THE Oil AHA SUNDAY BEE: DECEMBER SO. 1917.
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Jack Pumpkinhead's Ride
to the Emerald
City.
By L. FRANK BAUM.
AT DAYBREAK Tip was awak
ened by the Pumpkinhead. He
rubbed the sleep from his
eyes, bathed in a little brook, and
then ate a portion of his bread and
cheese. Having thus prepared for a
nev.- day the boy said:
"Let us ttarl ai once. Nine miles
lb quite a distance, but we ought to
reach the Emerald City by noon if
no accidents happen."
So the Pumpkinhead was aeain
perched upon the back of the Saw
horse and the journey was resumed.
Tip noticed that the purple tint
of the grass and trees had now
faded to a dull lavender, and before
long this lavender, appeared to take
on a greenish tinge that gradually
brightened as they drew nearer to
the great city where the Scarecrow
tiled.
The little party had traveled but
i short two miles upon their way
when the road of yellow brick was
parted by a broad and swift river.
Tip was puzzled how to cross over;
but after a time he discovered a man
n a ferry-boat approaching from the
Mher side of the stream.
When the man reached the bank
Tip asked:
"Will you row us to the other
. side?" '
"Yes, if you have money," returned
the ferryman, whose face looked
:ross ami disagreeable.
"But I have no money." said Tip.
"None at all?" inquired the man.
"None at all," answered the boy.
"Then PI! not break my back row
ing yot! over," said the ferryman, de
cidedly. "What a nice man!" remarked the
Ptunpkinlicad, smilingly.
The ferryman stared at him, but
made no reply. Tip was trying to
:hink, for it was a great disappoint
ment to him to find his journey so
iuddenly brought to an end.
"I must certainly get to the Eme
rald City," he said to the boatman;
"but how can I cross the river if
you do not take me:"
The man laughed, and it was not
a nice laugh.
"That wooden horse will float,"
;aid he; "and you can ride him across.
As for the pumpkinheaded loon who
accompanies you, let him sink or
swim it won't matter grcally which."
"Don't worry about me," said
Jack, smiling pleasantly upon the
1 crabbed ferryman; "I'm sure 1 ought
to float beautifully."
Tip thought the experiment was
worth making, and the Saw-Horse,
who did not know what danger
meant, offered no objections what
ever. So the boy led it down into
the water and climbed upon its back.
Jack also waded in up to his knees
and grasped the tail of the horse so
that he might keep his pumpkin head
above the water.
"Now," said Tip, instructing the
Saw-Horse, "if you wiggle your legs
you will probably swim; and if you
swim we shall probably reach the
other side."
The Saw-Horse at once began to
wiggle its legs, which acted as oars
and moved the adventurers slowly
across the river to the opposite side.
So successful was the trip that
presently they were climbing, wet
and dripping, up the grassy bank.
Tip's trouser leg and shoe's were
thoroughly soaked; but the Saw-Horse
had floated so perfectly that from his
knees up the boy was entirely drv.
As for the Pumpkinhead. every stitch
of his gorgeous clothing "dripped
Vv-ater.
"The sun will soon dry us," said
Tip; "and, anyhow, we are now safely
across, in spite of the ferryman, and
can continue our journey."
"I didn't mind swimming, at all"
remarked the horse.
"Nor did I," added Jack.
They soon regained the road of
yellow brick, which proved to be a
continuation of the road they had
left on the other side, ami then Tip
once more mounted the Pumpkin
head upon the bad; of the Saw-Horse.
"If you ride fast." said he, "the
rind will help to dry your clothing. I
will hold on to the horse's tail and
run after you. In this way we will
become dry in : very short time."
"Then the horse must step lively,"
said Jack.
"I'll do my best," returned the Saw
Horse, cheerfully.
Tip grasped the end of the branch
that served as tail to the Saw-Horse,
and called loudly: "Get-up!"
The hor.fe started at a good pace,
and Tip followed behind. Then he
decided they culd go faster, so lie
shouted. "Trot!'
Now. the Saw-Horse rcmemherrH
that this word was the command to!
go as fast as he could; so he began
..rocking along at a tremendous pace,
and Tip had hard work running
faster than he ever had before in his
ife to keep his feet.
Soon he was out of breath, and al
Shough he wanted to call "Whoa!" to
the horse, he found he could not get
the word out of his throat. Then the
end of the tail he was clutching, be
ing nothing more than a dead branch,
suddenly broke away, and the next
minute the boy was rolling in the dust
of the road, while the horse and its
pumpkin-headed rider dashed on and
luickly disappeared in the distance.
tiy the time Tip nad picked himself
ip and cleared the dust from his
hroat so he could say "Whoa!" there
vas no further need of saying it, for
he horse was long since out of sight.
So he did the only sensible thing he
:ould do. He sat down and took a
jood rest, and afterward began walk
ng along the road.
"Some time I will surely overtake
'hem," he reflected; "for the road will
rnd at the gates oi the Emerald City,
ind they can go no further than
hat."
Meantime Jack was holding fast to
!he post and the Saw-Horse was tear
in? along the road like a racer. Neither
of them knew Tip was left behind,
for the Pumpkinhead did not look
around and the Saw-Horse couldn't.
As he rode, Jack noticed that the
grass and the trees had become a
bright emerald-green in color, so he
guessed they were nearing the
Emerald City even before the tall
spires and domes came into sight.
At length a high wall of green stone,
studded thick with emeralds, loomed
up before them; and fearing the Saw
Horse would not know enough to
stop and so might smash them both
against this wall, Jack ventured to
cry "Whoa!" as loud as he could.
So suddenly did the horse obey
that had it not been for his post Jack
would have been pitched off head
foremost, and his beautiful face
ruined.
"That was a fast ride, dear father!"
he exclaimed; and then, hearing no
reply, he turned around and dis
covered for the first time that Tip
was not there.
This apparent desertion puzzled the
Pumpkinhead, and made him uneasy.
And while he was wondering what
had become of the boy, and what he
ought to do next under such trying
circumstances, the gateway in the
green wall opened and a man came
out.
This man was short and round,
with a fat face that seemed remark
ably good-natured. He was clothed
all in green and wore a high, peaked
green hat upon his head and green
spectacles over his eyes. Bowing be
fore the Pumpkinhead he said:
"I am the Guardian of the Gates
of the Emerald City. May I inquire
who you are, and what is your busi
ness?" "My name is Jack Pumpkinhead,"
returned the other, smilingly; "but as
to my business, I haven't the least
idea in the world what it is."
The' Guardian of. the Gates looked
surprised, and shook his head as if
dissatisfied with the reply.
"What are you, a man or a pump
kin?" he asked, politely.
"Both, if you please," answered
Jack.
"And this wooden horse is h
alive?" questioned the Guardian.
The horse rolled one knotty eye
upward and winked at Jack. Then it
gave a prance and brought one leg
down on the Guardian's toes.
"Ouch!" cried the man; "I'm sorry
I asked that question. But the an
swer is most convincing. Have you
any errand, sir, in the Emerald City?"
"It seems to me that I have," re
plied the Pumpkinhead, seriously;
"but I cannot think what it is. My
father knows all about it, but he is
not here." !
"This is a strange affair very
strange!" declared the Guardian. "But
you seem harmless. Folks do not
smile so delightfully when they mean
mischief."
"As for that," said Jack, "I can
not help my smile, for it is carved on
my face with a jack-knife."
"Well, come with me into my
room, resumed the Ouardian, and
I will see what can be done for you."
So Jack rode the Saw-Horse
through the gateway into a little
room built into the wall. The
Guardian pulled a bell-cord, and
presently a very tall soldier clothed
in a green uniform entered from the
opposite door. This soldier carried
a long green gun over his shoulder
and had lovely green whiskers that
fell quite to his knees. The Guardian
at once addressed him, saying:
"Here is a strange gentleman who
LIttk Btoirleg By Little Fdllks
(Honorable Mention.)
A Lesson.
Frank Manswell, Aged 9 Years, 2928
Vinton Street, Omaha, Blue Side.
It was a few days before Christmas
when my sister and I had a scare.
My sister told me to shake the fire
but instead I opened the top when
some red hot coals fell out on the
carpet. I did not notice these at first
until I had closed the stove, then
when I turned around I saw a blaze
on the carpet. The first thing I did
was to tramp on it, but it didn't do
any good, so I screamed. Then my
sister tramped on it, too, ana she
threw it under the stove on the zinc,
then we stood and looked at each
other. We were so scared that we
could not move for a while. But I was
wondering what mamma would say
when she saw the burned rug and ever
after I never played in fire again and
never will.
Barbara.
Margureitte Smith, Aged 12 Years,
Pilger, Neb. Blue Side.
Barbara Brown was a small black
eyed girl with beautiful black hair and
an appetite for sweets. But Barbara's
mother did not indulge her little girl
in candy very often. Barbara had an
ambition to be a great prima donna
in grand opera. But while she was yet
small her voice proved to be a great
doesn't know why he has come to the
Emerald City, or what he wants. Tel!
me, what shall we do with him?"
The Soldier with the Green
Whiskers looked at Jack with much
care and curiosity. Finally he shook
his head so positively that little waves
rippled down his whiskers, and then
he said:
"I must take him to His Majesty,
the Scarecrow."
"But what will His Majesty, the
Scarecrow, do with him?" asked the
Guardian of the Gates.
"That is His Majesty's business,"
returned the soldier. "I have troubles
enough of my own. A'.l outside
troubles must be turned over to His
Majesty. So put the spectacles on
this feilow, and I'll take him to the
royal palace."
So the Guardian opened a big box
of spectacles and tried to fit a pair
to lacks great round eyes.
"I haven't a pair in stock that will
really cover those eyes up," said the
little man, with a sigh: "and vour
head is so big that I shall be obfiged
to tie the spectacles on."
"But why need I wear spectacles?"
asked Jack.
"It's the fashion here," said the
Soldier, "and they will keep you from
being blinded by the glitter and glare
of the gorgeous Emerald City."
"Oh" exclaimed Jack. "Tie them
on, by all means. I don't wish to be
blinded."
"Nor I!" broke in the Saw-Horse;
so a pair of green spectacles was
quickly fastened over the bulging
knots that served it for eyes.
Then the Soldier with the Green
Whiskers led them through the inner
gate and they at once found them-
selves in the main street of the mag
nificent Emerald City.
Sparkling green gems ornamented
the fronts of the beautiful houses and
the tower and turrets were all
faced with emeralds. Even the green
marble pavement glittered with
precious stones, and it was indeed a
grand and marvelous sight to one who
beheld it for the first time.
However, the Pumpkinhead and the
Saw-Horse, knowing nothing of
wealth and beauty, paid little atten
tion to the wonderful sight's they saw
through their green spectacles. They
calmly followed after the green sol
dier and scarcely noticed the crowds
of green people who stared at them
in surprise. When a green dog ran
out and barked at them the Saw
Horse promptly kicked at it with its
wooden leg and sent the little animal
howling into one of the houses; but
nothing more serious than this hap
pened to interrupt their progress to
the royal palace.
The Pumpkinhead wanted to ride
up the green marble steps and straight
into the Scarecrow's presence; but
the soldier would not permit that. So
Jack dismounted, with much diffi
culty, and a servant led the Saw
Horse around to the rear while the
Soldier with the Green Whiskers
escorted the Pumpkinhead into the
palape, by the front entrance.
The stranger was left in a hand
somely furnished waiting room while
the 6o!dier went to announce him.
It so happened that at this hour His
Majesty was at leisure and greatly
bored for want of something to do, so
he ordered his visitors to be shown
at once into his throne room.
Jack felt no fear or embarrassment
at meeting the ruler of this mag
nificent city, for he was entirely ig
norant of all worldly customs. But
when he entered the room and saw
for the first time His Majesty the
Scarecrow seated upon his glittering
throne, he stopped short in amaze
ment. (Continued Next Sunday)
disappointment to her. It sounded
like a tin horn.
But when she arrived at the age of
14 a change took place in her voice.
She was gifted with that rare tone of
voice known a- "contralto." ,
She was almost wild with delight,
not only for her great gift, imt for this
reason only. Her aquaintances who
used to sneer at her ambition now
had to respect her. A great manager
heard her sing and at once recog
nizing her great possibilities, placed
her unler the tutelage of a good
teacher. In time she was laced on
the operrtic stage. She sion rose to
prominence there and is now in her
damed-of position, she is a prima
donna.
This is an original story. I would,
ifll should win a prize, nrefer an
"Oz" book. I have read "The Land
of "Oz" and "Wizard of Oz."
Tommy Learns a Lesion. '
By Lewis Abraham, Aged 10 Years,
Schuyler, Neb. Blue Side.
Tommy was a little boy 8 years old.
He lived in a cottage with his mother
and sister, Nettie. It was close to a
forest.
He was very selfish and greedy.
He let Nettie do the worst part of
his work, "ut when Nettie got some
thing good he would take it away.
Christ! s was near and Tommy
tried to do his best because his
A Busy Bee's Cartoon
Little Tom's Christmas
(Prize Story.)
By Jeannette Marie OliphatU, Aged
12 Years, 402 South Garfield
Avenue, Hastings, Neb.
Blue Side.
Tom was a poor little lame boy.
He and his mother lived ii. an old
thatched house. Their father was
dead, and the mother had to work
in a laundry to earn a livin for
Tom and herself. One day when
Tom was out of doors hobbling
along the street with his crutches,
he met a greup of boys who were
sons of very wealthy families talk
ing about hat they were going to
have for their Christmas dinners.
"What are you going to have for
your Christmas dinner, Tom?" said
one boy turning up his nose at Tom.
Tom knew he wouldn't have anv
good things to eat like those boys,
and all the money his dear mother
earned was to pay the rent, and
for clothing, and the little money
that was left was hardly enough to
buy each a crust of bread. Now
there was one boy in the grott that
was kind to everybody. As he was
walking home he was thinking
abont Tom's Chrisfmas and his
Christmas. What difference in the
twol The little boy told his par
ents about the lame little toy. As
Tom was walking home he hap
pened to think about Christmas.
He knew Sant" Claus would give
the other boys presents of all kinds
Rules jar Young
Writers
1. Write plainly on one aide of the
paper only and number the pagea
4. I'm pen and Ink, not pencil.
8. 8hort and pointed artlrlea will he
given preference, lto not line over J50
word.
4. Original atorlea or letter only will
be naed.
5. Write your name, age and address
at the top of the ftrat page.
A prise book will be given each week
for the beat contribution.
Aildreu all communication to Chil
dren's Department, Omaha Bee, Omaha.
eb.
mother would always tell her chil
dren if they are good to their mother
and help her with the work Santa
Claus would visit their house and
leave many pretty presents for,them.
And, of course, as Tommy was sel
fish and greedy he was trying to
make a plan how he could get more
toys than Nettie. Then he thought
to himself, "I will hang up two
stockings -tonight and Santa will sure
fill them all up." So before he went
to bed he hung up one stocking as did
his sister Nettie. But when his
mother was sleeping he climbed out
of bed and hung up one more and
went to bed, and dreamed of his two
stock'ngs filled up with candy, nuts,
toys and many other things and
laughed at Nettie that Santa loves
him best.
But in the morning when he woke
up, to his surprise, he found one
stocking emptv and in the other one
was a switch with a note pinned on
it. The note read:
"Dear Tonimy:
"You was a greedy boy so you
thought you would get more toys and
good Things then your sister Nettie
and make her believe that Santa
Claus loves you best, but this is all
I can give you this time. Don't ever
try it again. From Santa Claus.
Nettie found her stocking filled
with good things to eat and pretty
toys to play with.
When Tommy saw all this he was
very sorry.
He said he would never be so sel
fish again. He learned a good '.esson,
which he never tried again. So, Busy
Bes, hang up one stocking on Christ
mas eve.
A Letter.
By Pansy Bulah Shirley, Aged '.0, Box
103, Maxwell Neb., Lincoln County.
Red Side.
On Thanksgiving we had a fine
time.
Wre got up very early and ate our
breakfast and did up the work. Then
we were getting ready for dinner.
We had chicken, cookies, gravy
and peanut butter.
After dinner we washed the dishes.
I read the Busy Bee and looked at
the funny paper.
I thought I would have some fun
so I got my suit case and took out
my dishes and got some boxes, then
I put my table cloth on a chair that
never had any back and then I set my
dishes in the cupboard.
I told my brother, Orie, to go and
get his quilt and a put it up and
made some rooms and played for a
long time.
At last my brother got mad and
threw my pepper and salt box down
on the floor.
I went in the house and got a paste
board and drew a farm which had a
stream of water going through the
yard and a very large 20 room house
with three stories high. The green,
and that they would have good
dinners. There were two weeks un
til Christmas and the little bov
who kindly respected everybody
went up town and bought many
useful Christmas presents for Tom
and his mother. Christmas dav
Tom '-oke up early, put on his
tattered clothes anil weni down
stairs. His breakfast was awaiting
him, were consisted of gems and
rod hot tea, which a kinu neigh
bor had sent over for him. Alter
breakfast Join picked uo an old
newspaper and sat down and read
it, for he w.-k very fnd of -uJing.
A few minutes later a knock was
heard upon the door, and in burst
the kind little boy and his parents
with their arms full of war.i cloth
ing and nourishing food, while the
little lame boy did not know where
ents, toys a.id nuts and candy. The
little lame boy did not know where
he was at, he was so happy, while
his mother shed tears of joy. The
kind people had the house repaired
and paid the rent every nioi.th, and
Tom was operated oi. at a hospital
and could wal'. again and go to
school with the kind boy whose
name was Frank Burton. Who do
you think was the happier on
Christmas day of the two bovs? I
wish the Busy Bees a Happy
Christmas. I wish some of the
Busy Bees would write to me. I
hone to see mv letter in print. I
will write another story later.
A Busy Bee of
Our Royal Family
"Zuddi'e" CrQnmev
"Buddie" Cranmer is a little Busv
Bee. He is a member of the'Ak-Sar-Ben
royal family, although he now
resides outside of the kingdom. Bud
die's mother was Miss Margaret
Wood, a former Ak-Sar-Ben queen,
and lis father, William H. H. Cran-,
mer, is now serving in the United
States army.
The Bee goes to Buddie in Denver
every day, and on Sunday he picks
out the Busy Bee page first to see
what other little lices are doing.
grass was growing all around and
flowers.
Then I closed it and mamma said
for us to come to supper.
I was glad to get into bed for I was
all tireil out, but had a fine time.
Mabel's Party.
Winifred Hiser, Aged 9 Y'ears,
By
Milford. Neb., tiox 152.
Dear Busy Bees: This is the first
letter I have written to the Busy
Bees, and hope to see my letter in
print. I am going to tell you a story.
"Mabel's Party." Mabel had never
IIP
Siveet Content Finds
Laugh-a-Lot's Slippers
By EDITH HIXON.
PJWEET CONTENT, our rosebud
fairy, was brushing her hair
with a chicken's tail and comb
ing it with her fine comb when some
one knocked. She dropped her comb
and went to the door with her hair
all standing out about her face, which
made her so happy that she danced
along.
At the door stood Golden Jacket,
the big bumblebee. He bowed so
low at the sight of our fairy that one
of the buttons rolled from his waist
coat, for the old gentleman was quite
stout. He came inside gladly and sat
down on one of our fairy's velvet
chairs.
"I've come with a message," he
said.
Sweet Content sat down, too,
though her feet would keep moving,
for they had such a tingling desire
to dance. Her hair was keeping up
such a jig that it was hard for her to
think. "I'll have to put on my think
ing cap," she said, "and then I can
listen better." She disappeared and,
in a minute, was back again with her
cap of Queen Anne's lace tied over
her curls. She could walk quite
sedately, for not one curl was to be
seen.
Golden Jacket had fussed and
fumed so much that he had lost still
another button off his waistcoat; in
trying to keep it together with his
hand, he was quite red in the face
and very uncomfortable.
"Now, what is it?" asked our fairy.
"It is this way," said the old gentle
man. "Laugh-a-Lot is very anxious
to see you. I promised I would carry
you to her hou:,e."
Laugh-a-Lot was a fairy who lived
on the edge of the blue smiling ocean
in a dear litte shell house. The house
was lined with soft green sea-weed
and the floors were of mother-of-pearl, i
while the doorknobs and roof were '
made of real pearls. She was a jolly !
miij, tviiu iimik udiii y i n i i.i aim sup
pers which twinkled me rily when
she danced. They rang with sweet
music, for on each slipper were bells
in place of buckles.
"What's the matter with Laugh-a-Lot
or docs she just want to
dance with me?" asked our fairy.
"She has lost her bells and cannot
dance without them," said Golden
Jacket.
"Take me right down there," said
our fairy. She hurried into her room,
picking up her wand and pinning on
tier rose-petal bag. Golden Jacket
carried her on his back down to the
shore where he left her, saying that
he had more important things to at
tend to than finding slippers with bell
buckles. Sweet Content knew well
enough that he would be looking as
had a party before. So her mamma
said she could have one. She wanted
to invite everybody in the town, but
her mamma said she could just invite
30. So Mabel said she would just
invite 30. They put a big tent in the
yard and the band played. After a
while there came into the yard an old
fiddler. The children asked him to
play for them. He said I'll play
one piece but no more." After lie had
played it the children wanted him to
play another one. But the old fiddler
would not play no more. The man
took off the other clothes he had
on and there stood Mabel's papa.
How surprised she was.
My Pets.
By Mary Ginst, 4122 X Street, South
Side, Omaha. Blue. Side.
This is my first letter. I read the
Busy Bee page every Sunday. I am
in the Fifth grade at Corrigan school.
I am 11 years old, December 21. My
teacher's name is Miss Begley. I
have no brothers or sisters. But I
have some pets. I have a dog, two
cats and a parrot. I had a good
Thanksgiving dinner. Now I will
close my letter.
A Letter.
Marv Martin, 1414 X Street., South
Side, Omaha, Neb. Red Side,
Dear Busy Bees:
I will tell you how I like school. I
think that it is nice to go to school.
My teacher's natrle is Miss Barrett.
I think slje is very nice. Now here
is Christmas and I think I would like
to have for Christinas a doll and a
story book and a set of dishes. I
have two sisters and one brother. I
love my brother very much. I am
8 years old. I will write again some
time.
My First Letter. .
By Agnes O'Connell, Blue Side.
This is my first letter to the Busy
Bee page. I read the Busy Bee
page every Sunday. I have four sis
ters and three brothers. I go to
school every day. I like to go to
school. I am 9 years old. I am in the
Fifth grade. My teacher's name is
Miss Begley. My letter is getting
long, so I will close. I hope, to see
my letter in print.
$kthday ooli
Six Years Old Tomorrow (Dec. 31).
Name: School.
Daly, Mary Gertrude Saunders
Seven Years Old Tomorrow.
Ban, James, jr., . , Train
Flias, Agnes B Holy Angels
Baker, Alma Central Park
Ilolman, George Clifton Hill
Mancuso, Paulina Mason
Swift, Gertrude Sherman
Eight Years Old Tomorrow.
Kent, Winifred Lothrop
Nelson. Roland Saratoga
Field, Lillian Webster
Pavlich, Frances West Side
McDonald, Jack Wesley, St. Peters
Gavin, Phyllis Lake
Hanting, Dorothy St. Cecelia
Nine Years Old Tomorrow.
Horrigrtn, Edalyn Central
Klossner, Silvestra Franklin
Petersen. Rudolph H. Kennedy
Abbott, Mildred Park
)
well as the rest of them, for with all
his gruffness, Golden Jacket waj
kind-hearted.
Laugh-a-Lot looked like Cry-a-Lol
when Sweet Content arrived. Her
eyes were red with weeping; while het
hair hung in shreds. Our fairy didn't
much blame her, for without her slip
pers her magic was gone, and sh
couldn't dance. Everyone knows
that a fairy that cannot dance is no
use in fairyland.
'Where did you leave them?" sh
asked.
Laugh-a-Lot sobbed: 4T put them in
my closet last evening, and some one
.... - i ,
tame ana sioie mem.
"Did you see anyone admiring their
jingling sweetness?" asked our fairy
"Everyone always marvels at them."
said Laugh-a-Lot, but they know that
they are magic, and I am sure that no
one would steal trrem. I saw Dan, the
drummer of the fiddler crab band,
watching them as I danced, but he
wouldn't steal them, for he couldn't
possibly wear them."
"I'll bet he has them." said Sweet
Content, "and if he has, I'll get them
for you.
She hurried, down to the edge of
the swift flowing creek and up to
the door. of Dan's mud hut She
knelt down in the water and put her
eye to the keyhole. Dan and Nan,
his wife, were sitting by the table.
"I've a present for you," said Dan
to his wife. "Shut your eyes until I
count three, and then open them."
Sweet Content watched. She saw
Nan shut her eyes and she saw Dan
come over and pull off Nan's shoe and
put in its place. Laugh-a-Loi's beau
tiful slipper with bell buckles. When
Nan opened her eyes she began to
dance and the bells rang merrily. '
Sweet Content wasted no time, but
pointed her wand at Nan (to be sure.
it was from behind the door, but
magic works just as well with a door
between), saying:
"Wand, made of moonbeam ray,
Lot me have t:.la wlah. I pray:
May I.augh-a-Lot'B slippers dance their way
homo
And never again from her tittle feet roam."
Before you could think, the slippers
danced themselves off Nan'a feet and
landed in Laugh-a-Lot's home. She
put them on her dainty feet, saying:
"Slippers with bucklea of belli.
Dance merrily over the shells,
And ring yo r mualo tweet
To the sound of fairy feet.''
Immediately, out from the houses
at the edge of the blue smilii.g ocean
came fa ries, and they danced until
dawn with Sweet Content for com
pany. It wasn't until our fairy got home
the next morning that she found in
her rcse-petal bag a beautiful pink
pearl, which was a thank-offering from
Laugh-a-Lot.
L&uLghing Busy
MY PLAYMATE.
My brother John is very large,
And goes to school each day.
My sister's just a baby yet.
And much too small to play.
Bui-Rex and I have jolly times,
run and romp and play.
Am. Rex does lots of funny tricks
He'll "beg" and "speak" and "pfray
The trick that I like best of all,
Is when he puts his head
Upon the floor, and lies so still
That's when he's playing "dead."
Minneapolis Tribune.
AN UNCROWDED INDUSTRY.
Pat had just arrived from Ireland
when Mike, who has been in America
for some years, spied him.
"Faith, Pat!" exclaimed Mike,
"W.hat aft you doing over here?"
"I've come over," answered Pat
"to try if I can make an honest liv
ing. "Begorra, Mike, me- boy, that's
dead aisy over here, for its .little
competition you have in this coun
try.' The Lamb.
"Pop!"
"Yes, my son."
"Why docs a cow chewat night?"
"Well, my boy, a cow takes food
during the day and then chews her
cud at night."
"But, say, pop, that's hoarding
food, ain't it? ' Yonkers Statesman.
A prisoner confined in a gaol
The other day turned very paol.
"What is it?" they cried.
"Good Lord!" he replied,
"They are going to feed us on whaol."
Boston Transcript.
"Why, Tommy, how you do growl"
"Yes, auntie. I think they water me
too much. Why. I'm bathed night
and morning." Public Ledger.
The old farmer and his college son
were looking at the chickens when
they saw a lien eating a tack.
"W'hat on earth's that air old hen
eatin' tacks fur?" he asked in amaze
ment. "That's easy," answered the son,
"she's going to lay a carpet." Pitts
burgh Press.
"The advantage of conscription,'
said ex-Pres'dent Taft, "is that it puts
every man in the place best fitted for
him.
"It's like the case of the captain of
the man-of-war. He saw a new hand
loafing by the rail.
"'What was this chap in civil life?'
he demanded.
" 'A milkman, sir,' was the reply.
"'Then,' roared the captain, 'to the
pumps with him at once!'" Philadel
phia Bulletin.
"A girl should be educated to do
things for herself." .
"Yes," answered Mr. Cumrorf, "only
sometimes I wish Gladys wouldn't in
sist on doing her own singing and
piano playing." Washington Star.
"I see that the czar has gone to that
famous resort, Siberia."
"Resort? Where did you get that
stuff?"
"Why, I understand that a great
many Russians have taken a knouting
there." Boston Transcript -
Bees