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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 22, 1905)
THE SUNDAY OREGONIAX, PORTIAND, OCTOBER 22, 1905. 4G Amateur Architects of ONE day the Grand Duko of Bratwurst said to tbo people of Tinkletown: "I am surprised that wise folk like you have not seen fit to build a fine town hall where you could meet and say your wise things in state.' "That is a very good idea," said the j,rople. "We will build the finest town hall that ever was, and we will do it all ourselves, instead of lotting some foolish architect come In and build something that is wrong." So the citizens selected the best place ia tne middle of the town, and as this was occupied by the Burgomaster's house, they Immediately brought hammers and crowbars and began to tear the house down. But Instead of beginning at tho top, they began at the bottom, -and before long the house commenced' to shake, and they all hud to run away. As the greater part of the walls near the bottom had been torn and broken away, the house was very tottery Indeed so tottery that nobody dared go near it: so after a few days the people sent a messenger to the Grand Duke and told liim that they could not go ahead with the great project, because the Burgo master's house was too shaky to tear down. Tho Grand Duke, who was alwaj's glad to see the wise things that the (oik of Tinkletown were doing continually, rode to the town, atid when he saw what had happened he said: "Why did you not begin at the top of the house?" "What a genius you are!" said the Burgomaster admiringly. "What would we do without your Royal Highness?" So all the citizens climbed up on the roof and tore the house down without any further trouble. Then they began to consider' what kind of a town hall they should build. The shoemaker thought that it should look like a Greek temple and be all made of white stone, but the schoolmaster said hat it ought to be of brownstone and he shaped like a square tower, so that there would be a good view from the CHAPTER III. THE attack of the wolves was not delayed long. "When seven or eight had gathered they began circling around the hollow tree In which Joe and Dan had taken refuge, and suddenly the leader of the pack rushed straight for the opening-. Dan had his sharp-ax upraised to deliver a blow, and when he brought it down the blade was- sunk Into the wolf's head, and the beast rolled aside dead. It was hardly a minute before an other rushed and met the same fate. The boys had. been told that one wolf would eat another up as soon as killed or wounded and here they had proof of it. - The wolves that had been struck with the ax were quickly dragged aside by the others and feasted on, and the savageness of the survivors seemed to be blunted by tho meal. They hung about for a time, licking their chops and growling, but all at once the howl of a" wolf In the dis tance sent them, scurrying away, to be seen no more. You may be sure that both boys were too excited to think of sleep during the remainder of the night, and that both were wide awake to every sound In the forest. An hour after the wolves had disap peared a deer came treading softly over the leaves, but as soon as he got scent of the boys he dashed away. Later, a bear came blundering along. He sniffed at the bones of the evolves, and came within 10 feet of tho hollow tree and growled away to him self, but as the boys, kept quiet he finally moved off. That was the last disturbance of the night. "When daylight had fully dawned Jcfe and Dan stepped forth from their shelter and went down to the creek for a drink. Then they sat down on a log. and Joe said: "There has been no barking of dogs or crowing of roosters, and I am sure we are far In the woods. The bark of our own dog could be heard two miles on such a still morning as this. "When we started to follow the first bee we went to the west. How we got off the track I cannot say, but we must have turned to the south. "We know there are no settlers in that di rection for many miles. "We have got all turned around, but if we do not get scared I think we will come out all right. We have matches to build a fire, but how shall we get something to eat?" The question "was soon answered. As they sat there a strange dog came trotting through the woods and stopped at their feet and made friends with them. The boys knew every dog. fpr throe or four miles around their father's cabin, and they were sure they had never seen this one before. He was part hound, and the only way they ould figure it out was that he be longed to. some hunters in the woods. They stood on the log and shouted at the top of their voices, hoping to hear a human voice in answer, but none came. Their shouts started a rabbit from a thicket, and no sooner - - . . - ' "THEY M.VDK A THE KOOE." lop. The Burgomaster said that It should be a wooden building and the Town Clerk maintained that there was nothing more beautiful than an old-fashioned cottage effect with a thatched roof. As they could not agree, they decided that each man should build his part of the town hall Just as he thought best, and when they told tho Grand Duke about It he had Bunny started to run .away than the dog was after him like a flash and soon picked him up. " A fire was made, the rabbit skinned and roasted, and, although It was not much of a meal, the boys felt the bet ter for It "Now, then," said Dun, when the fire had been trampled out, let us see what the dog will do for us. Let him start off and we will follow, and I am sure he will lead us to some hunter's hut or settler's cabin." ."But I believe tho dog himself is lost," replied Dan. "I never heard that a dog .could be The Great THIS Is a tale the Eskimos tell their children In the darkness of the long Winters, up on the shores of Behr- Ing Sea: Once a raven was flying along the sea shore, when some sea birds saw him and began to gibe at him. 'Oh, raven, raven!" they cried. "Oh, you old eater of garbage! Oh, you car rion-eater!" The raven was angry, and his. feelings were hurt, for ho was a very vain bird. and when his vanity was touched he was ready to do almost any foolish thing. "I'll show them," he said. Flying on, ho looked down and saw a marmot hole. The raven swooped down and stood by the hole, waiting, and pres ently the marmot came back with some food which he had gathered for supper. The marmot, when he saw. the raven standing right in front of his hole, asked him politely to please step aside and lot him enter. .But the raven said: "No, I will not stop aside. They call me a carrion-eater, andvl am going to prove that I can eat fresh food as well as anybody. I am going to prove it by eating you." "Dear me." said the marmot, who was a fat chubby, little .fellow, with a good disposition. "I should hate awfully to be eaten. But If I must bo. why. 1 must But, good raven, I have heard that you are a very fine dancer. Before I die, I should like to see you dance Just once." This touched the raven .In his weak point his vanity and he replied: "Well, I believe I am rather good at dancing, and if you really insist I will Just show you a few steps before I, eat you. But, dear me, I must have some music. I never dance without music." "Oh, as for that, I will sing for you," said the marmot, and the ilttle, fat fellow began a song which went: "Oh, ravon, raven, raven, how well you dance!" At last they stopped to rest and the marmot said: "I am delighted with your dancing. Just give me one more sample. As it Is .to be the last shut your eyesand dance your best and I will sing." So the raven, who really could not dance well at all, shut his eyes and began hop ping clumsily, while the marmot sang: "Oh, raven, raven, raven, a graceful dancer you arc!" and then: "Oh, raven, what a foolish fellow you are!" And with that he darted between the XAKWUTE KK ntj frit: nrvfcs ro&a Tinkletown laughed till bis fat sides shook and sard that they were very wise indeed. So the shoemaker began to build his part like a Greek temple and the school master made his part like a tower. The butcher built his share like tho front of his shop, because he said that that was tho most beautiful sight he had ever seen, and the Burgomaster nailed great wooden lost, but it may be so. Let us keep qule and say nothing to him, and sec what he will do." Tho dog lay down at their feet and seemed content for five minutes. Then he got up and whined and looked about him, and when the boys rose, up he started off through the woods. They followed, but not for long. He had not gone more than 40 rods be fore they aw "That he was turning about for the place they started from. This was' proof that he was lost, and could not be depended onv You may read In books that a dog cannot be lost in the forest. Don't you believe It. I have known of half a dozen cases where dogs became ut terly' confused. It Is true that you may take one 50 miles from home along a hlghwny. and he will follow the road back, but that is because he has landmarks to guide him. A horse will do the same thing, and yet you leave a horse In tho midst of a forest, and he is helpless to find his way back to the stable. "lie is no good to help us," said Joe, when the dog had made a failure of It, "and so we will try another way. We will take our hollow tree for a starting point. We will go, east for a mile, blaz ing the trees as we go along. If we do Vanity of raven's legs and went chick! Into his hole. The raven was so angry that ho hopped around as lively as when dancing. The marmot poked his little nose out of the hole Just far enough so that the raven could see it but not get at it and cried: "Ob, raven, what a vain and foolish fel low you are. Beware of vanity, raven, be ware of vanity! And hereafter don t be so sensitive as to worry about what every squaklng sea-bird says. Oh, raven, look how fat I am. Don't you wish you could eat me?" And the marmot dodged Into his hole One rxcsn. again while the raven went away, cawing with rage, for good advice Is often wasted upon vain people. The Word Joe Missed. "When a scholar reached the head of the spelling class. In Joe's room, he re mained there during tho lesson ff he could, and then went down to the foot to work his way up again. The one who remained at the head the most days dur the term got a prize. They were all small boys. Joe was not yet 10. and he was next to. the oldest In the room. Sam Eddy was 13, but Sam was not particularly bright, and, besides, he had to work six months during the year. Slow as he was in most things, Sam was a good speller. It! was the one study he liked. As the end of tho term approached he and Joe stood equal In points, but he bad the advantage of being nearer to the head oC the class. On the last day. how ever, Joe went to the head and left Sam second. This apparently ended the con test for words would go down but once more, and, of course, 'Joe was not likely to miss. Joe wanted the prize, for his father had promised him a book if he won It; but he wanted Sam to have It too. He stood a chance of winning on something else, but Sam did not "Why couldn't there have been two prizes, so each could have had one? Even while looking straight ahead he was conscious of that anxious, disturbed face beside him. And he was thinking of it when next his turn came to spell. There were several visitors at the school, and Joe's mother was among them. When they started homeward, she Joined him. "What made youmlss that word. Joe Brown?" she asked severely. "You know how to spell birch." "But I missed 1t. mother," looking down at his feet Something in his voice made her glance at him sharply. "Did you miss that word on purpose?" "I Sam needed the prize raore'n me. ; 1 slabs together for a log cabin effect The tailor, who thought that clay would be the most durable, made a very fine section out of mud. They worked so hard that they had the building finished In a wonderfully short time, and everybody agreed that it was grand indeed. "Tho honittv nVw-mt It" Mid the School- master, "is mat It is tne proauci oi many brains, and while the part I built is by far the most beautiful, yet the rest are all very good." i "You are perfectly right." said every body, "except when you say which part Is the most beautiful." Then they all shook hands, and when the Grand Duke arrived fie was overcome with astonish ment and joy. The citizens Invited their beloved Grand Duke to attend the first meeting In the new town hall next day as their guest and he accepted. They called for him with a brass band and marched to the town hall In a body. But when they got there they were confronted by an unex pected difficulty. They had forgotten to put any doors and windows into the build ing, and there It stood, perfectly solid, with no way to get In. "We will have to break a hole Into the wall for a door." said the Burgomaster. "But It most not be done In my part of the building, because It would spoil the artistic effect of my design." "It Is Just tne same way with my part." said the schoolmaster. And everybody else said the same. So the citizens all went to the Grand Duko again and told him the trouble. "Well, well," said the Grand Duke. "You aro so wise that It would be a pity for any one else to Interfere-" "That Is so," said the Burgomaster. "And I have' a wise Idea already. lt us put the door Into the roof. There it will be Invisible and It will not spoil tho effect." Sto all the people got a ladder and they made a door In. tho roof. They were so Interested and excited over the Burgo master's Idea that they forgot all about windows, and the visitor to Tinkletown can sec the citizens climbing up a ladder to reach the door in the roof whenever there Is a town meeting, and each citizen carries a lighted lantern, so that' he can see when he trets In. And at the frcnt of the town hall Is a slim written in tho sehoolmnsffr" wt flourishes, saying: ENTRANCE ON" THE ROOF.. not find familiar, ground we will try the other points of the compass. "Whatever else we do, we must not get frightened. You have got your Hp up and there are tears in your eyes. "We mny have to stay In the woods another night, and the wolves may come again." whimpered Dan. "And we may be -home in time for dinner. Don't be a baby. Even if we are lost for a week wo shall come out all right. Cheer up now. and help me find a way out, and while I am busy with the trees you make friends with the dog. I don't want him to leave us." "While Dan stood by the hollow tree Joe started off to the ease and walked as far as he could without losing sight of his brolhcr. Then with his ax he chipped a large piece of bark off tho trunk of a ttce. Then Dan advanced to that spot, and Joe went on again. They did not stop until they had gone a mile or more. The ground was still strange to them. "We are not going right, and must return to the hollow tree and take an other direction," said Joe. "Let us first play with the dog and get him to bark j Ing. It may be that some settler's dog will hear him and bark In answer. (To be continued.) the Raven mother," he pleaded. "And and I didn't tell a lie. I Just looked foolish, and the teacher passed It on. Bobby the Hunter. Bobby was wild with excitement. He was going Into the woods, a real sure enough camping out, with pine boughs for beds, and things cooked over a camp- fire, and hunting and fishing. For one thing, he wouldn't fire at marks any longer. He would get rea game, and catch real fish, and when uncle Jim told some of his bear yarns, NO: T 8 ! Ilk II 1 I S C I I llrei-UF he would have a yarn of his own to spin But he had no Idea the woods could be so awful lonesome. It took him two days to go five trees away from the tent by himself. He counted the trees, be cause then he could count back. On the third morning he closed his lips n rally and walked 12 trees from the tent Then he sat down with an arrow fitted to his. bowstring and waited. Uncle Jim always went Into the wildest part of the forest for his bears and things, and this was certainly wild and remote, for he could only barely see the camp kettle hanging under the forked sticks. Presently a beautiful blue bird, almost exactly llko the bluejay In his picture book, flew to a low branch not ten feet away. His eyes glistened as he stretched the bowstring. He would not be play hunter any more, but a real ono. The bluejay cocked his head On one side and nodded. Bobby stared and then waited to admire the beautiful markings of the wings and head. He remembered how the game which Uncle Jim brought Into the camp looked and how sorry he felt when he saw the poor, limp forms and closed eyes. "Would this beautiful bird look that way after he shot It? Slowly the bowstring slackened. He rose and walked thoughtfully back to camp. Uncle Jim was mending a. net "Well. Xlmrod," Uncle Jim called, "what luck?" Bobby flushed, but his voice did not falter. "Uncle Jim' he said, "I ibelleve I'd xather shoot at marks." Timing the Boiling or Eggs. Toronto Mall. In a lecture before, the Royal Institute in London, an English scientist showed a new exact way of timing the boiling of eggs. The egg was suspended from the beam of a pair of scales and dipped In a pan of boiling water. The sand from an hourglass trickled into the scale, which hung from tho other end of the beam, until the egg was cooked. Then the weight of the sand lifted the egg out of the saucepan and rang an electric bell. Isobel in the Role of Peacemaker For a week after Isobel Strickland decided to keep her seat with Jean Stewart, Martha Chester would not -speak to her and avoided her In every possible way. Then, being a little tired of getting along without Isobel, she began slowly to mako up. Isobel let her take her own time. "When Martha spoke she replied polite ly, but she made no advances and did not Intend to until Martha recognized and was kind to Jean. But Martha could not bring herself to do this. So the foolish little comedy went on, the spectators enjoying the situations very much. On the first Friday in every month. the older girls In Miss Damon's room gave an entertainment Florence "Whit ney, the leader among the girls, was splendid, and Isobel admired her vers much. She was tall and-straight with big coils of yellow hair and such a Jolly way with her that she was tho most popular girl in school. Florence was always very nice to Isobel, treating her as If she was one of her own particular friends, although In reality there was a large difference In their ages and Florence was to go to college next year. Florence decided to give a play as part of the entertainment and she asked Isobel to tako part in it Seeing Jean standing near her, she said: Won't you take a small part, too? You're a new girl, aren't you? This will give you a chance to get ac quainted with all tho girls." Jean and Isobel were perfectly over come with delight It was a great hcraor to be asked to help out and to be In a play, too. "When It became known It created a stir.- Martha Chester aired her views freely. A new girl put forward that way. She d like to know why Isobel insisted on dragging that little freak into everything. Isobel and Jean said nothing, but their pleasure was marred by this at tltude on the part of the girls. That night Isobel's "father came to her room to visit a while, and she told him all that had happened. "Isn't there some way I can make Martha more amiable?" ,sho asked. "Shes so mean to Jean, and Just as long as she is, the other girls won't be kind to her." Her father considered the question for a few moments. He always did this Just as ho did points in business. and it gave his decisions great weight with Isobel. "Do you really want to know what I think?" he said at last Isobel nodded eagerly. "Well, ask Florence "Whitney to give Martha your part" A lump arose In Isobel's throat. Give up all the fun the pleasure of know ing all the other girls, tho good. times she and Jean were going to havo together? "Oh, papa! was all she said. But in the morning she had made up her mind that her father was right. She went to Florence "Whitney be fore schcol and told her the whole story. "But we want you, Isobel!" said Florence. "You're the one for the part" Submarine Cruising off the northern coast of Haytl one day In an English trading brig. I sud denly saw' a hideous, misshapen creature floating deep below our keel. It looked like a winged monster, with a cowled head and a long, pointed tail, and in size it appeared to be at least 10 feet wide and about twice as long. All at once It rose to the surface and began to play In the swefi. Then we realized that It was even bigger than It bad seemed. The brig forged slowly along until she was almost on top of the crea ture, when suddenly a harpoon shoot out from the bows and the next moment the monster was wallowing and leaping in pain, with the long Iron sticking out of bis back. The man who had thrown the harpoon was second mate of the brig, and a native pf Fortune Island, and his face was full of hate as he tried to haul in on tne rope. Gradually the monster came In, until tho man could reach It with a long lance that had a blade as sharp as a razor, and with this he stabbed it furiously until he killed It It was a stlngarcc the most dangerous form of the great flat fish known as rays. The stingaree Is feared throughout the tropics because of the immense, keen, barbed thorn that It carries in its long tall. The tropical fishermen alt believe that this thorn is as poisonous as the fangs of a snake, and as the stingaree can lash his long tail around with Incredible swiftness and certainty of aim. few men dare to approach a living specimen even when It Is hauled up on land. After L had examined the stingaree that the mate had killed and carved out Us thorn, which was fully 12 Inches long, the man soW to me: "Whenever I see one of them brutes I simply have to butcher him. I hate 'em like poison, and with good reason, for a stingaree killed my brother and nearly did for me in the "Windward Passage ten years ago. "We had located the wreck of a coast ing schooner In a coral key some miles from land, and for several days we had been diving down Into It and bringing up all sorts of stuff, mostly canned goods and similar cargo, but some few hundred dollar? In money, too. "On tho fourth or fifth day my brother went down, and I was watching him grope around in the timbers. He was clearly visible from where I. stood, for the water was only about 20 feet deep? and as clear as the tropical .waters over coral keys usually are. All at once a great shape came between him and me, and the next moment It swept downward toward him and began to lash at him. It was a stingaree. and it was twice, as big as the one that I killed Just now. -' "I realized at once what had happened. My brother had dived down on top of Its nest for these brHtes make rude nests for their young. Instantly I grabbed a long knife and dived down. too. I got under the stingaree and tried to stab It but the monster was as quick as light ning and lashed out at me so wickedly that I barely managed to- escape the last sweep of its' ta.Il. "In the meantime, my brother had been under water nearly two minutes, and he pimply had to come up for air. so he watched his chance and while I kept the beast at bay he let himself shoot to tho surface. He was almost tlear when the stingaree swept its tail around and caught him straight across the waist "In a moment the water was darkened with blood, like a red cloud, and I saw my brother's body dimly as It sank down Into the corals. By this time It was nip and tuck with me myself. I struck out alorfg the bottom to clear the stingaree. and then went for the surface like a flash. Scarcely had I filled ray lungs with air and It tasted sweeter than anything I'd ever tasted before the beast came wal lowing at me. snapping its tall from side to side, and throwing Itself around In the sea to get within range of me. "I dived again and managed to evade it Then T struck down to where my brother's body lay. The blood was still pouring from his waist, and 'It was a ter rible thing to see down there under water, for the stingaree's thorn had torn a gash at least two feet long and half as deep YJfaact rigkt Isobel father came to hzt room to visit a while - - - "But Martha "would do, wouldn't she?" . "Oh. yes, certainly, and I guess your father's right and you're a little brick. I hope Joan knows what a friend you are." The quick tears came to Isobel's eyes. Such praise paid for all the dis appointment Martha was almost overcome when Isobel asked her to please to take her Battle With as his body. I seized him and reached the surface with him, but he wus dead, of course. "As soon as I reached the top tho etlng aree came at me again. This time, 1mw ever. It was clumsy In turning, and pre sented one of Its great wlng-llke tins, which look so much like the wings of a vampire. I drove the knife straight in where the wing Joined tho white flesh of the body, and the beast immediately Jumped clean out of the sea so suddenly and powerfully that before I could with draw the knife I was hauled into the air with it We fell back Into the water together, and I landed on top of that ugly black back. ' "I suppose that you noticed how full of spines the fish's back Is? I was cut and gashed most cruelly as soon as I touched the fish, so that blood streamed from me. How Uncle John THERE wasa noise out In the garden a very small noise, but It made Uncle John look up from his evening paper and strain his cars to listen. "Those thievish boys arc at my apple trees again. There won't bo a pippin left for ourselves." Aunt Mary wiped her spectacles and looked out Into the darkness. "You told Thomas to keep an eye on them, didn't you?" she said. "Thomas doesn't earn' his salt He didn't keep the boys from nearly stripping the tree next the fence last night I guess I'll take a turn around and look after things myself." "Tako your cane with you." said Aunt Mary. "You might need something to de fend yourself." "If I get my eye on those rascals. I'll need something to whack them with," an swered Uncle John; and with the cane in hand he stole softly through the unlighted side door, and out into the orchard path. The noise had ceased, but pretty soon there was a snap like a breaking twig, and Undo John stole down by the hedge, in the direction of the sound. Keeping well in the shadow, he halted by the end of the row of apple trees. Thcro surely was some ono moving. Uncle John crouched down near his pet pippin tree and peered under the low "THOMAS! WHAT ARK- YOU DOING Til ERK?" ' - : i part. She was so delighted that si.e actually became gushing to Jean, and by the time the play, which was a grt it success, was over, not a shadow of the old unpleasantness remained In. Miss Van "Wyck's room. "Way it worth It?" Isobel's fatner asked her And Isobel nodded. Jenn's affection and gratitude alone would have pa.d her. a Stingar-ee But I got clear again, this time by :- narrow a margin that tho thorn on tie tail actually ripped through my hair. "I dived once more, and, coming up ti " dcr it, I drove my knlie.in as far as it would go Just over the huge fiat lips oZ the thing, hoping thus to reach its brain I was helped in this attack by the fact that, while the mouth of the stingaree i on the under side of his head, the eyes are on the top, so he could not see nr Twice I plied my knife, apparently with out effect. Then, suddenly, in twisting my weapon. I felt It grate against tl e backbone, and I sawed it viciously. The stingaree gave a convulsive leap, and was dead. "I got my poor brother's body up an.l swam ashore with it That day I swore to kill every stingaree that I saw, and I've never failed yet." Saved the Pippins branches. Dimly he could make out a shadow, not three trees away. He got his cane In readiness and worked along under the hedge without making a leaf rustle. The figure dodged behind the tree trunk and Uncle John stopped. The figure came nearer, slowly and stcalthllv, and in a moment halted by the trunk of tho pippin tree. "He hasn't seen njo yet." chuckled Uncle John silently. "I'll catch him In the very act" The figure laid hands on the tree and vaulted into the low'crotch. "Whack!" camo Uncle John's cano on the back of the thief. "I'll teach you to stenl my apples, you villain!" he roared, as the thief rolled off the tree onto the ground. "Whack! "Whack!" "Don't hit! Mr. Barton, please! It's me! Thomas." Uncle John dropped his stick. "Thomas? "What are you doing there?" Thomas picked himself up and rubbed his aching back. "You 'told me, Mr. Barton, to keep an eye on the trees. So I came out here, and when I heard you, I thought It was a thief. And, thinks I, he'll be after the pippins, sure, and he'll find me In the tree. So I climbed up!" "And I thought you wero the thief," laughed Uncle John. "Have a pippin. Thomas, and we'll take some In to Mary." 4