THIS OMAHA DAILY BEE : SUTs DAY , " DECTSMKEH 17
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TALES Of YANKEE ENCHANTMENT. f
CYRIL AND Tim GXO.MI3. O
Hy Charles Mattel ! Loom is. a
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( Copyright , 1 < OS , by C'harle * Ilattell Loomls.l
There was not n doubt about It , the post
box on UID lamp post at the cornrr was be
witched. The people In the vicinity were
most of them writers and wrote the loveliest
stories that you ever read nnd they always
posted them In the Inmp box on the corner
nnd had done so for years ; Indeed , some of
the very loveliest stories hail been posted
twenty times In that name box. How they
over came back had often puzzled the letter
box , who was of an Inquisitive turn of mind ,
but they were certainty posted about once
In BO often.
That was before the box was bewitched.
Now , no matter how many stories and poems
nnd riddles and charades were dropped Into
the nperaturo , not one could be found when
the postman made- his rounds. The box
wan always empty. At first pcoplo thought
that It was thieves and a man was placed
at the opposite corner to look as If ho was
just pausing by , but although ho stood In
thai , attitude for one .whole hour nftcr a
particularly largo batch of literature bad
been dripped Into the box by at least six
different writers , nnd although ho watched
that box as carefully as a sleepy man could
yet not n soul opened It. Hut -when the
postman came around It was perfectly
empty , Perhaps I have not been explicit
enough , If you know what that means. Let
ters posted in the daytime were not lost.
It was only after dark that the bewitchment
took place.
Now there was one writer who never wrote
anything but fairy stories and she had a
con about 10 yearfl old who knew that there
were fairies. He pitied children who said
TV 1th .1 lofty air , "Oh , yes , when I was a
kid I believed In fairies , but I found out
long ago that there were none. " Ho used
t. say to these superior boys nnd girls :
"How do you know there aren't fairies ?
The world Is n largo place and there are
many nights when you sleep from 8 until
7 next day. How can you be sure
that the fairies do not hold revels somewhere
nt night ? And If anywhere why not In
Now York ? " And then the others would
Bay : "Oh , wo don't want to argue. Be
lieve In falrlca If you want to and play with
lilocks and dolls , too , but we're beyond
euch things. "
Well , now , for my part , I'm going en 60
nnd yet 1 wouldn't say there nro no fairies
because what would become of the beautiful
and authentic history of Cinderella It It
were proved that fairy folk were Imaginary ?
No , there are fairies , depend upon It , and if
no haven't seen them It'n our misfortune.
I never saw the Capo of Oood Hope , but I'm
euro It's around somewhere.
This Is a good deal of talk , it eeems to
HE LEFT HIS ROOM IJY MEANS OP A
HOPE.
me , nnd nothing nt all about that Itmnp box.
Well , Cyril Mcrton , who believed In fairies ,
was sure that a gnome was In the box and
that ho was living on letters. Ho said noth
ing to any one , but 0110 night after ho had
cone to bed and all the house was quiet he
arose softly and dressed himself nnd left
his room by moans ot a rope which he had
concealed there that day. Then ho wait
lo the lump box.
Ho had small , delicate hands and ho put
ono In the aperture and felt for the letters.
There was not ono. Then ho posted an
envelope containing nothing but blank paper
and putting his car to the opening ho
listened. Ho could distinctly hear little
Jaws champing and paper being torn. Ho
was now perfectly sure that there was a
bad llttlo fairy inside the box. Ho ho put
his mouth to the aperture and said :
"Llttlu gnome , llttlo gnome , como from
within
To eat up tha lettfars Is surely a sin. "
I don't say that the gnome would have
minded you or mo or any ot thoto children
that don't believe In fairies , but I do know
that an soon as the giiomo heard Cyril's volco
ho oozed out of the aperture and sat him
self down cross-legged on the top. He was
about tlio size of a squirrel nnd wore a
tight-fitting suit made ot wavcn grasses o
different shades of groen. A llttlo bit of the
envelope of the letter that Cyril hud postci
was Btlcklui ? to his lip , but the rest was
evidently eaten.
Cyril cam ( i to business at once , llu said
"Don't you know , llttlo gnoaic , that you're
making trouble for a great many pcoplo
Most nil who llvu around hero write stories
and they get their living by selling them
If you eat all tlielr stories , after a while
< hey won't have any money to buy food am
clothoa and then they will all starve. "
Thii llttlo gnoma grinned and began to
whistle ; the faintest , highest whlstlu yoi
over heard. "I don't euro for people , " h
said , finally. "People are never kind to me
I'm after a story ; that's why I eat th
letter * . You see the king of the gnomes ha
offered the hand nf hki daughter In marrlag
to the gnome that can tell the best story , so
1'vo been eating thi'to letters steadily fen
n month now. In hopes of teaming one , bu
I don't eeem to gut ono In my head on )
In my mouth aud 1'cn afraid that before
team ono scrno other gnome will step In
ahead of mo and marry the princess. Htm'
n beautiful creature , as green as n katy
did , ntiil her eyra are as rod as fire. "
Cyril felt HUe laughing at the Idea o
learning n story by o.itlng the paper on
which It wasurltH'iihut he was too coiirtom
to do no , llotnld : "Now , Mr. Gnome , you'v
gone about this bunlness the wrong wa >
You'vo eaten up a lot of valuable niniui
scripts and they haven't done you any gooi
nt all , but I can teach you stories just a
fact as you want to learn them If you'll com
up to my housn any night. "
The gnome ehowed his delight In hla lit
tie green face. "Oh , I'll come nil right
only I don't want you to have a crowd ther
to look at me. I'm not fond of huma
beings. You're the only ono that was eve
civil to mo and I won't forget It. "
"Oomo on now , " tald Cyril , so the gnom
lumped to the pavement and skipped alon
fcesldo Cyril , whistling In his tiny ahrll
v-ay , nnd they soon came to the rope hangIng -
Ing from the window.
"Here , don't try to climb that , " said the
gnome as Cyril twisted the end around his
wrists and swung himself off the ground.
"I know a way uorth two of that. Put
your foot on my head. "
"I'm afraid of hurting you. "
"Put your foot on my head , 1 say , " said
the gnome , and In a tone that Invited obcdl-
enco. Cyril placed his foot upon the little
man's head and felt himself rise to his - window
dow as If ho were floating on n bit of dan
delion down. By the way , why do they
call It dandelion down when It's up most
of the time ?
When Cyril and the gnome \\ero In the
room the former threw himself upon the
ed , and the latter sat upon the footboard.
"Now tell me a story that will plcaso the
Ing. "
So Cyril told him "Puss In Boots , " and
ie was delighted.
"Say , did you make that up ? " said he , ,
when Cyril had finished.
"No , It's older than wo are , " said the boy.
You see ho know a great deal.
"Not older than I am , " said the gnome ,
ecldedly. "I'm going on a thousand and
wo. "
MPhew ! " said Cyril. "You don't any-
where's near look it. "
"I don't feel a day over 900 , but then all
my family are very young-feeling. My
randfathcr is 4,000 and you'd never take him
o be over 3,700. It's because we're very
particular not to let the- sun shine on us.
'vo never seen the sun In my life , but I had
a cousin who followed the human's proverb ,
early to bed and early to rise , ' and the sun-
htno shriveled him up so that he looks
mndrcds ot years older than he is. Ho
used to go to bed at 7 In the evening and
get up at G In the morning and we all go to
jed at 3 In the morning nnd get up at 8 In
ho evening. "
Cyril looked at his clock. It was flve
minutes to 3.
"I'm sorry to hurry you , " be said , "but
f that's the case you'd better bo going. "
"Well , " said the gnome , "I thank you for
he story and you may depend upon it I
von't eat any more of those Inky old letters.
They didn't taste good a bit and If I hadn't
oved the king's daughter very much 1
wouldn't have eaten one. "
"Como again tomorrow ni " began Cyril ,
but the gnome had vanished.
Ho waited a week , but the little Imp did
not como back. On the other hand no more
otters were lost and the writers were so en
couraged that they wrote an unusual number
of beautiful stories and I dare say you may
read some of them In the magazlnco before
ong.
Cyril knew that It would be foolish for him
to toll his neighbors that ho had caught a
gnome eating their letters because they were
not enlightened enough to believe him , but
: io did tell his mother and she said : "Well ,
1 ouspccted as much. I knew no thieving
letter carrier could have gotten away with
them. "
"But he didn't come back , " said Cyril ,
halt crying , "and he said that ho was going
to tell mo how the king liked the story h
had learned. "
"Give him time , my dear , " mid his mother.
"I take It as n good sign. If the story hadn't
suited ho would have been back for another.
I dare say that ho is busy getting ready for
his marrlngc. "
And that night the gnome proved that Mrs.
Morton had guessed right , for after Cyril had
been sleeping some hours ho was nwnkoned
by n breath of cold air upon his face , nnd
opening his eyes ho beheld the llttlo gnome
sitting upon the pillow by his side.
"You're n brick ! " was his flrst words to
Cyril.
Cyril was wide awake In an Instant and
ho said : 'So the king liked It ? " Ho Jumped
out of bed the better to listen. As for the
gnoCTio ho leaped to the footboard and crossed
his kneea In the drollest way Imaginable.
"Like It ? " said he. "Why , 1 thought he'd
never stop laughing. He said that It was
the best story he'd ever heard and ho gave
mo his daughter's hand as ho had promised ,
nnd I've been so busy getting ready for the
wedding that I haven't had time to como
before. You see , I had to engage a bis
orchestra of crickets and katydids and frogs
CYRIL THREW HIMSELF UPON THE BED AND THE GNOME SAT UPON THE
FOOTBOARD.
, and locusts and I bad to go to Japan for
them because the best Insect musicians are
Japanese. It takes tlmo to go to Japan
oven the way I travel , on a moonbeam. We're
tu bci married tomorrow night and I've
brought you a piece of wedding cake and a
THE GNOME SAT HIMSELF DOWN
CROSS-LEGGED ON THE TOP.
present. Only don't eat the cnko until to
morrow or it will make you dream. And
now I must be going as It's most 3 o'clock. "
Cyril got up and shook hands with the
lllilo fellow , sincerely sorry that ho was
going.
"Just think , " paid the gnome , "It you
hadn't como that night 1 would still bo
eating these horrled , Inky old manuscripts
CYRIL FELT HIMSELF RISE TO HIS
WINDOW AS IF Ht2 WERE FLOATING
ON A BIT OF DANDELION DOWN.
and never getting any story at all for the
king. Oh , I wish you could sco the princess. I
She's a young llttlo thing ; only 200 , but she |
Is so pretty. Well , I must be going. Hero's |
the cake and hero's n pin to remember mo
by. It's an emerald made out of a real
katydid. Bye by. "
And the gnome vanished.
In the morning Cyril found a piece of toad
etool on his pillow. That was the wedding-
cake. Ho did not eat It. But ho has the
emerald pin to this day.
MAX AXD HIS MOUSTACHE.
Clinrnolcr Itprcnlcil l y the Wny ihc
Hnlr GrcMVN mi the UIIIKT IIn.
Whether It bo true or no , that the mous
tache Is a safe guldo to character , here arc
some pictures from which anybody can tell
In a moment what kind of a man they nro
being Introduced to simply by studying his
moustache.
No. 1. Not much reliance Is to be placed
upon the character of a man with a. moustache -
tacho like this. Poor follow , ho is pos
sessed of llttlo principle , does not care how
ho looks , is Irregular In his habits , lacks
all reverence , hates work , and lives merely
for what pleasure he can find In lite.
I No. 2. This Is a busy man , with no tlmo
1 for trifles. He Is very prosaic , materialistic ,
| solid and absorbed In 'business affairs.
, No. 3. Ho does not betray very praise
worthy characteristics. iHls word Is worth
very little ; he can not be depended upon ,
for his opinions change with every zephyr.
No. 4. Hero Is a typo of a sad ,
melancholy man with a limited amount of
self-consciousness , who hardly knows his
own will , and requires an adviser at every
turn In life.
No. 5. This moustache indicates a man
of great determination. Its ovsner is most
charmed with himself , and need not 'be ex
pected to manifest any great dcgroo ot
conscientiousness.
No. 6. The man who wears a moustache
like this Is extremely conceited , determined
and less conscientious than the possessor
of No. 5.
No. 7. Hero at last Is a man worthy ot
esteem. He Is large-hearted , witty , tender
and true to these whom he calls cither
friends or loved ones.
No. 8. This moustache belongs to a man
of firm character. Ho is a thinker and at
the same tlmo one who has the ability to
do what he decides should be done.
No. 9. But here Is the mark of a 4nan
generally known as a "lady killer. " Ho Is
a barefaced flatterer , giddy and soulless.
One of whom to beware ilf you would be
happy. *
No. 10. Hare as this moustache maybe
bo it ie the mark of an exceptional man.
Ho possesses great will power , nothing can
discourage him. Ho Is talented and proud ,
but reverent. Ho knows his limitations , but
brooks no rival.
PRATTLE OF THE YOUXOSTEIIS.
Robert Is being told by his mamma how
to conduct himself in company.
"It you are asked to have cake a second
time , " says mamma , "answer , 'No , thank
099
Nothing nickes such a satisfactory Holiday Gift as a piece of Furniture.
It is a lasting niruiibiimci n tcivicealilc , iitcful and an oimnwntnl present
that will give pleasure to anyone.
Tb we is ample < -i pcilunMy lo express any depth cf feeling of friendship or love
in the wide range of a eeleeticn , ficin a Jaidinier stand of modest model to a bedroom
suite of the most elaboiate design. AVe. want to jnteiest > ou in our Furniture from a
Holiday standpoint you already luiow it frcm a hcusefuinij-hing point of view.
Dressing Tables Holiday Rugs
A clnlnty Dressing Tnblo for a dainty woman's bnmlolr Is a We have Just received the largest shipment ot Small ntigs
meet ncccptnblo and cherished gift Many arc the pretty c cr brought to this city. Nearly two cnrloado of Hugs for
patterns from which to our great holiday sale over 300 varieties of well known
Bclect , in nil the wanted woods era it OH.
and finishes , ranging In prlrp frot' ' Genuine Smyrna Hugs. Oonulne Princess nugn.
SGxlS-lnch C.'c .10.\60-lnch J2.2S
26x5Mnch Jl.fiO 36x72-lliPh $3.23
Wilton Hugs , in Oriental
Many's tlio who has . 30xGO-lnch $2.00
woman longed for n pretty Writing Desk. effects.
It Is a piece of furniture graceful In Its line , taking up but 2Cx72-lnch $2.73 U7x54.lnch $3.50
little room , but making ' a convenient plaio for correspond nest Axmlnster Hugs. aCxG3-lnch $3.50
ence nnd woman's own 27x63-lnch $2.50 llcautlful French Wilton
belongings. ranging from Now designs O' n' 3Cx72-lnch $4.00 Hugs at $5.50 and $8.00.
Smyrna Hugs In the largo room sizes.
60x90 Smyrna Hugs jn.oo and $14.50
7.6x10.6 Smyrna Uuga $18.00 and $24.00
A Morris Chair Is BO sensible in its coiiisructlon , so restful 0x12 Smyrna Hugs $22.50 nnd $30.00
and so luxurious In Its repose that it Is one of the most pop- 8.3x10.0 Axmlnster Hugs nt $18.00 and $20.50
tllar clialra today.Unequalled
assortment as n gentleman's ranging chair from , to 37. !
Wednesday , December tith , wo plan * on nalo the largest
assortment of these beautiful Hugs ever shown In the wc t.
Mr. 0. T. Pushman will bo in charge of this sale and will
An article of furniture that appeals to all music lovers. It Is bo pleased to show his many customi-m and friends.
so convenient , systematic and Indispensable after once being A handsome line ot heavy Silk Portiere Cov-
used. An excellent assortment
to from choose from ranging Draperies
m n s > n a crsjn four colors , two shades ot green , rose
iParior Tables and red , extra high quality , very reasonable
A Parlor Table nowadays means everything from a simple oak atVory
Very choice line of
affair to the beautifully constructed com. All the carvers'
Louis the XVI. ,
skill , all the polishers' art. Every conceivable shape of top , Portieres at
Every graceful curve is displayed In the Hue wo are
Large new assortment ot very choice Tapestry
showing. Many are the patterns
beautiful
colorings , worth
from which to se.ect nt prices
considerably than
more
from B our
ranging price pair
Now line extra heavy Oriental effect
Portieres , go
To make the library cozy and delightful a comodlous table Is at , pair , $16.50 , $15.00 and
Important. It can bo as plain or as handsome as you may Just received , a special Importation of handsome
elect , but from oil r stock It Is sure to bo a valuable arti Screens direct from the Orient ,
cle ranging and reasonable In price , beautiful from designs prices to $15
from
In the above mentioned only hint at a few , to have you
Many arc the holiday suggestions to bo found In our appreciate the rich field In which to rummage for holiday
Carpet nnd Drapery Department. gifts.
"Make your selections now for Christmas delivery. "
Carpet Co. ,
1414-1416-1418 Douglas Street.
you , I've had plenty , ' and don't you forget
HI"What
What mother could do more for her child ?
But when the time comes , and Robert is
asked to have cake a second time , ho an
swers merely :
"No , thank you , I've had plenty. "
He docs not answer :
"No , thank you , I've had plenty , and
don't you forget It ! "
All this , of course , Is very humiliating
to Robert's parents and friends.
Teacher Do you know what a franchise
is ?
Pupil Not exactly ; but I know It's some
thing you grab.
"What la the moaning of the word
natural ? " asked the teacher of a small pupil. '
"It's the way we act before we learn man
ners , " "was the answer.
"Does your teacher glvo any reward of
merit ? " asked one llttlo boy of another.
"I guess so , " replied the other. "He
gives mo a llckln' most every day and says
I merit two. "
"I guess I'll marry Johnny Jones when I
get growed up , " said little C-ycar-old Ethel.
"Oh , Nellie , " exclaimed a very weary
mother , "don't ask so many questions. "
"But , mamma , " queried the little one , "If
1 don't ask questions what can I ask ? "
"Do you really like him so much ? " asked
her mother.
"Oh , no , " replied Ethel , "it isn't that ;
but he happens to like the same kind of
candy I do. "
llolilicil tlio tiriivc.
A startling Incident , ot which Mr. John
Oliver of PblladelDhla was the sublcct. Is
narrated by him as follows : "I was In a
most dreadful condition. Mv skin was al-
iliost yellow , eyes sunken , tongue coated ,
pain continually in back and sides , no ap
petite gradually growing weaker day by
day. Three physicians had given me up.
Fortunately a friend advised trying 'Electric
Bitters , ' and to my great Joy and surprise
the first bottle made a decided Improvement
I continued their use for three weeks nnd
am now a well man. I know thev saved
my life and robbed the crave of another
victim. " No ono should fall to trv thorn.
Only 50 cents , guaranteed , at Kuhn & Co.'a
Irug store. i
I > R. CHARCOT'S TONIC TABLETS
pro thd only positively Rtiarantrcd reincdylor the
" 'tioiiBdV'ln'fc0'1'6" ' ' ' ? ' ' ' < "W' ' MolanclloIJcaulei1 |
wi : JUAIIA.VTIK : FOUJI ZJOXF.K
t" euro any cijOTwltluiposliUewrlitM
nntrn nrrofiiiH , ' ' '
tn ( mnnoy , nn
tniicatliiK liquors.
T LW ANFBno ( , TwmouT ,
rniiNpnatiHurv , I'ovcrly
" I Ilcntli. u-v > 3 rrcelnt
oufour1"11 " *
- - - - -
Mrcr , Dillon iJruu Co. , Bole Alien 1
lluta and Kuruuui. Omnlin. Neb.
Monticello , Ky. , May 12 ,
I have used Wine of Cardui for all stages of disordered men
ses , ana am now using it for the "change of life" , I have had doctors , but Wine of
Cardui is away ahead of doctors , for trouble like I have had. I have not done anything
to amount to much for months , and have been so weak S could not go out. I had cold
feelings and was sick at my stomach. After that 5 was taken with a kind of nervousness ,
with jerking all through my body and limbs. I had much headache and hot flushes at
night I really had all kinds of aches and pains , and swelling of the feet and ankles. No
tongue can tell of all my sufferings. I have used Thedford's Black-Draught with Wine
of Cardui , and am sure they are the very best medicines ever made for such trouble.
Mrs. L. E. STEELE.
Nearly a century's use has given Wine of Cardui a reputation for curing "female dis
eases" that no other medicine enjoys. When headaches , nervousness , dizziness , bearing
down pains , delayed monthly sickness or flooding give you warning of leucorrhoea or fall
ing of the womb or irregular or painful menstruation , you can save yourself much suffering
and misery by procuring a $1.00 bottle of Wine of Cardui at your drug store. The medi
cine is used with great success during pregnancy and the "change of life , " and after child
birth or miscarriage. It should be given every girl at the age of puberty. In cases requirign
special directions address the "Ladies1 Advisory Department , "
The Chattanooga Medicine Company , Chattanooga , Tennessee.
