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Children dear: Before many days
old 1918 will wave goodby to us and
the little new year will be usbered
in. We all think of the good resolu
tions we will make and 1 hope all the
Busy Bees will write ine just what
they plan to do this new year. 1
know you have all had beautiful
times this vacation, and I trust the
new year will shower its richest
blessings on you.
Lovingly,
MARGARET.
AN EAR OF INDIAN CORN
Nothing could be more romantic
than the true story of Indian corn,
jet we have been in the habit of
paying no attention to it, or when
we did notice it, of confusing it
with many different sorts of grain.
Strange to say, says Esther Mat
son in St. Nicholas, no one can tell
when this grain first began 'to be
cultivated, but it is almost certain
that it first grew in South America.
When white men discovered North
America this was the most useful
article of food the red men had.
True, they had beans and pumpkins
and squashes and they gave these
and their corn patches a certain
rude kind of cultivation, but corn
was their mainstay. Sometimes
they ground the kernels into axhne
powder and of it made a sort of
bread. They gave some pieces of
this to Columbus soon after he
landed, and he found it capital eat
ing. He wrote home to Spain
about it, calling the powder by its
Indian name, "mahiz," or as near
as bis Spanish tongue could come
to it, and ir-s from this that we get
our word "maize."
It is hard for us to realize what
this plant meant in the early his
tory of ourv country. Our ances
tors saw how the Indians planted
this grain of theirs without any
long plowing or harrowing of the
ground. They watched how they
"scratched the seed in," watched
liow they "girdled the trees with a
stone hatchet, so as to destroy their
leaves, and let in the sunshine;"
and then saw to their astonishment
how the corn grew and flourished.
True, it would have given a better
crop if the preparation had been
better, hut it did grow, and, best of
all, without being either harrowed
r winnowed, it made good food.
THE KANGAROO.
Nature provides a pocket or
pouch for the little kangaroos to
ride in when their mother has to do
some of her traveling. The great
leaps and high jumps Mrs. Kan
geroo takes when she travels make
it impossible for the children to
keep up with her, and as they would
be defenseless if they were left be
hind, good old Mother Nature ar
ranged so that they might accom
pany the mother wherever she goes.
There are many branches to the
kangaroo family and they vary
greatly in habits and appearances.
Nearly all the kangeroo family are
natives of Australia, some are car
nivorous and others live upon vege
tation. The ordinary kangaroo has very
large posterior limbs and its tail is
of remarkable length and, strength.
This organ is of much importance
to the animal because it is used for
motive power as well as a weapon
of defense. Also, the tail forms a
rest when the kangaroo rests upon
its haunches.
In moving about the kangaroo al
ways jumps. Some of these leaps
are from twenty to thirty feet in
length; when pursued or frightened,,
the animal springs forty or fifty
feet.
An ordinary kangaroo measures
about five or six feet from tip of tail
to toes, and when sitting upon its
haunches is the height of a man. It
forms an important article of food
and is said to taste like venison. Its
tail makes a superior kind of "oxtail-soup
and the hide makes a won
derful quality of leather for bags and
other fine articles of use.
ANTS THAT COOK
Ants have always been a source
of much interest to every one. One
specie that has been long known to
naturalists is called the harvester
ant. They not only harvest and
store in granaries the seeds upon
which they feed, but they actually
plant and cultivate an annual crop
of their food seeds.
Rut now I want to tell you of a
still more wonderful tale of an ant
which is common in Dalmatia, Mes
sor barbartis. According to Prof.
Neger of the well known forestry
school near Dresden, this ant not
only cuts leaves and gathers seeds,
but actually makej and eats bread
or biscuit.
Are you cruious to know how they
do it?
First the seeds are sprouted, then
carried into the sunshine where they
are dried; then taken back to the un
derground chambers, where they are
chewed into a dough. The dough is
then finally made into tiny cakes,
which are again taken to the sun
shine to bake; when this is done
ihey are stored carefully away for
future use.
All the cooking and baking is
done by the sun. As the Arab and
native Mexican speak of ripe fruit
as fruit which has been cooked by
the sun, so the ant has somehow
learned the art of sun cookery.
Universalis! Leader.
A FORETASTE
I slept and dreamed that Life was
God.
I woke and life seemed but a rod.
Was thy dream, then, a shadowy
lie?
Toil on, dear heart, unceasingly,
And thou shalt find they dream to be
A truth and noonday light to thee.
Thoughtful Bobby
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C4yW" Jfoernep
Little Stories by Little Folks
(Prize Letter)
Elsie's Lesson.
By I.ucile Bauer, Atsed 12 Years, Atsvood,
Kail. '
Elsie was always reading. Read
ing day in and day out, and when
her mother called her to do any
thing, she said: "Wait until I finish
this page," and then her mother
would go do the task and Elsie
would keep on reading.
But one night Elsie dreamed she
was in Elfdom. As there was nothing
to read she started to clean one of
the elve's homes. She was made
little by touching the horseshoe
above the door three times. She
scrubbed but the more she scrubbed
the dustier it grew. She threw out
the water and was going to get
some more when she felt very tired.
She looked around to call one of
the elves to get i for her. All ,,f
them were reading. She called each
one of them, and they all said, 'Wait j
until I finish this page." j
She waited and waited and no elf
came. She got disgusted and
started to get it herself, when she
thought of how tired her mother
got ot hearing tlie same old
answer. Then Elsie made this reso
lution: "I am going right home and
when mother asks me to do a tiling
I will do it at once."
Elsie's mother wonders why Elsie
is so obedient now. but Elsie knows
and will never tell.
RULES FOR YOUNG
WRITERS.
1. Write plainly and number
pages.
2. Use pen and ink, not pencil.
3. Short and pointed articles
will be given preference. Do not
use pver 250 words.
4. Original stories or letters
only will be used.
. Write your name, age and
address at the top of the first
page.
6. A prize book will be given
each week for the best contribu
tion.
Address all communications to
Children's Department, Omaha
Bee, Omaha. Neb.
Blackie
I By
Lillian li. .l.'nIiaUKli. A8 HI.
Fivili'rU-k Avo., Omaha, Nfb.
Master Bobby Hoemer looks so serious we are wondering if he is
thinking about his New Year resolutions. Although Bobby wouldn't
smile for the camera man, he is really the jolliest boy imaginable, and
one of the happiest Busy Bees.
BABYLONIANS PLAYED WITH DOLLS
The first dolls of which there is
any knowledge were found among
the treasures unearthed from the
ruins of Babylon. They are small
figures of terra cotta and ivory and
beautifully carved. They are fasci
nating objects and must have been
highly prized by the little Assyri
ans. The children of ancient Lydia had
mechanical dolls that would move
their hands and legs by pulling
strings, somewhat after the way we
work jumping jacks of today.
The classic Greek children played
with wax and clay dolls which were
gayly decorated with bright colors.
One kind of these dolls could move
its limbs and the children could re
move the hand-made clothes. But
the majority of these dolls repre
sented goddesses and gods or heroes
and were made up with legendary
clothes already on them. '
The mythological dolls were rev
erently cared for by their young
owners, who were taught to pray to
the myths that were represented by
the dolls. Just think of such idol
worship in our enlightened days!
These little girls played with their
dolls until their wedding day, as
they were married while still chil
dren and before they could under
stand what responsibilities mar
riage really brought or meant
That is another dreadful custom
that has passed away with the wor
ship of idols and false gods or goddesses.
Santa Claus in Toyland
-By-CHESTER
H. LAWRENCE
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(Copyright 1915, by Rellly A Brltton Co )
CHAPTER VIII.
The Glubwubs.
But we have been bo busy with the
troubles of Santa Claus, all this
time, that we have forgotten all
about the one who caused them.
What has become of Taffytoe?
Drearily, pausing every little bit to
rest, small figure plodded along
in the moonlight. Hungry and foot
sore, he wandered on and on, and
as' he went he thought of all the
good things he had left behind. Oh.
if he only had one of Dinah's good
dinners to sit down to, and after that
his snug little bed in which to rest
his weary bones, he would be will
ing to take any kind of punishment.
Should he ever be able to get back,
nothing could make him leave again.
He had been chased by hungryj
woives ana poiar oears until now
he didn't have the least idea where
he was, and he just kept stumbling
on in hopes of at last seeing the
towers of Toyland rising in the dis
tance. Poor Taffytoe I He was paying
dearly for his lack of nerve in fac
ing Santa after his experience with
Dinah.
But what are those dark shapes
stealing along after Taffytoe, dodg
ing in and out among the snow
banks and steadily getting closer?
Surely not more wolves or polar
bears?
If you were very close you could
see that they were little men, dressed
all in fur, and you might have heard
cue of them say, "Ugh, ugh! There
him are. Him Taf'toe sure 'nuf.
Now we get-um sure."
They were Glubwubs, and at last
they were to have their fondest
liopts realized. The Glubwubs were
a tribe of tiny Eskimos, and like
their bigger brothers were very fond
of gumdrops. In fact, they loved
gumdrops as well as the Gnomes
loved sugar plums. They envied the
Gnomes very much because . the
fame of Taffytoe as a candy maker
had spread far and wide and they
had no one at all who could make
their gumdrops. Unknown to the
Gnomes, the Glubwubs had been
trying for a long time to capture
Taffytoe, and now their time had.
come.
Soon the Glubwubs had Taffytoe
surrounded on all sides, and with a
loud cry they rushed at him and
had him in their grasp before he
had a chance to escape. "Ye-e-e-wow-wow-wow-ow-ow-ow!"
they
cried. "We got-um big chief of the
gumdrops now. Come quick!"
Taffytoe was so frightened when
they jumped out at him that he just
stood there, his teeth chattering and
his knees knocking together, fully
believing that each minute was to
be his last. But instead of that
they hoisted him to their shoulders
and seemed only interested in get
ting him to some safe place.
Marching along briskly and taking
TWO FROGS.
Two frogs fell inttva deep cream
bowl
And one was an ootimistic soul
But the other took the gloomy view,
"We shall drown," he said without
more ado,
So, with a last despairing cry,
He flung up his legs and said "Goodbye."
Quoth the other frog, with a merry
grin,
"I can't seem to get out, but I won't
give in;
I'll just swim around with the hope
intent
That life and living for me is
meant.
Bravely he swam till it would seem
His struggles began to churn the
On the face of the butter at last he
stopped
And out of the bowl he gayly
hopped. .
What of the moral? Tis easily
tound
If you can't hop out, keep swim
ming around .
Perhaps there's nothing you can do
To ease the other fellow's rue,
But there's no harm at least to stand
In silence by and -hold his hand,
And let him know in his dispair
That though you're helpless you
are there. .
Heaven is not reached by' a single
bound.
But we build the ladder by which
we rise
From the lowly earth to the vaulted
skies,
And we mount to the summit
round by round,
cream.
turns in carrying Taffytoe, they soon
came in sight of a number of ice
bergs and one of them ran ahead
to bear the news of their find.
Drawing closer, Taffytoe discov
ered that what he took to be ordi
nary icebergs were the homes ot
the Glubwubs. The Glubwubs, for
protection from the warlike tribes of
Eskimos, had hollowed out homes
high up in the icebergs. The door
ways could be reached only by
means of ladders. As Taffytoe
watched, he saw great numbers of
Glubwubs scurrying down and com
ing in his direction. By the time
they entered the village, nearly
every Glubwub in the tribe had
joined in a procession behind Taffy
toe and his captors, talking excit
edly amongst themselves andjjoint
ing at him.
A stop was finally made at the
foot of the tallest iceberg and Taffy
toe was told to clim the ladder.
Wondering what could be in store
for him at the top he climbed re
luctantly up, to be met by an old
Glnbwub whom he took to be the
.chief. He was not left long in
doubt, for the old fellow helped
him to his feet, insisted on rubbing
noses with him and said, "Welcome,
Taf'toe. Big Chief Kowtow heap
glad to see you."
Taffytoe's spirits had begun to
rise, but at the old chief's next
words he lost all hope of ever
reaching Toyland again.
"Come, Taf'toe," said Kowtow,
trying to hide his eagerness, "me
want you to make heap many gum
drops. Been mighty long time since
I had some. Get busy quick."
He led Taffytoe into a funny lit
tle kitchen and showed him where
everything was kept. Then, point
ing to a queer-looking stove, he
said, "Cook-um here!" Taffytoe
felt inclined to object, but he saw
it was no use, so he started in. Old
Kowtow, to make sure he lost no
time, squatted do wn in the corner
and from time to time impatiently
urged him to work faster. Outside,
too, the Glubwubs were complaining
about waiting so long and kept call
ing to the chief, "Make-um Taf'toe
hurry up fast. We very much hun
gry." .
At last the gumdrops were done
and Taffytoe put them on plates to
! . . .
cool. But old Kowtow couldn't
wait. He popped one into his
mouth, much to his sorrow, for he
burnt his tongue. Presently, how
ever, they became cool enough for
him to eat safely. Forgetting his
hungry people waiting outside, he
sat there and ate his fill before go
ing to the door and throwing out
the few gumdrops that were left.
The next two days were very
trying on poor Taffytoe: He was
kept at work all the time making
enough gumdrops to satisfy the
greedy Glubwubs, while he himself
was nearly starved. All they gave
him to eat was blubber, blubber,
blubber, morning, noon and night,
until the sight of it made him sick.
He wouldn't have minded so much
if there had been some hope of
leaving, but they watched him so
closely that he had no chance to
escape, and it looked to him as if he
would have to spend the rest of his
life making gumdrops for the Glub
wubs. (Continued Next Sunday)
HE HAD NO EXCUSE
On Johnny's first day at school he
was given a registration card on
which his mother was to write his
birth record. The following day he
arrived tardy and without the regis
tration slip.
"Johnny," said the teacher, "you
must bring an excuse for being
tardy, and don't forget the slip
about when you were born."
All out of breath next day Johnny
rushed in holding a note from his
mother.
"Teacher," he gasped, "I brought
the one about being tardy, but I
forgot my excuse for being born."
St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
i
THAT REMINDS ME
That reminds me of a little girl
v ho was invited ,to go to church
with the lady who lived next door.
Her mother dressed her in her pret
tiest clothes and then reminded her
to behave her very best I When she
came home she said in a very much
surprised voice, "Mamma, a man
passed around a plate with money
on it, but I knew we didn't need it,
so I said real polite, 'No, thank you,
sir, I don't think we want any.'"
(Honorable Mention)
Thrift
By Leon Numbers', Aec.d 11 Years, Plain
view. Nob.
There was a boy named Ned. His
sister. Dot, did not like him be
cause she said he had no money to
buy Thrift stamps with. But she
was mistaken, for Ned was in the
other room counting his money.
This is what he says as he counts.
"Fifteen for carrying out Mrs.
Thomas' ashes. Five for running to
the store for mother. That makes
20. Twenty for taking care of Mrs.
Newman's baby. That makes 40.
Then 10 more for cleaning out the
inside of Mrs. Downey's sedan. That
makes 50. Ten for old bottles I
picked up in the alley and 5 for
that old stove grate. That makes
65 cents." Then he sat down to
rest.
After he had been sitting there a
short time, Dot came running in
and told him she had lost her purse.
Thin Ned told her it was on the
table where she had left it. Then
he showed her all the money he had
earned and the) both went to the
bank and bought Thrift stamps.
I hope to see my letter in print
as this is the first time I have writ
ten. I also wish to join the Blue
Side. As my letter is getting long,
I will end it, hoping to win a prize.
A White Blood Cell.
By Conauelo Stephens, Chappell, Neb.
I was onci a small ceil. I grew
very large and oblong in a few
minutes. I then divided into two
small cells. I do this all the time
that I am not busy, and the process
is called multiplying.
Que day I was busy multiplying,
when; quick as a flash, a pin
whipzed across the person's arm.
In an instant we were' at the spot
trying to heal and keep germs out
of the wound. At last, as 1 saw
the germs were slipping in we be
gan to devour them. Soon we had
healed the scratch and succeeded in
digesting the enemie.
It wasn't very lorn: until he fell
down and got a splinter in his
hand. (It seems like humans
haven't sense enough to take care
of themselves. anyway). We
rushed to the place andhad a hard
battle. At last a white pus was
formed of the many of our forces
slain and, with the splinter, were
removed.
1 lie person swallowed a little
poison and at last we succeeded in
digesting it, although it took others,
with myself, a number of hours to
"regain normal condition.
1 have never had a rest or vaca
tion. 1 am always multiplying,
keeping out germs, healing wounds
and .strengthening the body. I
really think that if people would
be just half as busy as the red and
white blood cells I live among
everything would go better. Purity
White Cell. Yours truly.
You Can if You Try.
By Elsa Kerkow. At'nl 1 2 Year, West
Point. Nub.
Grace's mother died when she was
born and now she lives with her
aunt and father, in a small town in
Iowa. Her father was very wealthy
and Grace had everything she
wanted. She was a spoiled child.
Grace was very weak and in bed
most of the time. As she had her
own way, she would not eat nour
ishing foods. One day she heard
the doctor say he didn't think she
would live over a week.
Grace was puzzled, she wanted to
go to school like the rest of her
friends. Then an idea popped into
her small head. She would eat veg
etables to make her strong, because
her aunt said they would. She be
came more healthy every day, now
she sat np"in bed. Again she heard
the doctor talk, this time he said
Grace should be taken to Wyoming
for her health.
to visit her aunt, who was puzzled
when she saw Grace so happy and
strong.
She soon went back to the ranch.
She look a governess with her. Two
years later she came back to live
with her aunt. Row she was as
strong, even stronger, than other
girls of her age. Jlcr aunt asked
her how site became so healthy and
Grace said: "I ate foods that were
good for me, and not foods that I
liked,"
A Story About Krug Park.
By Frances Mullln, A noil 8 Yean. BUIr,
N-b.
This is my first letter to the Busy
Bee page.
One day last summer we drove
down to Krug park. When we not
there we ate our lunch. After we ate
our lunch we went and looked at the
different things in the park.
Then I took a ride on the air
plane. Then I took a ride on the
merry-go-round. After we watched
them dance awhile we went home.
I was tired, but was very happy.
I hope to see my letter in print.
Our Picture Puzzle
75
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Z7. 8' : . 64
While visiting some friends in a
.small town one day 1 saw an old
mother dug and several pups being
abused and kicked around by some
heartless buys. They finally killed
the mother and were trying to give
the imps away. Out of pity 1 took
one of them home and named it
"Blackie." He was about the
ugliest little pup I had ever seen.
I wondered it he could ever learn
any tricks. However, I soon found
that he deceived his looks. I must
tell you of some of his tricks. At
a motion of the hand he will stand
up on his hind feet and reach out
his paw to shake hands. When' we
show him a ball or glove and then
hide it he wil go in very dangerous
places to find it and bring it back
to usr As a messenger dog, he has
no equal. Mamma writes notes and
puts them in a small purse attached
to his collar and he carries them a
mile to mv-aunt's house, jumping
up on her to attract her attention,
and then brings hack a reply safely.
One sport Blackie loves best of all
is to go hunting. He runs ahead
and scares up rabbits and squirrels
for inv brother to shoot.
When he seems to be sound
asleep, if we sav "Hlackic is a good
dotf" his tail will begin to wag, and
if we say "J guess I'll get the gun
and go hunting," he is up 111 an in
stant and barking at the gun. ,
He has sure won his wa- into
the hearts of all of our family and
we no longer think him ugly. '
Foolish Young Mouse.
Dy Alma Krer!: !,. Acd 10 Ti-nra. T1
inulir, N''h.
An old mouse had hidden her
vouns in a cellar. A trap bad been
placed in the cellar, and so the old
mouse warned the young to beware
of traps. One voting mouse thought
it was too wise to be caught, and
went to examine the trap, but was
soon 1 eld fast.
The old mouse heard this noise,
and thought she would go and see.
An old pussy cat had been watching
behind a box and ran out and grabbed
her. Then the young mice heard
that their mother had been caught.
So thev were very frightened. Af
terwards the cat came back and said
to herself: "If I ran only find the
other mice, I will have a fine din
ner " , , .
So she hunted till they were found.
Then she killed them and carried
them out of the cellar one by one.
There was a woman in the house and
saw the cat carrying them out of the
cellar. So when they were all car
ried out the woman looked at the
watch, and it was just 12 o'clock.
Then she said to herself: "I m
very glad that we have such a good
house cat that will catch mice f..- us,
and I hope she will have a good din
ner." So this was the end of the
mice.
The Little Snow Man.
Br Clar Virginia CM, Afcd I Ttrt.
David Clly, Nb.
On one of the poorest streets of
an eastern city lived a woman with
two children., a little girl of 8 ..d a
little boy of 6. The children's father
had gone away to enlist in the army,
and they weiv in poor circum
stances. .
One day the little girl came home
from school and said, "Mania, they
are going to have a collection for
the Hed Cross, and you know bro
ther and I gave all our pennies to
the Belgian children last week."
"Oh, well, don't worry, dear," said
mama, "I am sure you will find a
way. Now go out and play." So she
and her brother went out to play.
"What shall we do?" said I.ucile.
"Let's make a snow man," said Joe.
Prettv soon there was a snow
man by the walk, with a broomstick
armed wih a basket in om hand,
and they went into the house. The
next morning many pennies found
their wav into the little basket, and
so after" all they had money.
Two French Children.
F,y Carlutt Davie. Ag'd S Yer, Ord.
NVb.
Dear Busy Bees: Once there
were two little children named Mil
dred and Florence. They lived in
France. When war broke out tney
did not have such a good time,
though. Pretty soon their father
had to go to war. So he went to
tight the Germans. But one day
their mother went to town. While
they were out doors playing they
heard a noise. It was the Germans,
they were going to burn their house.
But just then Mildred's and Flor
ence's father came with the French
and drove the Germans away. And
pretty soon their mother came home
safely. And they moved to America
and lived in safety.
By !.
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Willie says, "When I'm turned loose I can draw a lovely "
Complete the picture by drawing a line, through the dots beginning
at Figure 1 and taking them numericallj'.
Pet Lamb.
Lawson. Agnd 13. Cenlrat City.
Nnb.
Dear Busy Bees: I read the Busv
Bee's page every Sunday and enjoy
it very much.
We have a restaurant and I am
working in it. I have a sister and a
friend who also work here. We
haven't had school for two weeks
and the public places will not be
opened till November 2. Then school
will open on the 4th.
It is very cold here and there is
lots of snow on the ground.
I want to tell you about my lamb.
We raiseil 14. but I am just going
to tell you about mine. When I got
it it was as big as a kitten and its
wool was very curly. It H real small
yet, but is always jumping and running.
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