THE OMAHA SUNDAY HKK: JANtTAliV 17. 100ft
E
HE BUSY BEES are beginning the new year well, sending In good
Btorles, and also getting new Busy Bees to Join and send In stories.
I Some of the new writers are very young and it is difficult for them
A to write as good or clever a story as the older ones, but the editor
Is pleased to hear from them and find the children eo Interested in
the page. The holiday spirit of making others happy is noticeable in the chil
dren's stories, and if they have these good thoughts they are probably doing
some kind acts and are more thoughtful of their little playmates who are not
as fortunate as most of the little Busy Bees.
The Red and the Blue sides are starting very evenly under the reign
of the new king, Maurice Johnson, and new queen, Myrtle Jensen. Each side
won a prize last week and each side a prize this week, so the contest will be
more even than ever before. Prizes were awarded this week to Helen Johnson
of Lincoln, Neb., on tho Red side, and to Ruth Ashby of Fairmont, Neb., ex
queen of the Blue side. Honorable mention was given to Bessie Jackson of
Omaha on the Red side.
Any of the Busy Bros may send cards to any one whose name is on the
I'ostcard Exchange, which now includes:
Jean li- Ixmg, Ainswnrth, Neb.
Irene MfCoy, IlaniMon, Neb.
l.ililan Merwln, Heaver Cite. Nub.
Mabel Witt, Bennington, Sri,.
.Annex iJuhmke, Benson, Neb.
Vera, Cheney, I'rcigilloll, Neb.
I. mils Halm, luvld Cilv, Neb.
Hhea I-'r. lib II. Dorchester, Neb.
Eunice Bode, Kails City, Neb.
Ethel Heed. I'lemont, Neb.
Jlulda I.uridburg, Kr-mont, Neb.
Marlon I'apps, (iibhon. Neb.
Marguerite Bartholomew. Outhenhui g, Nh.
I.) rim ii.iili. West Kocnl, street, Urand
Island. Neb.
Klla Voss, 4. 7 W'tst Charles street, Grand
Isluml, Neb.
Iretu. (V.t,Jl.-. n.-, Went Eighth street,
ttrHiui island, iseii.
Jessie Oawford, 46
Ornnd Island, Neb.
Pauline Hchuite, 411!
West Charles street,
West Fourth street.
Urand island. Neb.
Martha Murphy, !'J3
Bust Ninth street.
(ir.md Island, Neb.
Alice Temple, Lexington. Neb.
Both Temple, Is-xlngtnn. Neb.
Anna Nells-in. Lexington. Neb.
KdsHie Kreltz. Lcx;tu;tnii. N'eb
Alice (irassmeycr, I.M."i C ,t., I.inenln
Neb.
Marian Hamilton, 1, St.
Klsle Hamilton, L'OJK I, street
Irene Dlsher, i'ono , street,
Hughle Ilisher. 2t30 L street,
llneoln. Neb.
Lincoln, Neb.
I.inenln, Neb.
Ijnioln, Neb.
Louise Ftlles, Lyons, Neb.
Kf.trllo McDonald. Lyons Neh.
Milton Kelzer, Nebraska City, Neb.
Harry Crawford, Nebraska City, Neb.
llsrvey ("navf rd. Nebraska City, Neh.
Luelle Hazon, Norfolk, Neb.
Ijctha Uirkin. South Sixth St.. Norfolk, Neb.
Km ma Mnrquardt. Filth street and Madi
son avenue. Norfolk. Neh.
Mildred V. Jones. North I.oup, Neb.
IIiikIi Mutt. Icshara, Neb.
Ib ster K. Rutt. Leshara. Neh.
M iry Brown, ?.".-2 Boulevard, Oraiha.
I.tlban Wilt. 41TS Cnss street, Omaha.
Kmlle Brown, ZVl'l Hnulevard, Omaha.
Kva Ile:i,lee, 4 -if"! I'lodge street, Otnalm.
Junnlta Inni .. TeW Fot street, Omaha.
Mevrr c'obn, 'vll Georgia, avenue, Omahi.
Sally May and the
By Mand
in i line ALLY MA
I 3 efte
ALLY MAY was not so very nil
ery big; but Sally May
often naughty. One day
iwi her mamma save nrr 1U cents
Ip&??;8 snd told her to gvt -mi
Jxrtni bananas for herself and Utile
brother Tom. Haby May loved hana"as
bett'r tliar. most nrythinv; to eat, and on
li. r way homo with t1 e piper ban f fruit
riii' kept smelling Into the has, mining
l er nose and savins: "My, these bananas
do smell so pood!"
At the corner of the street, just half a
block from her own home, Sally May de-
ided to do something her mama did not
ti ll her to do. She di elded to rat one of
tin liaa.inas la f ro uoing to the house.
And she ah; d"r .led to hide the peel In
the r"rrvr of the hed-ie, so that no one
would ever know rhe had eaten the banana
that l ad been l:i it. So she nte the banana
very rapidly, and ll tnMed so good that
she derided to eat nnathcr rUht down as
fast as ever she rorld. Now, the bag had
only contained ten bananas, for the prlco
was 1 cent apiece. So, after Sally May
hud eaten two of them there remained but
eight. After tatlng the twa bananas Sally
May counted those remaining In the bag.
"Only eight," she mused. "Four for me
and four for Tommy." Then, closing the
bag, Sally May started rn toward tho
house. Rut before reaching the gate her
appetite got the better of her and she sat
down behind tho trunk of a great tree,
which stood Just outside the board side
walk, and opened the bag and drvw forth
another banana. "I'll Just eat one more."
he said to herself. "Then there'll be
even In the bag, and I'll divide them be
tween Tommy and me." Hut as she ate
she figured cut just how many apiece the
even bananas would make. "Oh. there'll
be three for me and four for the other."
she laid, pursing up her little mouth.
"Well, Tommy Is smaller than I am and
should not have so much to eat. The big
gest one should always have the most."
Then she hid the third banana peel under
the hedge and closed the paper bag, going
Into the house and back to her mamma'a
room. Her mamma was sewing and Tommy
was on the floor playing with the old cat
and two kittens. On seeing his sister enter
with the bag he cried out: "Oh, Sissy.
Have you brought the bananas?"
"Tt ; I've Sot 'em In the bag," said S illy
May, holding tiKhtly to the bag, lest
Tommy might take it away from her.
"Give brother just one and take one
yourself," said mamma, looking up from
iter sewing. "Then put the others on top
the cabinet. You must not eat more than
one banana at a tlifie, you know."
Sally May tlUl as she was bidden, giving
one banana to her little brother and taking
one for hersalf. But, of course, the
naughty girl did not say a word to her
mamma about having already eaten three
of thu bananas. No; she simply put the
bag on the cabinet In the corner and sat
down on the floor and ate the fourth ban
ana. After Tommy had finished his ban
ana he asked his mother If he might have
THEN BOTH 8HOOK HANDS
Ada Morris, 3424 Franklin street, Omaha.
Myrtle Jensen. 'M'J Izard street, Omaha.
Mall Howard, Capitol avenue, Omaha.
Helm llciiek, 16.5 1otnrop street, uman.
Kmerson Goodrich, 4olo Nicholas, Omaha.
Helen ()odrleh. 410 Nicholas St., Omaha.
Maurice Johnson, 1H27 Locust St., Omaha.
I .eon Carson, 1U'4 North Fortieth, Omaha.
Wllma Howard, 4722 Capitol Ave., Omahv
llllah Fisher. 1110 South Kleventh, Omiha.
Mildred Jensen. 2707 lavenworth, Omaha.
Louis Kaube, Wui) forth Nineteenth avenue,
Omaha.
M.Uwl Shelfrlt. 4014 North Twenty-fifth
street, Omaha.
Kmina Carruthers, 3211 North Twenty-nfth
street, Omaha.
Walter Johnson, 2100 North Twentieth
iitreet. On-nha.
Leonora Denlson, The Albion, Tenth and
raelfic streets, Omaha.
Genevieve M. Jones. North Loup, Neb.
Madge L. Danhls, Ord, Neb.
Zola Heibleo, Orleans, Neb.
Arties nii'hmond. Orleans, Neb.
Marie Fleming. Cwrola, Neb.
Lutta Woods, Pawnee City. Neb.
Karl Perkins. Heddington. Neb.
Kttima Kostsl, 151H O street, South Omaha.
Fdna Knis, Stanton, N'eb.
lahol Knls, Stanton. Neb.
Ilia Carney. Sutton, Clay county, Neb.
Clara Miller. Ftica. Neh.
Mae Grunke, West Point. Neb.
Klsle Sttstnv. Wllber. Neb.
Alia Wllken, Waeo, Neb.
Patiline Parks, York, Neb.
Edna H tiling, York. Neb.
Miry Frederick. York. Neb.
Carrie P.. Bartlett. Fontanelle, la.
Irene Reynolds, llttle Sioux, la.
Kthel Mulholland, Pox 71. Malvern, la.
I'leanor Mellor, Malvern, n.
Kethrvne Mellor, Malvern. Ia.
Ruth Robertson. Manilla. Ia.
Mildred Robertson. Manilla. Ia.
Kdlth Amend. Sheridan. Wyo.
Henry L. WnrVlngcr. rare Sterling Remedy
company, Attlen. Ind.
Fred Shelley, 2C0 Troup street, Kansas City,
Kan.
Squee-Gee Man
Walkor.
a second one. "No, Sonny; not for ha'.f
an hour," said mamma. "Bananas are
heavy food and hard for little stomachs
to digest If eaten in great quantities. One
banana at a time as sufficient. You may
have one more In half an hour or so. But
after that no more until tomorrow."
Tommy', a most obedient lit tre chap, did
not coax or pout, but said: "All right,
Mamma." Then he began his game witii
oid puss and kittens, feeling V'.at his
mamma knew what was best for him. And
Sally May, having already eaten four ban
anas, hao the audacity to ask her mamma
for another one, saying: "I'm so hungry,
Mamma, and I'm so much blgger'n
Tommy; can't I have just one mora ban
ana, plense?"
"No, dearie; you know I have told you
often that you must be very careful about
eating bananas. One will do you no harm,
but more than that might make you ill.
Mother's little daughter must not ask for
things which she has been told are not
good for her. Now, In half an hour you
may have another banana, but not till
then."
Rut at the expiration of the half hour
Tommy had gone out to play snowball
with his little neighbor, Toodles Brown,
and did not remember his mother's promise
of another banana. And Sally May had
stolen softly upstairs, feeling badly In her
stomach. Into her room she crept, and as
the pain Increased as she wnlked she de
cided to lie down. So upon the little white
bed she climbed, not taking time to remove
her shoes, which worn soiled from having
been out In the soft snow and softer mud
of the street. Rut Sally was not In a mood
to think of soiled shoes Just then. The
pains In her stomach were chaslnp each
other up and down, making Sally bend
double and almost scream.
At any other time Sally would have
called very loudly for her mamma, but Just
now she felt too guilty to have her mam
ma question her about herself. She knew
she had done very, very wrong In eating
so many bananas, and also knew the sud
den terrible pains had been caused from
the oveteating of the heavy fruit. So, she
decided to stand the pain and suffering
without letting anyone know about It.
And there, doubled up on the bed she
rolled about In agony.
After a little while she began to feel a
bit better, and grew drowsy. Fixing the
pillow comfortably under her head sho
closed her eyes and fell Into a sleep. But
hardly had she done bo when a tap, tap,
came at her bedroom door. "Now, who
can that be?" Sally May asked of her
self, half waking. "Tap, tap, tap." again
went somebody's knuckles on the door.
Now Sally sat up In bed and called out:
"Come in, and don't muke so much noise
on my door. Who are you, anyway, that
dares to come and wake me up? And I
am sick, and need to rest."
The door slowly opened, and the queerest-looking
little old man, followed by a
hunchbuck who carried a knapsack over
his shoulder, entered. Lifting his finger
ANL LAUGHED SOME MORS.
One of the Dear
V T' 1
RHEA FREIPKLL.
Oorchester, Neb.
RULES FOR YOUNG WRITERS
I. Write plainly on one side of tbe
paper only and number the page,
a. Use pen and ink, not penoU
3. Short and pointed articles will
be glyen preference. Bo not nse oyer
350 words.
4. Original rtorles or letters only
will be used.
5. Write your name, are and ad
dress at the top ot the first page.
First and second prises of books
will be given for vbe best two con
tributions to this page each week.
Address all communications to
CKIIiBKEN'S DZPABTHE1TT,
Omaha Bee.
(First Prize.)
The Bird's Dance
By Helen Johnson, Aged 13 Years. K4 South
Seventeenth Street, Linculn, Neb. Hed.
In a smoth grassy meadow surrounded by
a beautiful lake, the eagle (king of birds)
had chosen a spot for the birds' annual
dance. The fire flies had offered them
selves so as to make lights for them. And
as the moon reflected upon the water it
made It very beautiful.
The robin fluttered over the grass with
her partner, the blackbird. And In a cozy
little nook by the lake sat the white dove
with her partner, the oriole.
Their orchestra was composed of orioles
and larks, which were perched up in a
tree. The bluejay, crow, woodpecker, spar
row and owl hopped around across the
meadow. After the dance the parrot was
to Sally May, the old man said In very
low tones: "Now, don't make a noise,
little miss, when I tell you I am the Squee
gee man, and this fellow here (pointing u
the hunchback), is my assistant. We've
come to cut you open. Oh, don't cry out.
If you do your mamma will hear you, and
she'll come running to see what the mat
ter Is. And then I shall tell her you have
eaten four bananas, whllo she thought you
ate but one. I'll tell her you ate three
of the bananas before reaching home from
the fruit vender's stand at the corner. And
what do you suppose she will say to that?"
After his speech the Squee-gee mun
laughed, and the dwarf imitated him Then
both shook hands and laughed some more.
Sally, still sitting up In bed, In trembling
tones: "But why do you wish to cut me.
open, please sir?"
"To remove three of those bananas, my
dear miss. Otherwise, you may die.
They'll choke your poor little stomach to
death, you see."
Sally threw herself on her face and be
gan to weep, for the Squee-gee man's words
frightened her so terribly that for mo
ment she did not feel the awful pains that
chased each other In a mad frolic about In
her poor little stomach.
"Oh, I don't want to have my stomach
cut open," she wailed. "Oh, I wish I had
not disobeyed my mamma. I knew when
I ate the three bananas that I was doiair
wrong, for my mamma had often told me
not to eat more than one at a time. But
I was such a pig"
"Pig! Ho, ho, ho! Just hear that, Doc
tor Squee-gee!" cried the awful hunchback
assistant. "Isn't that too funny? A little
girl pig! Ho, bo, hoi I shall surely
die a laughing."
The Squee-gee man also Joined In the
laugh, and Sally May's wails ware drowned
by their merriment. "Oh, bow wicked they
are." declared poor Sally May.
"Better to laugh than to cry over eaten
bananas," cried out tha Squee-gee man.
"But come, I have no time to lo I must
cut you open and take away those three
Little Busy Bees
railed upon to make a speech. It was as
follows:
After being called upon to speak, I will
repeat to you a story which I once heard.
A farmer who had bwn planting grain no
tlced a sparrow In his field, one day. H'e
watchod It for several days and was
anxious to discover what It was doing. He
thought It was picking out his grain, but
he was much mistaken. This little sparrow
had seen insects on his grain and was try
ing to kill them so they would'n injure his
grain. One day this farmer got a large gun
and killed this little sparrow and from that
time he was so bothered with his grain that
he decided It was the bird tha,t had saved
his grain.
(Second Prize.)
Virginia Gwendoline, the Fairy
By Ruth Ashby, Aged 13 Yeais, Fairmont,
Neb. Blue.
It was a hot day In July and Kugene was
tired of everything. She took her dolly.
Viiginla Gwendoline, and walked down tha
terraced lawn till alio came to a large oak
tree. She sat down end trok her doll In
her arms. "O dear! Jenny Owen, I wish
that everything I wished would come true."
"So it will, Kugenlel." Eugenie looked
nound, but could see no one but Jinny
Gwen.
"Y'es," continued the voice, "only when
5 or once wish a thing you cannot take it
back und when ycu once wish a thing to
go it Is gone forever. I am Virginia Gwen
doline, a fairy."
Kugenle danced for Joy and then started
for the house. On the w,v she was
hungry and said, "O dear, I wish I had
bananas that are about to choke your little
stomuch to death. C'onn lie on your back
and be perfectly quiet. You see, I am a
very busy man. I have to cut up so many
disobedient boys and girls. Why, I've got
to hurry over to your little friend Ethel's
house us soon as I 1-ave you. She has been
disobeying her mamma and the result is I
have to cut off one of her fingers."
"Oh, ugh, oh!" shrieked Sally May, hiding
her luce in her hands. The terrible news
that Ethel was to have a finger cut off
made Sally May quite ill. "Why are you
Koing to do that'.''' she cried to the Squee
gee man.
"Well, little miss, you See, It's this way:
Ethel's mother had some very choice spiced
pickled peaches. She had put them in tha
cellar to keep till she shall have a big din
ner party. Well, she told Ethel about
them and tuld her they would have them
for dinner when Ethel s aunt and undo
and cousin should come to pay them a,
visit. But the naughty Kthel couldn't wait
for the promised dinner, so she crept Into
the cellar, tore a tiny hole in the piece of
paper that was sealed over the Jar of
pickles and thrust in her longest finger
and drew forlh a peach. And tvery day
she did that till at last every peucli
though there had been a dozen was taken
from the jar by means of her longest
finger. So I must go and cut off that of
fending finger. And that's why I'm In such
a hurry to get through with your case.
Now, Hunchy, give me tiie knite and the
scissors."
The hunchback removed from the knap
sack he curried a lung, sharp knife and a
pair of tremendous scissors. These he
handed to the Squee-gue man, who took
them In his. hand with a merry laugh.
"Ah, mw little miss, we'll soin have you
cut open," he said, und, advancing tq the
bed, he placed the point of tiie lojig. sharp
knife against Sally May's stomuch and
gave it a twist. Cut, cut, right through
her pretty white, lace-trimmed apron, then
through her pretty, red, woolen frock, went
tbe knife. "Vh, uh, oh! Mamma! Come,
f t me candy." Instantly It be.m to rain
cardy. and when Kugenle had raten all
she wanted it disappeared. All went well
for a day or two. One day she wanted to
put on her pink dress, but In r mama said
"No." "Dear, I wish I had no mamma or
papa, so I could do as I wanted." Scarcely
had sho spoken when Lisle, the maid, camo
and told her that both father und mother
were dead. How Eugenie wept and be
wailed her temper, but it was of no avail.
(Honorable mention.)
Kindness
By Bessie Jackson, Aged 11 Years, 825
South Md Street, umalia. lied.
"Mirle, look at my new nut and hat. I
think it is the prettiest coat that any girl
has around here." "Stop your bragging
about yourself, Kthel." "I ain't bragging
at all, but It Is the prettiest coat here.'"
"Well, maybe It is and maybe It Isn't."
Kthel Walton was very rich nd lived In
a beautiful house. She had everything
she wanted, but was selfish nnd unkind
and always kept bragging about the nice
things she had.
Mario Sherman was rich also, but un
selfish and kind.
One day when Marie Sherman and Kthel
Walton were out walking thry met a poor
little girl who begged for a penny. Kthel
passed her by and haughtily holding her
head In the air sild, "I suppose you com
pare her coat and hat to mine; I know
you'll say I'm bragging but I don't care.
I suppose you're, going to stop and give that
miserable creature soma money or some
thing like that." "Of course I will givo
her some money, )xior creature," and
walking toward the little girl Marie handed
her some lhoney, but to her sur
prise tho little girl started to cry. "What
Is the matter, little girl?" she a.sked. She
told her that they were very poor. Mario
asked her to tell her story, and sho began:
"My mother Is so poor but she Is too
proud to let anybody help her; she would
not let mo work, but father died and she
was too weak to work so I niado her let
mo work. I worked a few weeks doing
errands and made only J1.00 a week, but
that waa not enough to keep us warm and
to have enough food and mother was sick
and could not work, but after awhllo sho
died and left me alone." "Is It long since
your mother died?" "Yes, a year afro."
"Where do you get your meals and where
do you- go over night?" The little girl
stood a moment like a statue; "I can't
tell you; if I did I would be thrown out
and then I wouldn't have any place to go."
"Please tell me. I will take you home to
my mother and you can be my little play
mate." "Well, then I will tell you.
When mother died there lived across the
street an old woman with her son, who
was seventeen years old. He waa rough
and unkind but he told me he would take
mo to his mother. I consented willingly. At
first she was kind to me but after a -week
or so she grew very unkind, and made me
do all sorts of work. Then she mado me
sing In the streets, and after that to
beg, as I am doing now. If I don't bring
home enough for supper she will beat mo
and make me go to bed without supper."
Marie -stood and stared at the girl. She
never thought that so great a misery
could happen in her beautiful happy world.
At last she broke the silence and said, "I
will take you home this minute, not for a
playmate but for a sister."
Ethel did not listen to the conversation,
for, thought she, "I wouldn't bother my
head about a miserable urchin." Marie
called her over and told the little girl to
toll her story, and once more she told It.
Ethel felt a twinge in her heart which
had never been there before. With a glance
of syympathy she actually stooped and
kissed the tear-stained face, farle gasped
and stared at her. Was this the haughty
proud and selfish Ethel of only a few
minutes ago? Ethel wanted to take her
home but Marie said she had spoken to
her first so she had a right to take her
homo. At this speech Ethel turned as red
as her hat but said nothing. She was to
Stay at Marie's house and visit Ethel fre
quently. The little girl said afterwards that Ma
rie's mother was the kindest woman on
earth for when she saw the child she
cheerily f.ald. "You're welcome child; for
get the past but think of the present."
It was Indeed a great change from the
dirty street and tumbled down hut to the
big comfortable house with a cheerful fire
Inside.
Ethel learned a lesson from Marie's kind
act and sha was unselfish and kind ever
after that.
The Two Little Dogs
By Frank Kostal, Aged 9 Years, 1518 O
Street, South Omaha. Red
There were two little dogs which were
always Into mischief. They were running
af,ter two boys, who were going down tha
road. They barked and barked till the
boy-j got down to the corner, then they
come, come! The Squee-gee man Is cut
ting me open.. Oh, oh, oh.,"
"Why, my darling child," cried Sally
May's mamma a minute later. "What on
earth Is the matter, my daughter. I heard
you screaming In such a frightened way
and came hurrying upstairs to find you
all doubled up and crying out in your
sleep."
Then Sally Muy, sitting up on her bed,
her hands pressed against a very ill llttlj
stcmach, told her mamma all about the
Ftolcn bananas, and the Squee-gee man and
his terrible assistant. And she even looked
on her pretty apron to see If the knife had
out a hole In it.
It took several mlnutec explaining be
fore Bally May's mamma could mako her
understand that she had been suffering
from nightmare, caused, doubtless, by over
eating rf the bananas. Then, railing to
the housemaid, Sully's mamma told her to
"phone for the dortor, for Sally May would
have to take some Very bitter mi diclne,
go without her supper, and lie In bed for
two or three days, perhaps, on acctu.it of
her naughtiness and greediness.
"Oh, mamma, I'm so sorry," wailcri Sally
May, still holding her hands over her pain
ing stomach. "Never, never shall I ba
naughty again, never. And I w inted t'
play snow ball with brother and Ethel this
afternoon. But I wonder If the Squee-geu
man has cut off Ethel's f.nger!" she cried,
excitedly, for getting for the mcment that
her dream had not been a reality. Then,
recalling tiie truth, she lay down on her
pillow, tuyirig: "I guess naughty children
always have to suffer for their naught!
was, don't they, mamma?"
"Yes, darling, and the older they get the
more they suffer from their wrongdoing.
So, my little daughter must grow better
and belter as Mie grows ol ler."
"I shall, mamma, I shull," declared Sally
May earnestly. "And never shall I forget
that Bquce-gee doctor, the hunchback, and
their terrible knife and scissors. I'gh!"
but at that moment the doctor rame and
Sally May hud to be quiet and swallow
some very bad medicine.
LETTER FH0M NEW QUEEN.
Fear Editor and Busy l!ee: 1 feel
(ireatly honored at being chosen queen
nf the Busy Bees, and 1 would liko to
thank all of the Busy Bees who voted
for me. I had no Idea that I was to be
quern, though I have often hoped to be.
I was very much plessed to see my
story in print last Sunday. I think the
stories which received prizes last week
and the week before were splendid.
I enjoyed my Chrlutmas holidays until
two days after Christmas, when I was
taken sick with tonsllltls, and conse
quently, I spent most of tho remainder
of vacation In bed. but I was well again
when school commenced. I received
many Christmas presents, as I hope the
other Busy Bees did also. 1 hope they
will all have a happy New Year.
Again thanking the Busy Bees for
wishing me as their queen, I will close.
MYHTIK JENSEN.
ran after the little dogs and gave them
a whipping. The little dogs went home
crying and told their mother. The
mother dog took the little dogs mid put
them in the house. Then the little dogs
had to go to sleep. Then the mother dog
looked for tho two boys but she could
not find them.
A Christmas Story
By Dorothy Koepnlek. Aged 9 Years, Ban
croft, Neb. Bed.
It was Christmas eve and a little girl
sat by tho fire. Her stepmother was sit
ting beside hrr. Her stepmother was very
mean nnd began to scold Klleu, when all
at once there came a knock Ht the door.
Who could it be? They sat still a moment
and then her stepmother went to tho door.
There stood some children. One was a girl
with curly hair and the others were two
boys. They asked If Kllen was at home.
!3he said yes and they camo In. One had a
doll, another a sled and another a kitten.
Kllen was very happy. There was also
some candy and nuts. They said they had
saved up all the money In their banks and
bought her somo presents with It. When
6he went to bed sho dreamed of all the
pretty things. I think tho children who
gave her tho presents had a happy Christ
mas, don't you?
A Kind Master
By David Carl Blngaman, Aged 10 Years,
2215 Grant Street, Omaha. Blue.
Once upon a time there was a little boy
whose name was James. James had a little
donkey whose name was Prince. Prince
was a good little fellow, so his master loved
him very much. So ho was fed every few
minutes in the day, and that was five times
a day. They both were good little friends.
They stayed together in a llttlo room which
was his barn. There was no way on earth
for Prince to get hungry, for when he
wasn't hungry he would have to eat. James
went out driving twice a day and often
three times. James has a very large green
pasture for Prince. I believe he Is the
luckiest donkey that ever lived. Prince Is
kind to his master and his master Is very
kind to him. I think he Is a happy donkey.
This ends my story of the kind little Prince
and happy little James.
Jimmie
By Morion Capps, Aged 9 Tears, Gibbon,
Neb. Red.
I have a dog named Jlmmle. He Is a
coach dog and Is very cute. I got him
from the livery stabln. He Is very play
ful, and had gotten him Christmas after
noon He has black spots on his back
and there is a man downtown who said
to mo. "Why don't you wash the spots
off his back?" But I say, "I do not
know, because they were there when we
got him." My brother bought him from
the stable, and my mamma doesn't like
him very much because he gets Into mis
chief. But I do not care, because I like
hlni so much.
This Is a true story, because he Is my
own dog, and he la here In the kitchen
with me.
Ella's Lesson
By Deloma Kambert. Aged U Years, Au
burn, Neb. Blue.
Rlla and Mary were cousins who both
took musto lessons. Mary practiced and
always had her lesson when her muslo
teacher came, but Ella would go and play
and have a nice time, saying she would
practice tomorrow, and when her teacher
came she did not have her lesson.
When the girls were women Mary could
give music lessons and entertain people,
but Ella could not, and she wished she
had practiced Ilka Mary.
A Trip to the Sun in Dreamland
By Mary Brown, Aged 12 Years. 2322 Boule
vard Avenue, Oimiha. Red.
It was a briyht summer day some girls
and I took a trip to the sun. We e'arted
about 5 o'clock in the morning with the
sun from the eastern part of the earth.
The sun seemed to be a ball of fire. As
How to Grow
Wl n you have an acting tooth
That must be pulled, y u know,
To let another belter tooth
In its old place to grow.
If you will keep ycui tongue away
FTom where the old tooth grew
The new tooth ccrr.lng n. I'm
Will greatly auipilse you.
sure.
the sun moved slowly and turned as It
move 1 we saw many beautiful sights from
the iky. We knew what time It was by the
posl.ion of the sun. But we kept moving
slowly bat surely over farther end farther.
As the world Is round we had to turn
from south tn w( st. As we wrre turning
we hapK-nrd to leok down from the sun
and see little objerts moving bark and
forth. We about guessed these little ob
jerts were peop'e coming home for supper.
But as wo were with the sun and the sun
hatl to keep on going we could not go home
for supper. Wo had to keep on going, too.
Just then my mother woke me by railing
me for supper and that ended my dream,
Marie's Lesson
Ilv Kthel Reed, Aged 13 Years, Fremont,
Neb. Red.
"I declnte, I think mamma's mean. Here
I've just teased and teased her for a beau
tiful big doll, and she just won't get It"
These few words were Interrupted by a
storm of sobs, which shook the frail body of
pretty 12-year-old Marie Bell. Her father
was tho owner of a prosperous mill in tha
city. Although Mr. and Mrs. Bell were
good people, thry spoiled their only child.
A severe sickness when she was very small
left her healthy body in a bad shnprt. Since
then her every wish had been granted until
Mrs. Bell suddenly realized her mistake.
After her storm of tears. Marie, some
what relieved, put on her roat and hat for
a walk. Soon a thin, shrill voice roused
her from hrr deep thoughts and sha saw be
fore her a small child. In her Impulsive
manner Mnrle followed the child to Its mls
trable home. Surh n picture of poverty
ran not he plrtured here. There she found
she could do more for them than for her
self with the doll. On her return home she
ran Into tha house and to her mother, cry
ing: "Oh! Mnmma! I'm so glad you didn't
get that doll for me. I would much rather
have tbn money, for then I could help Mrs.
KanKdnn."
"Why, Marie; what Is the matter?" asked
hrr mother.
Then followed the whole story. Since then
Marie has been happy In helping others.
A Disobedient Child
By Mildred Erlckeon, 2709 Howard Street,
Omaha. Red.
Harold, who was a very smalt boy, usu
ally obeyed his mamma, but thfs time ha
did not Mamma gave Harold a piece of
bread and butter and then told him not
to gn out until he finished his piece of
bread. So Harold did not mind mamma
and went out anyway. A little dog came
along and first barked, then took the piece
of bread away from Harold. Harold was
very much frightened, for he knew he had
disobeyed his mamma. Ho thought he
would not tell mamma, so he went In,
but mamma saw how pale he was and
asked what wan the matter, and he told
her. He said he would never disobey
mamma again.
Harold is my own little brother and this
really did happen.
The Lion and the Mouse
By Frank Kostal, Aged 9 Years, 1518 O
Street, South Omaha. Red.
Once upon a time a lion and a mouse
were great friends. The lion waa fast
asleep and some men were going to put
a net on the Hon. But In time the mouse
saved the Hon by gnawing the net In a
little while the lion went In the forest,
but the mouse was vary sorry. The mouse
tried to find tho lion. In two or three
days the mouse found the Hon. Somebody
put a trap to catch the mouse, but the
lion put his paw In the trap and It snapped
and the mouse waa saved.
A Poor Widow
By Fred Sorry. Aged 13 Years, Monarch,
Wyo. Red.
There was once a very poor widow, who
had three children. Often the poor woman
would sit In a poor home-made chair think
ing of the happy times she had with her
dear husband, who was dead. Many times
the children would sit In one corner and
weep for hours. The poor woman had to
get some wood to keep the fire burning, for
It was a very cold winter. She became
weaker and weaker every day from lack of
food. One day she heard a uolsa outside
by the corner of the house. It sounded like
the ringing of a shovel. She walked slowly
to the door and, looking out, she saw a
man dumping coal by the side of the house.
She wondered if she had ordered any. She
thought it over for a while. "I believe I
did not," she said In a low whisper to her
self. Then she wondered why be brought
the coal there.
Then there was k low knock at the door.
She went staggering to the door, opened It,
and there stood a tall man with a basket
In his arms. "Here is a basket for you and
your children, Misses, and there Is a load of
coal by the house. Mr. Bradley, the mine
superintendent of the Elmer Coal company,
sent these to you."
The widow thanked the man and the
superintendent very, very much for bring
ing all these nice things. The man went
away. Now she didn't have to go out every
fifteen minutes to keep the fire burning.
The widow lived happily after that by the
help of Mr. Bradley.
a Gold Tooth
Knr In that place untouched by tongue
Will grow a tooth of gold:
And will remain till end of life
A good tooth, so I'm tuld.
Ard if you do not cry when from
The old tooth you do part,
'TIs said a diamond will ) smb.
In the gold tooth's bright heart