THE OMAIIA SUNDAY BEE: FEBRUARY 10, 1907.
THE BUSY BEES have done wonderfully well with the original stories,
so well, la fact, that tiie editor found It hard to decide which de
Beryed the prizes. The first of these stories appear this week, but so
many have come in that there is not room for all and some will have
to wait. The boys and girls who keep sending In storleg of trips they
have taken must remember that the prizes this month are to be awarded for
original stories and these will be given preference,' so do not be disappointed
but try writing a story.
Some of the Busy Bees who won prises on the journey stories bave sent
In original stories and they are very good. But what do you think f One of
these very same writers would have gotten the prize this week if his story
had not been too long. I am afraid all the boys and girls cannot say the
Rules for Young Writers, for several stories exceeded the limit of 250 words
and so could not be used at all, for there Is not room. The next best story
this week was written by a girl, but she forgot to give her age, so her story
could not be tsod either. Wasn't that too bad? Everybody, however, remem
bered to use pen and ink and no one wrote on both sides of the paper, which,
wag a great improvement, and I hope everyone will continue to be careful.
The first prize was won this week by Louise Raabe, age 11 years, of
2609 North Nineteenth avenue, Omaha; second prize was awarded to Roea
mond Temple, age 13 years, of Kearney, Neb.
Those receiving honorary mention were Maurice Johnson, age 13 years,
of 1627 Locust street Omaha, and Helen Oocdrlch, age 12 years, of 4010
Nicholas street, Omaha.
Those who had the correct answers to Sunday's Rebus of February 3
were Emma Ring, 2520 South Eleventh street, Omaha; . Wilson D. Bryans,
age 9 years, 2125 Spencer street, Omaha; Myrna Hall, age 10 years, York,
Neb., and Bruce Calder, age 9 years, Wymore, Neb. (
The correct answer to Sunday's Rebus of February 3: "Ben was elck In
bed and could not play with his blocks, top and ball, but his mother gave him
some medicine and then he got well."
Tommy's Valentine Troubles
By Mud
FI y vnvvina " " 11 . v. -
I tine's dy Tommy was about the
I Villains fanv in (nan Tn m. var
Tommy was an artist. oft mat
ins; ukatchM ot his Meads, which.
according- to tils fond mother, were "speak
ing likenesses." To be sure some of these
friends declared the portraits drawn, by
Tommy were not true to life, pointing out
that oftentimes the eyes In a picture did
not exactly fit, or that other featnres were
"cut on the bias." But these small errors
were due to a nervous hand or a badly
sharpened pencil, as Tommy would explain
after listening- to a criticism of his work.
But the week before grand old St. Valen
tine's day found Tommy up to his chin
In work work that was to mean some
thing. If one were to be guided by the many
remarks made by Tommy to himself. They
sounded like this: "Ah. ha! now I've got
old Jim's legs Just r-l-g-b-t! He's bow
legged and has very large feet I'll not
make his face, for his nose and mouth are
too ugly for an artist to draw and do him
self justice. I'll just have the back of his
head showing."
'Then again he muttered, smiling o him
self, as he worked: "I'm getting Annie
Bell's portrait Just out of sight; her eyes
match beautifully and her white frock has
the correct number of tucks, for I counted
them last Sunday at Sunday school."
Tommy was doing the portraits of his
family, friends and the old family servants,
Jim and Nancy. These portraits, done In
pencil, were to serve as valentines, little
appropriate verses, composed by Tommy,
to go with them. The list was a long- one,
consisting of Tommy's parents, his aged
aunt, his young uncle, his school teacher,
his best girl (Annie Bell), their cook
(Nancy) and their man of all work (old
Jim). It was the bow legs of the last named
that had caused Tommy so much trouble
In the drawing and sd much pleasure when
at last the outlines were finished to his
own satisfaction.
The matter was to be kept a secret, even
his own mother not having been taken into
his confidence. Then on St. Valentine's
day should be the surprise! Tommy worked
and smiled, happy In anticipation.
The valentine of his "best girl," Annie
Bell, required the greatest pains. After It
was completed Tommy conceived the Idea
ot making a caricature sketch of a little
mine who had "snubbed" him on a certain
occasion. To this piece of distorted outline
Tommy bent all his skill, giving the tip
tilted nose a terrible end, pointing heaven
ward) the eyes he twisted , the mouth he
made quite hideous by showing crooked
teeth and a protruding tongue. Oh. It was
quite terrible to see, this caricature of the
little miss who had dared to snub Tommy,
Now he would get even, EVEN!
The verses proved to be a very difficult
piece of work, far more difficult than had
been the portraits and one caricature. Till
10 o'clock at night did Tommy fume and
sweat over the rhymes which seemed bent
on not coming to mind. He would find
one line elegant and expressive, but to fit
a second or a third line with good sense
and rhyming end proved to be the problem.
However, Tommy was not the boy to give
' up. The more difficult the task the closer
did Tommy stick and the harder did he
tight to master It. This splendid determina
tion helped him over many stumbling
blocks, particularly the veree writing one,
and when at last he laid his pen aside on
the night of the .verse writing agony he
felt fully repaid for the labor of mind and
body. A few minutes later he was in bed,
slumbering sweetly and dreaming not once
of the several blotted and laboriously scrib
bled "poems" that lay spread about on his
writing desk. v
The next 'day (the last one before St.
Valentine's) Tommy went over his work
TEARS .CAMS INTO
Walker
of drawing and versifying very conscien
tiously, retouching here and there wherever
a bit of finish was needed. Then he read
aloud the verses, one by one, placing them
with the pictures to which they belonged.
The verses to his parents were sweet and
full of dutiful love of a good little son.
The one to his school teacher spoke flatter
ingly of her great Intellect and learning.
Annie Bell had drawn from him a confes
sion of deepest admiration and love In
rhyme. The aged aunt was assured of his
esteem. The youthful uncle was told of his
charming personality and fine form.
The verses ran as follows:
(To his mother.) v
Dearest mamma, here's from Tom
A loving valentine.
I worked a long, long time on It
And hope you'll think it fine.
(To his father.)
Well, papa, you good old chap,
Tou re my bestest chum. '
I send you here a valentine.
But fear it's on the bum.
. (To his '"best girl.")
I admire a deer little girl.
Whose yellow hair stays so In curl;
Whoee frock Is so neat.
Who has such small feet.
Who is most awfully, awfully sweet.
And who sets my poor heart a-whirL
(To his aged aunt.)
A lady I know who is stately:
And I have seen her Just lately.
Bhe's prim and she's neat
From her head to her feet,
And she smiles on her Tommy so swately.
(To bis school teacher.)
You're very, very brilliant;
You're Intellect Is great!
And did you tell all that you know
A lifetime It would take. 1
(To their cook. Nanoy.)
You were most surely, surely born
Our family kitchen to adorn.
A woman strong and good to see:
Please bake a Jelly cake for me.
(To the little miss who snubbed him.)
My. hut you think you're beautiful!
Well, look at this and see
The way you look to others
And the way you look to ms.
Then Tommy addressed some envelopes
and folded the valentines and verses very
carefully, putting them Inside the addressed
envelopes. But this finished piece of work
thoughtless as It was was the thing that
caused all the trouble on the morrow, for
carelessly did Tommy slip the precious
valentines Into the wrong envelopes. Only
two his dear parents' were sent aright.
The school teacher received the aged aunt's
valentine and verse, and, being anything
but "stately, prim and neat," she resented
what she thought to be presumption, not
to say Impertinence, on the part of her
young pupil, for Tommy took great care to
sign his name to his work. The gay young
uncle received the valentine intended for
Jim. and grew red in the face when he
viewed the bowed legs and stooping shoul
ders. The verse only added fuel to the fire
of his indignation. He declared he'd get
even yet with that "smart young kirlsman."
"Poke fun at his figure! Bah!" And, on
the other hand, poor, crooked-shape Jim
was hurt when he received the valentine
which should have gone to the young uncle.
"It's bad 'nough to be ugly an" common
dirt without young Tom tryln' to hurt me
feelln's by sendln' me a fine plckter what
don't look a bit like me. and. by contrast.
mokes me know I must be a awful objec',"
he moaned. "An' he knows no girl would
say as I waa "out o' sight' meanin' beauty,
ot course."
The aged aunt got Nancy's valentine and
verse. "What! Born to adorn the kitchen
of a relative! Well, such sn affront and
from one so young!" He should get what
he deserved for that little Insult! And the
picture! She threw It into the fire and had
her carriage ordered at once. She would
go to Tom's parents and lay the matter
IIEIt PRETTT ETE&
One Bright Winter Day Makes Lots of Difference in
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. . . am
ITTTL
wf
BY
RULES FOR YOUNG WRITERS
1. Write plainly ea one side of the
paper only and Bomber the pages.
a. Use pea and ink, mot pencil
S. Short and pointed artloles will
be given preference, so not use over
850 words.
4. Original stories or letters only
will be msed.
B. Write your name, age and ad
Aress at the top of the first page.
rirst and second prises of books
will be given for the best two con
tributions to this page each week.
Address all oommnnlnatlosui to
CZTLDHXIT'S DIPABTMUST,
Omaha Bee.
(First Prire.)
The Bumble Bee's Death
By Louise Raabe, Age 11 Years, 2009 North
Nineteenth Avenue, Omaha.
Once upon a time there lived the queen
of fairies in a large Illy. One day she re
ceived news from the Bumble Bee to come
at once, as Mrs. Bumble Bee waa very sick
and wanted her to come, thinking the fairy
might cure her. So she took up her med
icine chest and some fresh honey and with
one of her attendants got In her chariot,
which was a leaf driven by two butterflies,
and drove off. They had to go through
the forest. A big bear which they met
gave the chariot a blow with his paw, for
he wanted the honey which he smelt. The
fairy had to step to mend one of the but
terfly's wings which was broken by the
blow.
After this was done they continued their
Journey, but could not go very fast, as the
butterfly's wing was a little lame. At last
they came near Mrs. Bumble Bee's house.
What did they see but a black crepe fast
ened on- the door. The Bumble Bee was
dead. The fairy went In the house and
there sat Mrs. Bumble Bee In despair. She
was very sorry that she had come too
late, but said they bad been detained by an
accident. She left the honey, as she thought
It might help Mr. Bumble Bee over his
sorrow and bid him farewell and went home
again.
(Second Prize.)
Rosamond's Temper
By Augusta Klbler, Ape IS Years, Kearney,
Neb.
Rosamond was a good little girl; only
one thing was wrong with her ami that was
her temper. If everything djdn't go her
way she would get very angry and say
naughty words and act very naughty.
One day Rosamond's mamma called her
before them. She was too dignified too
advanced In years, to be made a joke of by
a youngster.
But the most indignant of all waa Annie
Bell, Into whose home came the valentine
Intended for the little miss who had snub
bed Tom Annie, all expectation, had
opened the envelope and tears came Into
her pretty eyes and she stamped her foot
angrily. "Oh, the mean, m-e-a-n thing!"
she screamed out. I'll never speak to him
agalnl Oh!"
At the same minute the little miss who
had snubbed Tom was opening the valen
tine Intended for Annie Bell. She glanced
at the flattering picture and read the loving
versa, then she tossed her head high and
sneered: "The 1-d-e-a! He has no pride
to try to make up with me, and after the
way I treated him, too. I was cool enough
to freese him, and here he sends me this
TRASH. The simple!"
In the kitchen of Tommy's home Nancy
got an envelope containing the valentine
and verse meant for the school teacher.
Nancy was dased. Why should her Tommy
for whom she always made special jelly
cakes ridicule her poor Ignorance, her lark
of education, by this verse, which dfcelt
upon that which she did not possess? Tears
stood tn the honest ryes of Nancy, and she
hid the valentine under ths cake box, not
wishing to see it again. Just then Jim
. came Into the kitchen, and, still suffering
from the hurt Tommy had so unwittingly
Inflicted, told his trouble to Nancy, who, la
turn, became confidential. Then It was that
Tommy came running In to receive his
thanks for the pretty valentines and ap
propriate verses. It took some minutes for
him to get the tangle straightened out.
1
.St
A SPILL AT THE FOOT OF THE HILI
to her and said, "If you will conquer your
temper mamma will be very proud of you."
That afternoon as Rosamond was playing
with her doll tn tho nursery hsr mamma
called her and she laid down her doll and
went down stairs. In a few minutes she
came back, but when she went to get her
doll It was not where she had left it.
When, looking over to the other side of
the room she saw her little brother Robert
with her. doll, but that was not all. Its.
hair was off and its eyes were out, and it
was completely ruined. But Instead of get
'tlng angry she took the doll away from
him and taking him by the hand led him
to his nurse.
The next day her mamma went to the
city, and the next morning when she awoke
she saw the largest doll. In a pink dress
and It had .brown curls and It was tn &
Dear little dolly-doll.
Quiet all day.
Why do you always have
Nothing to say?
Why don't you ever grow
Angry and eryT
Why don't you laugh a bit
When I am nigh?
Why don't you run and leap
Over ths floor!
Why don't you hide yourself
Behind the door?
Why don't you eat a bit?
And drink some, too?
I'm sure that I would
If I were you.
ANNIE JAMES.
having to ask Nancy and Jim to produce
their envelopes that he might better under
stand the reason of their tears and sighs.
Then Tommy drew a long face, exclaiming:
"Hully gee! Wonder If fc" But he did
not wait to finish his question. Away he
flew to the home of Annie Belt, and that
little lady met him with her nose In the
Sir and a very haughty manner. But
When Greek
(The Toy Boy.)
"Oh, dear, oh, dear, what shall I do
I know that dog will bite;
He's watching me with all his eyes,
And aching for a fight!
"If I could only get away
And hide myself somewhere.
Inside the closet on the shelf.
Or underneath the chair.
"I'd go at cure and ne'er come back.
For of die; I'm sore afraid;
They are such horrid, horrid things!
I wonder why they're made?"
v
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WW
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lovely doll carriage, and on the doll's dress
waa pinned a paper on which was written:
"For the little girl who has learned to keep
her temper." For her mamma had seen It
all. ' .
(Honorary Mention.)
A Lucky Dollar '
By Helen Goodrich. Age 12 Years, 4010
Nicholas Street, Omaha.
One morning John Grogan arose earlier
than usual and started to walk to work,
which was about nine Mocks. He had to
pass a good many large buildings and he
saw other men going Into some of the
buildings.
When he had gone about six blocks he
saw something shining in a oorner of a
building. Going closer he found it was a
sliver dollar. Picking It up and putting it
In his pocket he said, "Well, I wilt keep
It for good fuck, as my grandma used to
say." Then he walked on and soon came
to the large stone building where he was
the bookkeeper. l
"Well, you are earlier than usual," said
his employer, "and so you Can go an hour
. earlier this afternoon." So here was the
first piece of luck for John Grogan.
He got along better in his work that day
. than he was wont to do, and he owed this
to the dollar he had found that morning.
Going home that afternoon about 4 o'clock
he met George Grenval, who met him with
a cheerful smile and said, "Say, Grogan,
you are the very man I am looking for.
You see, I bought four theater tickets for
the theater this evening and Sam Clark
and his wife were unable to go, so I thought
you might be able to use them."
He then produced two thester tickets for
a well known theater in Clay Center and.
handed them to John Grogan.
"Thank you very much for them. I am
sure we will use them," replied John. "I
am surely In luck today," said John, as he
walked on, "and can afford to buy a 75-cent
box of chocolates to eat at the theater."
So he entered the store, In front of which
he was standing, and saw the 75-cent boxes
of chocolates on sale for 36 cents, so he
bought two boxes Instead of one.
Arriving home his wife met him at the
door with a letter bearing the postmark
of Delhi, India, where a rich uncle lived.
Hastily tearing it open a 00 bllK fell to
the floor. "This is luck!" ejaculated John
Grogan, and he then told his wife the story
of the lucky dollar.
e
Fred's Helpful Valentine
By Maurice Johnson, aged 13 years, 1?7
Locust street.
Fred' was the roundest child of his
mother's family. His mother was a widow
and the oldest son George, who was about
SO years old, was the only one to support
the family, now that his mother was sick.
Fred's sister Norma, 14 years old, acted as
nurse to the sick woman. It was the morn
ing before Valentine day, and Fred was
going to earn enough money to buy a fine
valentine for his mother If he could. All
morning he tried, but every place he asked
they said he was too small. About 2 o'clock,
when he was going down the street, he
was hailed by a man.
"Sonny, can you take me to the North
western depot?" he asked kindly.
'Certainly," said Fred, glad of the op
portunity. "I'll give you a quarter." he added. "I
left the hotel with my grip, which la all
Tommy soon made an explanation, begging
her for the valentine that he might take
It In person to the little miss who had
snubbed him and get in exchange the beau
tiful one Intended for "his beet girl."
And most of that day good, eld St. Valen-tlne'p-waa
spent by Tommy In undoing the
carelessness of mailing the wrong valen
tines to his friends.
Meets Greek
(Ths Toy Dog.)
"Gee, lookie st that awful kid!
How fierce he stares at me;
He's frowning and he's scowling.
Most terrible to see. "
"I wonder If he'll kick me?
What would I better do?
I'm scared to death at sight of him.
For be looks me thru and thru!
"Perhaps I'd better bluff him;
Make b'lieve I mean to stay;
But If be comes much nearer
I'll break and run away."
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BUILDING
the baggage I need, and was going to take
a look around till It was time for the train
to leave, but I got confused about the
streets, and then I asked you to lead me
to the depot or else I would have lost my
train."
' After about fifteen minutes of fast walk
ing they came to the depot and the
stranger, as he promised, gave Fred a
quarter. Fred was happy now, and went
and bought a beautiful valentine for his
sick mother, also one for his brother and
sister.
Next morning his mother was so delighted
at the beautiful valentine her little 7-year-old
boy had given to her that she forgot
her sickness. In a week his mother was
well, all on account of Fred's helpful
valentine.
A Broken Doll
By Ethel M. Ingram. Age U Years, Valley,
Neb.
A dear little girl was seen in the parlor
of the Henderson mansion crying very
hard. Very soon a young lady came Into
the room and when she saw her daughter
went over to the corner In which she sst
"What Is the matter my dear?" said
the lady.
After a number of sobs the little girl
said:
"Naughty, naughty. Jlmmle broke my
dear Christmas dolly."
"Don't cry, my dear," repeated her
mother, smoothing back her daughters
curly locks. "Let us go find Jlmmle."
"Let us go find Jlmmle, mamma," cried
the little girl.
A little boy came Into the hall as the
mother snd her child appeared.
"Jlmmle, Jlmmle," cried Margaret, "come
here."
Jlmmle came up slowly, with head bang
ing down guiltily.
"Jlmmle. did you break Margaret's doll?"
said the mother, stsrnly.
"Yes. mamma; I did, but I'm sorry now,"
said the boy, as he burst out crying.
"Don't cry, my boy, because It will not
bring back Margaret's doll," said Mrs.
Henderson, "and she shall have a new
dollie."
Spring
By Bede Beverldge, age 12 years, 2219 Chi
cago street, Omaha.
Very soon It will be spring. Then the.
boys will be glad on acccunt of the many
games such as marbles, tops and base ball.
Base ball Is the game most every boy likes,
It lasts longer than any other game played.
Its season continues through five months.
In
few weeks we will hear the beautiful
Jprtd pretty
fMyn&rta nice, etna daity . Sf(w
If n'utfk is said. lm, ze,vTaiyftrt-
3
2 vu W aacrsay aaie.ux7jLUl
Childhood Life
' ' ?V i if -.' -
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.i tt .2,
THE) SNOW MAN.
voices of all kinds of birds. The . bird I
like best is tho robin. It is called the robin
red breast. It sits on top of a fence and
sings so sweetly. In spring, also, chickens
are raised. People plant their seeds for
the beautiful flowers. The rose and oh so
many flowers that look so beautiful. The
farmer, too, plants seed In spring time for
the crops that will supply food for us the
following year. Lastly the seed for garden.
Vegetables are planted at this tlmo of the
year that they may be In. the ground for
the gentle spring rains.
Grace's Garden
By Mildred TitrVl, age It years, 2915 Oak
street, Omaha.
There was a little girl whose name was
Grace. She lived In the city with her
mother and father. Her father had a nice
garden where he raised vegetables and
fruit. Grace took a great interest In the
garden and thought she would like to have
one of her own. So her father gave her
a little place where she could rnj.se what
ever she liked. Grace spaded up the ground
and raited tt and then got some flower
seeds and planted them. Grace took care
of them snd watered them every day and
In a few weeks the plants were coming
through the ground. She could hardly wait
for them to bloom. She kept the weeds out
ii f tho garden and pretty soon the plants
were blooming. Grace gave the plants to
the poor and sick people and carried a bo
quet to her school teacher every day.
Nonsense Valentine
Ther wam a Small boy who was drest
a Un n his tine Sunday lest,
To his sweetheart ljrt say.
"vrt'thV,,uarL mlas.' that's under nt
vest?" M- w-
Tn'.r
