TTTE OMAHA SUNDAY BEE: FEBRUARY 24, 1007. V. F THE editor baa made a discovery that she la sure all the little Busy Bees ought to know about. A etory was submitted recently and awarded one of the prizes that was not an original story at all, but was copied almost word for word from a book. So much has been aald about this being a contest of original stories that the editor supposed all the boys and girls understood that they must make tip every bit of the story themselves, without any help from books or older people. Of course, the prize could not be sent when the discovery was made, but that was not the only result some other boy or girl who had a story in that week that really deserved a prize was crowded to third place and deprived of a Just reward. In future the editor will greatly appreciate It If any boy or girl discov ering a copied story on the Busy Bee page will let her know at once. Some other stories have aUo come in that sound wonderfully old and grown-up for boys and girls and make the editor a bit suspicious that someone has been helping. The Busy Bees must remember that this is a matter of honor and when they do not play fair they are not only taking something that they do not deserve, but are depriving some other boy or girl of what is rightfully theirs. The pictures have commenced to come in, but there are not enough of them to use as yet. One does not necessarily have to be a prize winner, so let us have some more pictures right soon. Remember to write your names and addresses In ink, on the back of the pictures, and they will be returned to you in good condition. The editor had such a pleasant surprise last week. Someone sent her a valentine that pleased her greatly. It was a red heart with a pretty senti ment lettered in gold. Thank you, little Busy Bee. Those who tent In the correct answer of Sunday's rebus of February 17 were: Norlne Schulhol, age 9 years, Plattsmouth, Neb.; Wllma R. Howard, age 10 years, 4722 Capitol avenue, Omaha; Edna Hill, age 11 years, 2702 South Thirteenth street, Omaha; Eva Smith, age 14 years, St. Paul, Neb.; Ruth Zittle, age 12 years, 3015 Leavenworth street, Omaha; Alta Wilken, ge 12 years, Waco, Neb.; Julia Koewler, age 11 years, 16 10 Corby street, Omaha; Mary Brown, age 10 years, 2322 Boulevard, Omaha; Clifford Burns, age 10 ears. Creston, la. Correct answer to Sunday's rebus of February 17: "George Washing ton had a hatchet to play with. He took it Into the orchard and cut down a cherry tree." The first prize was awarded this week to Maurice Johnson, age 13 years, J 627 Locust street, Omaha, and second prize to Pauline Parks, age 12 years, York, Neb. Those whose stories were deserving of honorary mention were: Frances Waterman, age 10 years, 646 South Twenty-fourth avenue, Omaha, and Edna Levin, age 10 years. 3421 Cuming street, Omaha. The Revolution By Maud ART and May, two little staters,, I ared 7 and 9 years, respectively, M had a most Ideal nursery. There were games and toys galore dolls, big and llttlo, old and new; Teddy bears, Hons, monkeys, birds and everything, In fact, that could help to make a nursery happy and full of play were there. And each day Mary and May found great delight In the big,' bright nursery playing with their fine and extensive sup ply of toys and games. Often many little friends were Invited to oome In to spend an afternoon with Mary and May. Then woe betide the animals and dolls, for many times they lost their heads, tails, feet and hands at the rough usage of the young and recklem guests, who tossed them about as though they were nothing more than cloth, sawdust, sticks, wire and paint. How very, very horrible I One day Mary and May had a party. It was on the birthday of one of the little maidens. For many days the toys and animals had heard the approaching event talked about by Mary and May and their mamma and governess. On the morning of the party Mary's and May's mamma came Into the nursery to arrange tt for the afternoon. She poked about Into all the corners, pulling out broken dolls and horses. Here was a tin soldier, sword gone and an eye blackened, " and bent out of shape. There was a doll once a French belle with half her hair missing and a maimed and shoeless foot. In another corner was old Noah outside his ark, which had been demolished of Its roof snd half its four-footed Inhabitants missing. All these maimed and broken folk and animals the mamma tf Mary and May took and stuck away on a big shelf In a closet, saying they were too dilapi dated to be In sight idurlng the party. Only the spick-and-span dollies, wearing their hair In order and their frocks neatly, with the animals that were whole, and firm of foot, were allowed to occupy places of importance In the nursery. And these favored ones were not only allowed to re- main where they might enjoy the gayety and fun of the guests and their hostesses, but had a few extra touches put upon them by way of ribbons and laces. One Hon was left on view, he being such a fierce looking fellow that no child had ever dared to play roughly with htm. But a floe old elephant was hidden away In the closet because one of his tusks was missing. The Idea! Then there was the company of sol diers in gay uniform. (Mary and May always called them the "Roman soldiers." but they were In no particular country's uniform.) Half of their number was "laid upon the shelf." decidedly the worse for sprang, some hurting themselves by land wear. Some of them were broken or bent Ing wrong side up on the hard floor, but helmets, while others wore none at all. such trifling hurts did not deter them. And many were unarmed, their weapons and picking themselves up hurriedly the having been lost and broken through the unfortunates followed the tin soldier rough usage of not warfare but children, into the nursery, where tables mere On the morning of the party there waa spread for a feast. About .the wall were a low murmur of discontent In the closet ranged ths favorite toys, some on chairs among those who were hidden away, the and others sitting or standing on the outcasts of the nursery, so to speak. The carpeted floor. All wore their happiest elephant was the first to grumble against expressions In anticipation of the festive ths Injustice of his fate. Standing bravely occasion so near at hand. By a window in their midst he sddreased his companions stood the fierce old lion, looking very 1m- tn. disfavor as follows: THET BKHEUD THEIR TOTS XI MORrAJ OTar-Wr WITS BACH OTOER. in the Nursery Walker "Friends and fellow toys, I wish to raise my voice against this treatment of us. Bitterly do I rebel against our banishment from the nursery." "Aye, aye," seconded a Roman soldter. "Here, too, Mike." "And I draw the line at being imprisoned in this fashion," said old Noah, his voice full of resentment. "I say, let's strike." "Strike whom and where?" asked the tin soldier, feeling for his missing sword. "I'm ready on the word to do battle against those favorites who are usurping our former places. Have we one among us to lesdT There can be no battle without a general to plan our modus operandi. Come, let's have a leader." Everyone present began to feel a strong admiration for and a faith In the tin sol dier. He was undoubtedly brave, and his use of Latin pronounced blm to be a scholar, even though from the ranks. Yes, they ail agreed mentally that be was the fetlow to lead them to be voted tlvelr "general." ' Again fhe elephant became spokesman; "I move that we appoint the Tin Soldier our leader. Do I hear a second?" "Seconded t" cried the one famous beauty, the maimed French doll, who till now had remained a silent listener. ' "Tl Irded!" screeched the big monkey. whose fault was the need of a tall. "Be cause I've lost the part of my anatomy that people all declare Is not needed I'm set aside as no good. Count me In on the fighting list. Mister Elephant. I'll follow the Tin Soldier, though tt be through paths of blood." "Of sawdust, wood and rags," corrected the French doll. "I'm with the rebels. though It means war to the death. The Tin Soldier rose quickly and said with feeling: "This hour I have been honored greatly. Do not think I shall use the rignis careiessiy you nave invested me with. Every move shall be well studied before it Is made. No life shall be lost, through me, wantonly. We must prepare for ths attack before the hour of noon, for ... . . . when th sun msrks the hour of 2 the party will begin In the placs now called the Nursery, but whk-h shall be one of the greatest battle fields In the history of our times." "Bravo, bravo, bravo!" cried out a med ley of doll, soldier and animal voices. "To the onslaught!" cried the elephant. Then, amidst great excitement and some confusion, the tin soldier marshaled his forces. True, they were a maimed and weaponless army, but they were a de termined crowd starting to fight for tbelr rights. Off from the high shelf they a Teddy bear ' portant. Near to him sat Spring Days on the Farm Have Their, Duties for Children :Cy ' : - I;' VV ' ' ' i . . . . . . GATHEXniNO TORIE BY mutt RULES FOR YOUNG WRITERS 1. Writs plainly oa one side of the paper only and number the pagss. I. Use pen and ink, not pencil 3. Short and pointed articles will be given preference. Bo not use over 50 words. 4. Original stories or letters only will be used. a. Write your name, age and ad Areas at the top of the first page. Tli and second prises of books will be given for. the best two con tributions to this page each week. Address all communications to CKXLOBKir'B SXFAJITMXVT, Omaha Bee. (First Prlxe.) The Bees and the Boy By Maurice Johnson, age 13 years, 1627 LocuBt street, Omaha. I am a busy bee. Our queen lead the swarm from field to Held where the clovers bloom, so th.t w. m-v h.w. r.i. honev for the winter r , took us away from the outskirts of the village far Into the country. We soon Stopped at a Held where there were so many clover blossoms that the field looked all white. On the other side of the field was a house. Next morning, while we were gathering wearing the amlle of satisfaction so corn- mon to the petted nursery toy. But ha would change that smile by and by; so thought the tailless monkey as he ; mado a lunge for him lit obedience to his gen eral's order. Before leaving the closet each happy expectant had begged to ba allowed to attack In single comLat his wort enemy of the nursery. Th'e monkey had chosen the Teddy bear as his bitter est rival. The French doll had declateci nothing would so much satisfy her as to Jerk the hair from the head of a great new doll whose garb pronounced her to be Japanese. Seven! of the "Roman" soldiers decided to attack an automobile full of gay gentlemen and lady dolls, the latest addition to the nursery, therefore holding the favored places of that do- main. The tin soldier took as his special prey a foot ball hero, who stood near a chair, leaning languidly against one of Itj lega He was as athletic as his profes- sion would suggest, and the tin soldier 'oun(1 ne natl nl bands pretty full, inas- much as he had one bad eye and no word. But soon he had ousted the hero IcFol How the Fierce Old Gobbler Was Put to Rout TUB EGGS. '- py ij honey, a little boy of about 6 years came from the house Into the field where we were. He did not seem a bit afraid of us, as are many city boys and girls. He came right Into the midst of us and sat down and made a crown of clovers to put on his little head. He came and did this nearly every morn- I r, n I i . m 1 . . t But one da7 he did noom" W wre quite sad when one of the bee. said that h .aw kirv, i ,a -i.k .k. ... v.. v eta v wat.ii I uutVUl O.I1U 1119 momer oesiae mm ana we an Knew ne was . . . , . . . . ... . sick. I went next morning over to his house where the flowers were many and gathered enough honey, and Just before I was to take the honey home I would look In his bedroom to see him. I did this for about two weeks and then I heard the doctor say that he was well enough to be wheeled out i In the meadow In an invalid chair, ss fresh air would make him well all the sooner. So next day and for a week after he was taken out In the Invalid chair and -u..u w.e ..mu. ne next. wees, 'ne came out Ione nd ha Ploy with us ever afterward every morning his mother did not need him. (Second Prise.) My Pet Squirrels . By Pauline Parks, age 12 years, York, Neb. Four years ago when I came home from Sioux Citjv where I had been visiting, I of the foot ball field, leaving him lying helpless and spilling sawdust on the car- Det. To say that the battle waxed fierce and hot hardly exprenses it No conflict In Toyland ever was fiercer. Chairs were knocked down and small pieces of furnl- lure broken to splinters. The table covers were dragged off, spilling the dishes on the floor, where many of them were broken. The hand to paw conflict between the monkey and the Teddy bear was one of the hardest fought. Several times It seemed that old Teddy had the best of the "monk." But the tailless fellow would rally to his work In a way that started even the lion, who was not so brave, after all. seeing that he had hidden away under the edge of a window curtain when the army of unf r- tunate had attacked those In the nsrsery. rom "Is hiding place he could see all that transpired. Bo It was that he noticed the bau' between the monkey and the bear. But the lion was not long spared In his seclusion. Old Noah from whose ark the lion had strayed caught a peep of him un- der the curtain folds and straightway made Happy Lucy, Joe and Willie. Three dear little chums, you know, Played about each day together. For they loved each other so. Joe snd Willie were the horses, Lucy In the sleigh did ride; And they went about the barnyard. Playing 'twas the Great World Wide. But one day a turkey gobbler, Thlnklns they usurped his places. Charged upon them In the barnyard and "Gob-gobbled'' In their faces. Joe. the off horse, quickly stumbled; Willie broke his bridle strap: Lucy in the sleight was frightened . oh. it was a and mishap! But the horses quickly rallied. And recovered from their plight; Tren upon the gobbler turned they And soon had put him to flight. Round and round the haystack, gobbling. Went old gobbler on the run. With the sleigh and horses after Him. Aad, oh. It was such fun! ' .1 4 A CLEANING Tim was surprised to find a large squirrel bouse on our back lawn, which had been built for my birthday present. There Is an old dead tree In the center with boxes around the side and up In a kind of garret where the squirrels build their nests and sleep. There were two fox squirrels In the house which" I named "Jack" and "jlll." "Jack" was always master of the other squirrels and always saw that the rest were In bed before he was. Since then I have had more than twenty. One day "Jill" fell from the. top of the house and struck on the sharp edge of a box, hurting her back. . She always limped after that and finally her back got so bad we thought It best to let her out She made her home in a large cottonwood tree and raised a family. Papa put some swings in the cage and Jack became a regular acrobat. He would hang from the swing , by his hind leegs and his tall and he amused us very much. I have one squirrel called "Dick Dead eye" because one eye Is much larger than the other, which makes him look very queer. He is so fat he can hardly get in his box. The squirrel I like best is called i ' M Inri.n." K.rt.n.. 4. Ka a Kltt.1r atniviafh K. and 1 can" almo him In my hand I also have several errev snnlrreU. two of which came from " ' . - -- -- - ..... f In... n.h.al In ttim Brtll h " side of the. house in which the squirrels exercise every day which keeps them from S"e"'"K too 'at and lftsy. " ' (Honorable Mention.) The Naughty Donkey By Frances Waterman, age 10 years, 646 South Twenty-fourth avenue, Omaha. There was once a little donlcy named Jennie. A very mischievous one, too. It was afraid of Its shadow and would walk from one side of the street to the other, but of coarse the shadow always followed.' One day a little girl got on Its back, but It Virk.H h.r off .nd nohodv ever attemcted to get on Its back sgain. One night, after Jennie had been put in the barn, she said to herself; "I am very tired of this old barn. I am going to be brave and go out Into the world, soma place where they have no bams so that I wont have to be kept locked up in a barn for him, carrying a short dagger that he had found on the floor near to the spot whpr. the favorite "Roman" soldiers had been battling with their foe. In short prder the lion was dispatched by Noah, who said in loud and victorious words: "So dleth a deserter from the Ark!" At this1 moment the door to the nursery opened and Mary and May came In to view the tables before time to admit their llu'8 guests. Can you fancy their astonishment-hor. ror. In truth-when they beheld their toys in mortal combat with each other? Mary ran screaming down stairs, calling her mamma to come at once to the nursery. May ran Into the hall and hid her face against the wall. She had entered Just as Noah had sent the dagger Into the body of the lion. The sight shocked her delicate nerves. Seeing that they had been caught In re- hellion, the attacking army drew off. leav- hi( the -attacked In a very sad plight. In- deed, the favorites of an hour ago were now most terrible to behold. They no longer held their heads so high. Legs snd fj v& V. bf u HARNESS. all the time." ' Bo she went to the door and tried to push it open with her nose, but It would not open that way, so she turned around and kicked it and it broke open. The mas ter, who was asteep upstairs in the house, was awakened by the noise and ran down stairs and out of doors to the barn, but the donkey had gotten out and was a long way off by this Urns. As the man did not see the donkey In the barn he ran In the house and telephoned the polloe. They said they would send some men out around the country to see if they could see her. They sent some men out Immediately. Sev eral men on horseback went out around the country to look for Jennie. All this time Jennie was around prancing in the air wondering where she should go next. She frolicked all the day long and at night she did not have any plaos to sleep. "Well." she said to herself, "I might as well He down here and sleep tonight." So she laid down, but the night was very cold, the ground all mud and It rained that night, too. Oh, what a miserable night It was. Jennie wished she was In Iwr nice warm barn now. The men who were sent " to for her found her lying down hf! s" stuu " CiniUlllll BU IIKlUiai, Now, this w -., -v.. ....... - '""" "" " - i . . u run away again. George Washington By Mary Engl, age 12 years, 1709 South eighteenth Street, Omaha. George Washington was the son of a Virginia planter. He was born February it. 1733. When George was 11 years old his father died. Reading, writing and cipher- Ing he learned In a little country school. When he was a great man he was ap- pointed leader of the United States army during the revolutionary war. In which he mal8 America free from England. After the close of the war he was chosen first president. He died In 17M at his home at Mount Vernon. Now his name stands among those of the great men In ths world's history. When he was a little boy his father gave him a hatchet George, of course, war very pleased with his hatchet and went about the yard, trying It on trees to see how well It would cut. George did not think it was wrong to cut the trees, so when he came to the cherry tree he cut do"' Wbe"h" wha h.'d been done he did not like It, and sent for George. "George," said he, "someone has arms snd sawdust were lying about the battlefield. Beauty was msrred by bent and broken eyes snd noses. But the battle waa over and the victorious army 'looked hai)I),ly UDon the ruin It had wrought. Now the woul(1 flowed to remain In the numrr, for the party, seejng that there were n0 others who could carry ths palm' of perfection and beauty over their heads, But-how can I tell w.hat befell Uism? A few moments later the mamma of Mary 4n1 May eara. nhing In. Her quick un- derstandlng grasped the situation at once. ..Ah, Jealousy has been the cause of all this strife. Out of the window with ths culprits!" And with the assuttsnce of PC: 1 1 cut down one of my fine trees. Iio yog .know who did It?" looking up at his father, he said: "Father. I did It. I cannot tefl a lie about It. I cut it down with uiy little hatchet." My Vacation Street, Oni.ihn. street, Omaha . I spent my vacation on a farm lat sum. mer. I went on the train ard there were some people on the train thut told me when I got there. I had lots of fun. 1 climbed the hay stack, fed the pigs, mid drove the cows home from the pasture. The neighborhood had a boy that would come and see me and when I w. nt to hla house we would make trap t catch the chickens. One day I made a trp by my self and tried to catch a rabbit, ore day my uncle and I were out cutting hedge, trees when a rabbit and Its family cam along and I tried to catch the lit tl.. one. I caught It and It got loose and ran uti.tof the raspberry bushes. One day the n. ih bor'S boy and I ran Into the pasture nj we thought that we would see a rnhhit to catch it. I had lota of raspberries to ea The Reformation of Tommy By Lotta Woods, age 12 years. Pawnee City. Neb. The school room was deserted. The chil dren had trooped out an hour before and I sat In front of the fireplace watching the fire flicker, then silently go eut. It was the first day of my school and I bad quite a l!Jtle trouble with Tommy LJnn, a little boy 9 years old. Finally I got up and put on my coat and hood and slowly walked down the hill to wards my boarding house. As I was going down the hill I saw a pair of tear-stained eyes gnslng at me through the bushes, then I saw the form of Tommy; Linn emerge from the bushes. He came and clasped my hand and whis pered "Teacher, Ie sorry I'se been so bad," then he hastily crept under the fence and ran along the path to his home. Dear boy, If he Is always so truthful he will make a good and great man by and by. Elizabeth's Siste:. By Alta Kibler, age 8 years, Kearney, Neh. Elisabeth was a little girl no more than t years old. She had no brother nor sla ter. Her mother was sick In bed and she had no one to play with, so she went to her nurse and said, "Nurse, I wish I had a sister." "Why do you not want a brother?" asked the nurse. "I would rather have a sister." "Well, we will tell your papa about It." That night when her papa came home he had a little girl with him. He 'old Elisabeth ths little girl was going to live with her a year. When her mother got well enough to sit up the child told her the story. When the yesr was up the little girl went away. Elisabeth was sorry she had to go away. On Our Way to Church By Herbert Montag, age years. Goring, Neb, One night, when my cousin and I wera going to church, she was going along sing ing "Will There Be Any 8tars in My Crown." She Just got to "will there be any stars," when she stubbed her toe on a wire and fell down, I guess shis did see some. I am a little boy S years old and live la Oakland, CbI. I am staying with my Aunt Ida, In Nebraska, for my health. I cannot live In California because I have asthma. I want to be one of your busy bees. The Result of Kindness By Agnes G.ughun age U o. ,. uZ t' 1.. years, North Once there lived In Germany a poor wo man who labored very hard. She had three children, who he rnJl Alio- . " T , ' , f n i 1 SI vt An I H ha mn sl en wara ma she, ss inli. and Raymond. The girls were very Indus trlous and worked very hard. One Satur day ths woman said: "Raymond go and get me a pound of coffee," but he only said: "I don't want to;" so Alios had t go. She loved to go to town, and when she had paid the grocer the money he gave her three sticks of candy. On her way home she met Raymond and he said: "Did Mills give you any candy?" and she said "Yes." And he asked how much. "Threa atlcks, one for Elsie, you aad I." "Give It to me," said Raymond, "you and El sis don't need any." She said "I don't want any. but I must sava one for Elsie. Too shall have mine." . So she took two sticks out of her pocket and gave them to him. When she reached horns she found Raymond crying, for he had got home ahead and he was very sorry be had asked her for the candy,' for hs thought how good she was to give It to him. She said: "Why are you crying, Ray mond?" Hs only said, "For taking ths candy away." She kissed him and said, "It was alright," and said she would for give him, and he only cried the harder and said he would never be bad again and so when his mother ssked him to do anything he would say yes, mamma. Mary and May the Tin Soldier and his fol lowers were thrown headlong from ths second-story window Into the back yard o( the great house, where they had such ar comfortable home. "Tomorrow'john will throw the whole of them lnto the Mh CBn Bna they will b carted out of town The rebels !-to raise a rebellion Just on the eve of a party! Had they behaved themselves till tomorrow they woul(1 naVe been sent to ths toy hospital , mcHt- .,! rome home in a few dt M pretty ss ever. But now It's all oves wtn them. They wers an ungrateful lot. 0f toys." g" D aTUjiai fej4kZi i 4T, J