Hop Sing, who was also smiling. " CONGRATULATIONS LITTLE JOE !" Tim said loudly as he was amazed at this little boy's roping skills. " Fank you," the child squealed. Tim asked Little Joe what prize he would like. The child looked at all the handmade prizes and he pointed to a stuffed toy kitty. Tim handed him the kitty and a bag of candy. " Oh fank you so much!" Little Joe said as he hugged his toy kitty.
As Ben, Hop Sing and Little Joe walked along where the games were, Little Joe thought about what he wanted to try his luck at next. He decided to try at knocking over the empty bottles with bean bags. There were four bean bags and four bottles for a penny. Little Joe took his aim and threw his first bean bag, and over went the bottle. Luck was on this little boys side as he knocked over all four bottles with his four bean bags. " Papa, Hop Sing, I's knocked em all ober!" the child squealed with delight. " This looks like your lucky day sweetheart," Ben said as he was very excited for his little son. This time, Little Joe won a prize for each bottle he knocked over. One prize was a carved rearing horse, a handmade stuff toy bear, a carved bucking horse, a carved running horse, and a bag of candy. " Oh fank you!" Little Joe said. Ted told Little Joe that he was the only little boy to knock over all four bottles, and that made Little Joe feel very proud.
By now, Ben, Hop Sing and Little Joe had their arms full of the prizes Little Joe had won, so they decided to head back to their picnic blanket. They laid down all the prizes and Little Joe sat down to look at everything he had won. He was one very happy and excited little boy.
Adam and Hoss returned to where the family's blanket was. They both were getting a big kick out of their baby brother and the way he told them about how he won each of his prizes. " WOW, little brother, you sure did great at winning all these neat lookin' prizes," Hoss said as he was looking at all the prizes. " Good going little brother," Adam told the child.
By now all the Cartwrights and Hop Sing were hungry, so Ben, Adam and Hoss went to buy some fried chicken, desserts, coffee and lemonade. Hop Sing and Little Joe got out all the plates, forks, spoons, knives, napkins, glasses, cups and potato salad. When Ben, Adam and Hoss had brought all the food, the family sat down to eat their late lunch, and to talk about the fair and all the fun they were having, and everything that they had seen. By the time they had finished their lunch, Little Joe had fallen sound to sleep, with his stuffed toy horse tucked under his arm. Hop Sing offered to stay with the sleeping child so Ben, Adam and Hoss could go back to the fair for a while, and that would give him time to clean up from their lunch, and for him to relax for a while too.
All to
soon, it was time for the fair to end for another year. Everyone had a
wonderful time, and the fair had raised a lot of money for
Little Joe played with his new toys while he waited for dinner. He had introduced all his new soldiers and their horses to his other soldier and their horses. By now his army of soldiers was getting bigger and that made him very happy. Ben let him have one piece of candy when they first got home, and Ben told him that he could have another piece after dinner.
Today had been one of Little Joe's happiest days since his momma died. This day had been as much fun and exciting as his birthday or Christmas Day.
Just before dinner, Little Joe put all of his toy soldiers and their horses in his toy box which was near the fireplace. Ben had helped him carry his carved horses, and his stuffed toys up to his room, but he brought one stuffed toy back down stairs with him, his horse.
After a dinner of soup and sandwiches, Adam took Little Joe up to his room and got him into his nightshirt, then they came back down stairs. Little Joe wanted his Papa to hold him now, and tell him a story. Ben picked up his very tired little boy on put him on his lap. The child who was having trouble keeping his eyes open was holding onto his new stuffed toy horse up against his chest. He had put his thumb in his mouth, and he leaned against Ben's chest, and he closed his eyes.
Before Ben could tell him a story, Little Joe was in a very deep sound sleep. Ben looked down at his baby boy, and he kissed the top of his curly haired head. Ben just sat there holding his sleeping son, and thinking about how lucky he was to have his three wonderful sons.
He picked up his sleeping little son and headed up the stairs to the child' room with the child safely in his arms. Ben laid the little boy down on his bed, covered him up , while the little boy was still holding his horse in his little arms.
Ben looked down at his little boy, smiled and he thanked Marie for this precious little boy. " Good night precious. Sweet dreams. I love you baby." Ben leaned down and he kissed his little son, turned down the lamp, and again he looked at his baby, and he left the room.
THE END