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About The Oregon daily journal. (Portland, Or.) 1902-1972 | View Entire Issue (March 22, 1908)
iQ WET and dreary was ft out' of oors that Rosalie' and Roberta betook' themselves, upstairs In- bopes , of finding something .with' which to paaa the time In the (arret Roberta drafted forth from a dusty corner the etereacopo, the two curious glasses of which you looked through at a picture faatened on the other aide, , and. lo! the view seemed to be real. Then, too, a little wooden hood covered your eyes a hood that smelt delightful ly fragrant and reminded you of the ' sweet-smelling eaaketa of sandalwood -and cedar your fairy - talea told so" much about. So you were quite ehut off from the outside world, and It didn't take much Imagination to make youraelf believe you were a part of the scene you were looking at , "Oh, wouldn't I Just love to b In front of thia pretty fountain!" alghed Roaalle. with the hood slued to her forehead "My dear," . laughed Roberta, "you ahould try that fairy rhyme our lateit atory boolc glvea: . "Buttercup, daisy and little bluebell, Take ir4. pUate take me to coot Bbady . And the very funny part ot It aU J T. , . . . I v I 3 r;i (, it" ' i ' ?. THEY SAT BT UlIE FOUNTAIN waa that before they could say Jack Robinson, or John Roblnaon, or any other Roblnaon, the twlna found themselves before the very fountain of which Rosalie had spoken. "Why. Rosalie." twhispered Roberta, as soon aa her surprise would per mit her to speak, "this mutt. Indeed, have been Shady Dell, so that the rhyme came out all right" "Since we're here, we may aa well make the best of It," echoed Roberta. So together they tripped about the fairy grounds. Nor can you imagine all the delightful nooka they found. In one place they came upon two nice swings, and, as they were maglo swings, all you bad to do waa to sit In them and they awayed back and forth of their own accord. "But how a no we going to get home ON THE MAGIC SWINGS a gain 7" asked Rosalie, when many pleasant hours had awlftly sped. "Oh," replied Roberta, "don't you re member the other rhyme, which goes llke this: "Now. little dv ' flowers. I must say 'Oood- 'TIs lime I wore flltUu' away, far sway." And before you could say even Rob inson the twins were back in the gar- -ret The rain had stopped, the clouds bad cleared away and the sun was shining. And the birds were singing almost as cheerily as did the little feathered songsters in Shady Dell. In Point pf. Politeness. It was bedtime for Herbert and Grace. The two ventured timidly along the unllghted hallway. When the bottom of the stairs was reached, Her bert stopped. After vainly trying to pierce the darkness which lay before him, he loudly called: "On. I sav, motner; n isn't pome ror men to go first, Is It?". "No, dear,- came the response from the distance. "Then go ahead, Grace," commanded the much-relieved Herbert, courageously pushing his sister to the for.e. and ;5jr y iELTT). THERE!" cried Gray LJ Cat to Little Bird, who was I 1 perched on the maple tree Just the length of the bough from his dear, warm nest-home. . "HelloJ" answered Little Bird, eas ing down, with a friendly little chirp. t, : :t A "Me-ow, me-ow, you seem to be & nice little creature," continued Gray Cat "1 tlUnk I'll Invite you to come down and play with me.-1 know a great many much handsomer and richer little birda who would feel honored by my In vitation but I like you really I've taken quite a fancy to you-" . "Have your answered .Little Bird, chirping In a pleased way and holding himself a bit stralghter, the better to show off hla fine form and the stylish . color of his feathered coat "Xea, 1 have, and 1 want you very much for a ymate. The day is a line one and we'll have no end of fun, Come, Little Bird, Til- give you the time of your llfel" "Thank you, thank you." answered Little Bird. "1. will come aa aoon aa 1 1 ask Mother Bird. It won't take but moment" "Nol nor screamed Gray Cat,' "you can't come It you do that your mother won't mind but It la to be- a secret be tween ua two. Xou can tell her after you come - Home; , that will be time . Annua n. - annua' h.' 0indman's Suff f iO GROWN PEOPLE there was nothing unusual about the ap pearance ot the mirror. Farther delighted in buying from the Antique Shop, you know; and thla waa his very latest purchase. But to Carl and Ella one glance Into the quaint old mirror auggested great possibilities. Somehow you seemed to look further than the mir ror. Into a atrange country beyond. Perhaps thla waa what prompted Blla to observe to Carl one morning: "Carl, doean't that look like the VERY looking-glass through whloh Alice pasaed on her way to Wonder land r Carl believed In alwaya making aure he was right before making a reply, therefore he promptly thrust one foot toward the glass. To his as tonishment he stepped right through the mirror. Ella, ready for any ad venture, cloaely followed him. The next Instant they were standing on a flight of white marble steps. Behind them waa a great wooden wall, some where In which waa the back of their mirror. Before them stretched a won derful country, with pretty winding lanes bordered by trim hedgerows. Choosing one of these lanes, tfcey went happily forward on an eager Journey of discovery. Nor had they gone but a short mile when there seemed to rise suddenly before them a great walled city. Directing their steps up a narrow gravel path, they caaie to a little wicket gate, above which appeared In huge letters: "EN TRANCE TO THE GAME FACTORY." . There was a fat. queer little man at the gate, who asked them for their passport "We Just came through the Look-Ing-Glass, and have no passports," re plied Carl. The gatekeeper grinned hospitably. "Oh, If you came through the Looklng Glass It's all right." said he. "Ever since Alice came through the Look-lng-Glass, and failed to pay us a visit we've been watching for some one else to come from there. Walk right over to that little house yonder, rap at the door, and the Game Fairy himself will be sure to greet you kindly." Following the direction ot the keep er's finger, Ella and Carl saw quite near them a tiny house somewhat re- mKlinir & Oi In aha nasTOda. In reeponse to their flinld knock the Game Fairy appeared almost Imme diately. He waa -a wizened old man. but lie had a very kindly face. Carl and Ella liked him right away. "So you've come to see the place where games are invented, have you, ehlldrenr aald he. "I make them all myself, you know," he explained proudly; "try them myself, too, with the aid of magic .manikins, and then whisper them into the ears of boy and girl mortals. This I've been doing for centuries. But I don't invent so very many games now, and you will And that children of today are playing much the same sort of games as those played by the boys and girls of thou sands of years ago." Soon thoy approached a large plot of ground, completely fenced in. Above two gateposts they read the In scription. "GAMES OF ANCIENT ROME." And sure enough, they found within m Vltbvt "But" answered Little Bird, "mother told me I 'must never fly off without first asking leave but maybe this once won't hurt" "Of course not," cried Gray Cat, "I'll take care of you. Come on and hurry up, you can tell her afterward." Little Bird hesitated a minute, his head cocked thoughtfully on one side. He was listening to a tiny voice within him, that kept whispering, "Don't, don't" Suddenly Little Bird cried out Go 'way. Gray Cat! I don't, want to play with you! I could not enjoy my self If I was disobeying my mother!" With that. Little Bird hopped back to the nest-home. . "Where have you beenT" asked Moth er Bird. - - , "I was talking to Gray Cat" an swered Little Bird; "she wanted me to y down and, . play with her. She wouldn't let me ask leave; she aald I could tell you afterward." "Little-. Bird, Uttle Bird." sobbed Mother Bird, "Gray Cat is a witch. She only wanted to kill you and eat you for her dinner." - "I'm ao glad I minded," sobbed back Little Bird. .. , "You are a very good child and shall have the fattest worm In the pantry," answered Mother Bird, aa she held Aim very close under her wing.- ELStfi PABJUSH. Snap-dragvn "EXPLAINED THE PICTURES ON THE CANVASES" a great number of manikins (or, rath er, boylklns and girlikins), all dressed in tlw graceful, flowing costumes of ancient Rome, and rushing hither and thither In their games. Of course, these little figures weren't exactly real, but through the maglo of the Game Fairy they appeared so. All the surroundings were exactly like those to whlcli the little Romans of centuries ago had been accustomed. Here were a number of boys and girls playing "Hide-and-seek" in Jut the same way that Ella and Carl had often played It Close at hand were other little boys playing "Court" There was the "Judge" and the "prls oner,"'and everything complete. Right around the corner. In a little paved court with a fountain, they came across two girls playing "Jacks." Not far away a game of "marbles" was In progress, where nuts wure used in stead of marbles and a triangle was drawn In Dlace of the circle wlttt which Carl waa mostly acquainted. . Little boys dashed here and there astride of sticks with horses' heads; others trundled hoops hung with tiny bells that tinkled musically the while. One boy they saw whipping a little boxwood top. Then they came to a toy shop. Polla there were everywhere In the shop. Some were lying down, some slumx up, white others were hung up by their hair. They were of every slzo and description. For the comfort of dollies there were also for sole beds and couches and tables. Gay-colored balls, stuffed with feathers, there wero in boxes near by; Jumplng-Jacks; rat tles and drums; wooden soldiers (mostly little Roman centurions): whistles in the shape of heads of wolves, pigs and horses and cocks; swings; toy chariots. "As you say. Mr. Fairy,'' remarked Ella, ,!thelr garnet are really not bo VERY different from thoso we often played ourselves." "No, and you'll find that the games of the little Greeks of ancient times are very similar to yours," responded the Game Fairy, leading them out of the enclosure and on to another -where the sign above the posts read: "GAMES OF ANCIENT GREECE." First of all they came to a Greek toyshop. Carl was much Interested ii a wooden dove, which, when wound up, flew around in the air. And in a copper vase, over the mouth, of which rested, a little Ivory ball. WJien the water contained in thu vase was brought to tho boiling point the little ball danced merrily up and down. Heaped about the shop were toy hatchets, clay pigs and horses and birds, painted serpents and all manner of masks, some hideous and some very comical. '-Very often." observed the Game Fairy, "a Greek father would have all the toys of his little girl or boy duplicated in silver or ivory (In min iature, of course), and hung on a chain of precious metal. This was suspended around the neck of the child, so that, if he should be lost, he might be recognized by a description of the chain of toys." Unfortunately, time did not permit a longer stay, so all they saw pf the ' 5tfv L"R N " '-' I " Ji . - J J JL R- Mai - - uiUmtifUiJ -:: - T'MaHBaaVKHBI BM-tJal aaitriEnmjjniiiiiiiimjrotHi ifesTAg?aS33SS"ry-gE -TCi games was a company of sturdy Gre cian boys in a tug-of-war. It was so exciting that Carl was with difficulty prevented from Joining the gume. The Fairy now hastened Carl and Ella toward what he called the Ex hibit Building. Here were rowa and rowa of ahelves, upon which were books describing all the games that were ever played. The boy snd girl were looking In won der at a series of screens at one end of the room, when the Game Fairy pressed several buttons. Immediately all lights went out and there appeared "moving pictures" upon each of the white canvases. Watching all five sheets at once was worse than trying to see all that was going on in three circus rings at the same time. "On the first canvas," explained the Fairy, "you se a game of bllndman's buff played by barbarian children of southern Germany. The cruel fathers of these same children sometimes put out the eyes of a man, and this man was used to provide them sport. Just aa the ono who is ttye 'blind man' does in the game itself. "On the second canvas you see littlo Roman boys and girls playing at snap dragon. The next sheet shows a gHma of football. I suppos you will turn up vour nose. Carl, when you see that the "Spartan boys permitted their sisters to LONELY PtiitlliiM m&r? j$te!wvv.c -1 1 1 Is i I s I it ft i m -y,' 'j? ,.iJ.,4 :V VI 41' if -if it 1 . f ... yH wmw4 S'POSE It's nlco to b outside, , Romping gay and free; Dashing here and rushing1 there. All ao merrily. 1 . Join them In thla game, night in front of us a company of Greek girls are playing puss-ln-the-corner, while at the extreme right you see a wee Egyp tian girl surrounded by her toys. You notice the Ivory alphabet, the Jumplng Jack in the form of a fisherman, the rattle with its Ix-aJ of -spus lazuli, the. ivory rings, metal mirror, balk and a funny wooden nut-cracker whose Jaws open and shut as they crack nuts placed between them." At this point suddenly all the pictures disappeared from the canvases. "Dear me:" exclaimed the Fairy, "there's something '.he matter with those wires. I'll have to fix them again. " Conducting his guests toward the pa goda, the Game Fairy paused at the door to say good-bye to thetn. He bade Cavl and Ella come and see him again some time, then shjuk hands with them very cordially. Passing through the wicket gate, they waved a parting salute to the smiling keeper, retraced their steps along the winding lane, and shortly WlNNEfe T HE spirits of the boy population of Homevllle never suffered from prolonged rainfall. In deed, spring Bhowers were especially welcomed, and the swifter the tor rents rushed alonr roadbeds and attoet gutters the merrier every lad be , came. For all this meant splendid wad ing and opportunities to sail newly con structed boats, whittled in anticipation of such periods of wetness. Nor must we forget the tub races! But ev n if we should grow absent minded, the "Bloody Robbers" and "Hlojdy Plraits" eouh, never be accus ed of this kind cf forgetfulness. Rarely did It happen t lit? t the two bands met In i rivalry that was at all friendly. But the tub races were friendly that is; al most so and less bitterness waa dis played at this time than at any other. And odtty was to lit ne'd the first race of the season. Yesterday evening Bill Mutn'ord, captain of tin "Bloody Rob bers," had ventured cautiously Into the land of the enemy, and, after hoisting the flag of tr.irc. met the rival leader with th's chatarteritlc declaration: "See hre, Mike Flnnnlgan, I dare you Still, I'm not so very aure But that much depends On the company you have And I want my frlendsl 1 sw: Egyptian fP came to the flight At marble atepa. "Aa we came through, we certainly, should be able to go back." said Carl, placing hla foot on the spot where ha Imagined the back of the mirror ought to be. And. as he thought the wall yield ed. He snd Ella stepped right through Into the little room from which the Journey had begun. Certainly their first experience In "Wonderland bad been very pleasant In deed. You may le sure that Carl and Ella promised themselves a similar treat the next day. Perhapa you may hear of the further adventures of Carl and Ella as Polly Evana bears about them. Utilised its Tunefulness. The daughter of the village rector bad been painstakingly rehearsing the choir boys. On Sunday she Inquired of one of them: "Jerry, I hope you haven't forgotten the new hymn I taught you last Sun day. "No'm," waa the answer: "I've been skeerln' the crows away from the field with It all week." . Overheated. A little boy seated himself at the breakfast table the other mornlmr. Cur ing a slight pause In his attacks upon the victuals, he found, time to look about him. Attracting the attention of hla mother, he asked: "Mother, oughtn't the butter be taken sway? See how It's perspiring!" Or THE-MULLYGfeUDS and your crowd to race us in tubs to morrow. Bikes' field la flooded dandy an'a Just right We'll chip in for a canful of 'mulllcs' an' the winner o' the race can have the bunch." Mike's reply waa equally characteris tic. "Sure' said he, "we'll be all-fired glad to come over and lick you fellera In the race." So we do not express wonderment thla morning at the strange spectacle of a score of boya dodging along the less frequented byway of the town, each burdened with a tub. "borrowed" for tne occasion. It Is unnecessary to add that the common destination waa Bikes' meadow. The meadow Included two fields. All the way round the border of the mead ow ruse a high embankment From this the ground sloped from all sides toward the center, forming a sort of natural basin. Every time thia part of the coun try as visited with hoavy rains the water conveniently collected here In a large pond to contribute to the enjoy ment of Homevllle ooys. When each clan had summoned Its full strength of members, the tubs were deposited on the embankment, and, by mutual agreement, "Robbers" and "PI ' rates" delved side by side In the mud and In the marshy places for "mul lygrubs " Such progress was made In the capture of these little wrigglers that within half an hour a general council was held. Equal shares of "mullygrubs" collected by the rival companies were carefully counted and placed In a large can half filled with water. This was consigned to little Tommy Bowes, the one member of the "Robbers" who today was a spec tator, with the Injunction to let not one "mully" escape, under penalty of having "'Is head punched good'n hard." Tommy had been rather down in spirits heretofore, mourning the fact that his feeble strength would not permit his bringing a tub all the way to the meadow that Is. suppos ing first of all he got away from home with it But now he was In his ele ment And no wonder! Wasn't he royal custodian of the prize? With solemn pride he crawled out upon the fence which divided the meadow and took his post at the point where was to be the finish of the race. After a final testing of the stout cudgels which were to serve as "poles," the contestants crawled down the embankment and Into their tubs, but not without difficulty, for any one who knows will tell you It is quite a feat to safely enter a tub that always Insists upon spinning' round like a whirligig. No one minded a ducking, however, so that within a minute or so the competitors were Mned up (the "Robbers" to the right and . the "Pirates" to the left), in preparation for the start. Fifteen minutes were consumed in false starts, during which there arose consider able argument of a decidedly heated nature. , ... But a general fight was avoided, and the next instant they wero off. A wonderful race It was, too! Such a splashing! Four of the tubs were overturned at the very outset Ac cording to the established rules, these unskilful ones were obliged to retire from the race. Invariably their anger and mortification was so great that they accused some of their enemies of upsetting them. Thereupon deadly combat followed. Thus half of those who entered the race were out of It within the first five minutes. All Interest began to center upon BUI Mumford and Mike Flannigan. A few others were still afloat in their unwieldy craft. It is true, but these two were far beyond reach of the trailers behind them. The efforts of the captalna were encouraged by tre mendous hurrahs from their support era Excitement grew apace as the two tubs floundered along, aide by side. Occasionally a pole would slip from Its position on the bottom or' one of the tube would atrlke a snag. Than the "Robbers" would hold their breaths, while the "Pirates'! would cheer vociferously; or. the "Plratea" ' would be plunged' Into gloom and the 1 "Robbers" into rejoicing, aa the case might be. But alwaya , the plucky captain righted !-- his - vessel without falling overboard and continued on his strenuous - voyage. Nearer and nearer they came te the coal at the fence. , - HAROLD'S very last words to his , olater, aa be was leaving n i . ' long visit to grandpa, werer "Don't forget to take good care of ' Rocky,' Marian." -,' ' You must - become . acquainted , with '" "Rocky" before wv go any further.', lie , ' was a splendid big rocking bursa, of a beautiful dappled gray, and titled ' with bridle and stlrrupa Just like a real . horse. And gallop! Why, you could , gallop at breakneck speed with mm all -around the yard. Xou can see why Harold took euch pride In the posses . alon of "Rocky," can't you, and, Why. h wished Marian to take good care of horsey? , , Before thla time Marian wa not much better acquainted with "Rocky" than you were. Hut now abe waa often. to be found upon the spirited mount. 4 She became quite aa fond of lilm.,ear was Harold. f Marian didn't notice It at first, but "' aftrr awhile ahe told herself ffhat aha " rSL " ; . -3 ' VeJr i - "n MARIAN AND never found "Rocky" In the came place. , In which she left him. "Mother," aald she, gleefully, "I Just, know that 'Rocky' has a nice gallop . all by himself, whenever 1 leave him.. Or maybe the fairiea ride hlml" , Mother laughed and aald that perhaps her little daughter was right Marian would have liked ever so much -' to keep right on believing this, but, aad to aay, she waa soon forced to acknowl edge that ahe was mistaken. One afternoon she came home from school earlier than usual. She went lm . mediately to the yard. What anouhf ane see but Jocko, the pet monkey, riding poor "Rocky" for dear life. The little bundle of mischief scampered -away aa fast aa he could when he waa discovered. But Marian had to admit ruefully .that all her aplendid dreams about fairy riders had been completely spoiled. However, she got a great deal of tun out of the story she wrote to Harold about Jocko as a horseman or rather, a "horsemonkey." SOMETHING UNEXPECTED HAP- 1 PENED - i Suddenly, amid rousing cheers from the "Robbers." Bill made a powerful thrust with his pole. Hla tub spun forward with great speed and plunged into the fence goal. Then It waa thao something unexpected happened! - Poor . Tommy Bowes, who waa stationed at this particular point on the fence, was hurled several feet into the ali , the shock and plunged headfirst Into water ueiow. nor mil ) , that he clunsr heroically k clous can lessen the bitterness that his dastardly action caused for avtrv "mully" had escaped! , , ? rr ..Ti!',e wlnilng of the tub -race. i thA Itching of different rivals to settlt personal disputes-!! was forgotten In the general desire to punish the unfortunate Tommyf But tommy had ' already acrambled from the wate? ' and was fleeing torhlmlUHnSa'' nerarPbvte ht&111! Unt ved ',' nearny. Horrible fear spurred him onward, so that he reached thla haven of refuge before hla pursuers eouid come up with him. " "; ? Then and not until then .war personal grievances between!- "What's the use of wlnntn you don't get your Winnies, we? the last doeful comment of Billy was commonly considered- to ' hll been the chief sufferer' Strait.!,! say, poor Tommy wasn't nmkSn'S Vl all in this connection.' K'?!1 nt "sufferer"; he was a yiullD The Pumping Trick THIS is another trick by which yOU may piuck coin from the bottom of a saucer filled with water, with out wetting your fingers. Fasten two or three matches on the top of a cork, placing them In an iul right Position. Light the matche"? aTl float the cork on the surface of the wa- '"t sv-glass over the cork, making sure that the cola does not come with in the rim. : .j.1:. As the matches burn ' they create a "PUT A GLASS OVER TilK CORK." vacuum within ithe glass. Very soon ' the water rushes Inside the $nm to l i this vacuum. Your coin Is left vn f dry surface without the -glass, ! which It may be taken luut r ' gers after a few moments ..,(- , i tie air has thoroughly dri'-d u, Thia la really an experiim-tit i-, ' lag the action of tte pump. "ROCKY- ; ,.j r