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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Advocate, 1923-11-1, Page 2Over Her Left Shoulder 1 BY MARION CROSBY. Dora Benton drew a jar of sizzling hot pork and beans to the front of the oven and lifted the cover gently. I "They are going to be just all right ,» she cried joyfully. I The kitchen was flooded with their! rieh fragrance. One whiff was enough' to give anybody an appetite, even if on to bed. Clara will help me witha the dishes." Dora took a sleepy child. by eaeh hand and danced them as far as the foot of the stairs and then marched thorn up ahead of her in the happy bedtime romp that they loved. "Good -night, sweethearts!" she called on her way downstairs after stowing thent in their little white hands together 'se) that she could not clap them over her ears. The she went to each window and rolled up the shades. "There, you can stay up!" she declared. She had wconie to the poMt . where, though still afraid, brave . In spite o h s ehe corni;felliny 1:ra:r;.f she ;let! fascinated by the majesty of the storm seen through the upshaded win- dows. "I believe that when you face things you are afraid of, you are not nearly as frightened as when you try to hide," she said, speaking aloud to the dog. . He beat his tail in answer, then ris- • • rowi It had not been a chilly September beds. 1 ing s ow y, gve. a gu1ec, iow g evening .when everyone—meaning, "Good night, Mother dear!" . I and backed a few paces away from Dora and Henry and the three chil-e At the landing Dora stopped and the threshold. The next minute there was a loud pounding on the door, t b hungry ulled back the windo-w- shade, peer- dren—was sure o eanyway. p g out into the night. She could see Brown baked beans and all the good no one corning. There was no moon things that went with them made visible. The sky was covered with, omeone vigorously rattled the door- knob and a strange man burst into the room. Henry's favorite supper. He would dark gray clouds and as she waited,'"Hey, call off your dog, lady! he come in sniffing while his handsome she heard low rumblings of thunder. shouted, as he choved the door shut face beamed happily, exclaiming in "There is going to be a storm and against wind and rain. "I'm a res - his deep, hearty voice, "Oh that sup-' Henry is out on the road," she said de- Pectable traveler, ma'am, but in a per smells good! And how's the whole spondently. She could not shake off storm like this you would have to let precious bunch to -night?" meaning, of her sugerstitious belief in and dread any villain in! I thought each one of (those bolts would be the last •of me. course, the three children, to say no- of "ba luck." Clara called to her from the pantry.; Terrific!" thing of Dora. 1"Daddy telephoned, Mother, but If The intruder was an elderly man , "Hurry thchildren, set the table, could scarcely understand what he with jolly blue eyes and a ruddy please. Faer wnewbusily ill be home in said. The line wasn't working right!' ceuntenance. Water ran down from minute;." all his hat and overcoat in streams, and a fev.- She worked "Oh, Clara, why didn't you c settled in uddles on the rug, He marshalling her little helpers. "That's me?" [went right on talking without waiting right, Maud, help Clara. Bobby, get "Well, I don't believe you could have for an answer, mopping his face with some fresh water and bring the but -1 heard any better, Mother, and he w' a large handkerchief. ter in from the ice -box, Oh, we're go- gone the before I could call you. He saidi "Say, it was a good thing when you would be late but I could not hear ; threw up those window -shades. Stead- ing to have a fine meal and all piping tle reason. There was such e buzz- ied me You know, out there in the I hot. Hurrah!" Dora waved the dish Mg I think there was something the ' dark /el'y car Zs' jumping. Couldn't towel over her head and pirouetted in raaetere? i keep the road. I am on my way to the open space between stove and win -1 " 'Something the matter,' 'some- . Mr. Benton's place. Can you tell me clow to the great amusement of her :thing the matter,' " ran throur how far I have to go?" ,. seven-year-old son, who was reluc-tDora's mind as she swiftly did t e"Mr. Benton's place! This is Mr. tautly starting out for the pump.. 1 dishes and stacked them away, warm,Benton's place. I expect my husband I and shining, upon the cupboard home any minute." Dora was so graceful and pretty shelves. And then as if there had not Even as she spoke, the door was and slim that she seemed mote like a been trouble enqugh she remembered thrust open a second time and Henry young girl than a mother of three more. nearly knocked the stranger over as children and mistress of a rambling "Clara, you said the postman left he literally flew in before the ira- old farmhouse where the work, from a letter this morning with the papers, pact of the storm. one year's end to another, was hardly but it was not here when 1 carie in "Hello, there!" he said in astonish - finished as she would wish it to be. - from the orchard. Do try to find it ment. "Who—who are you?" for me, dear, before you go to bed. "My name is Stevens!" She seemed even younger than usual Hunt hard. Perhaps it was important. "Well! Well! I have been all this to -night as she danced back and forth Every letter is important until you evening at Deer Creek looking for singing a gay song. A tiny moon- find out what is in it." you. Heard you were due there." beam, coming through the window, "I've hunted and hunted, Mother, "And I have been in Centreville, fell on her yellow hair and gave it and I simply cannot find it," replied ten miles away. Thought I wouldn't a softer sheen, the girl in a distressed voice. "It was go home without seeing you about Suddenly-, with a little frightered in What yellow _ envelope, I geerlmber. that land. Said I would drive out, gasp, she stopped. "The new moon!" "Well, wideh,T l'oet1111.1:notf. You take storm or no storm, and here I am. she cried. "And I looked at it straight this side of the room and I will take e iDnild,n't know this was your place. Blew over my left shoulder!" She had been the other," said Dora, and they "This is my wife, Mr. Stevens. How very gay a moment before but now searched through the tall, old -fashion- about supper, Dora? Perhaps Mr. she quieted down, her gray eyes were ed secretary, back of the cushions on the sofa, among the few papers left Stevens will have some with me." clouded and she went on with the sup- . "Sounds good to me," answered the per preparations soberly. " 'Right shoulder, good luck; left shoulder, bad luck!'" she murmured while she cut the bread. "I just can- not help worrying if I see the new motel over my left shoulder. Henry and I do want good luck so much. We have had our share of the other kind." Dora stopped and listened eagerly, tor I ani rich," she pried, his master coming but she could hear anxious to wind up his affairs. He held out for more than I offered but "The sky is blue, the sun is bright, the Little Maud came into the kitchen thinking that perhaps the dog heard and industriously began filling a plate world from care is free, 1 thethen he came down a little and I guess t' from an easily reached cooky jar. I am October, prithee, shake a merry an after apple-wiapping-- visitor, "if it is not too much trouble, Henry asehe set heavy creeks to catch I I" the water. "We'll have to have new shingles pretty soon," he said, returning to the cosy room. "Perhaps next year we shall be able to afford it. Here is Nhvehactonlstinleufetd.of the morning's plpe:kei "1 d it P attic. The children must have taken it As be handed Dora the paper, a yellow -envelope fell feom its folds. The last letter! For a moment as she field it in her hand the shadow of bad' luck fell once more athwart her thoughts, Perhaps it contained un- happy news. "It is Cousin Ella's handwriting," she said, "Aunt Mar- tha's daughter. I have not heard from her in ages." "Well, what does she say?" laugh- ed Henry. "You will never know un- less you open it." This is what .she read: Dear Cousin Dora,—Do you know anything about a gold and enamel locket with the initials A. L. W. in blue on the back? I know those were Aunt Alice's initials—your mother's. We have been changing the old place considerably of late. The latest improvement is a new stone bridge across the brook that runs through the pasture, In digging through the sand and stones to the supports, one of the workmen found this beautiful locket. I have polished it up and real - 1 • ' hardly hurt a by mistake for wrapping apples." j have been wonderfully well made. The workmanship is exquisite and 1 consider it a real treasure. Cannot you and all your family come down and see it at Thanksgiving time? If it is yours, we shall be glad. , Drive down the day before and let us have a regular, old-time family re - anion on Thanksgiving. I am giving you notice tar enough ahead so that I am sure you ca.n come. It will be so good to see you again. Do not disappoint us, please. Affectionately yours, Ella. Dora lay back in her chair for -a few minutes without speaking. Then she said solemnly, "Henry! The next time I see an. omen that I think means bad luck I ani going to get ready for double good luck instead. I have had a lesson to -night. I wish I could tell Aunt Martha." And then she told him the full story of her superstitious fears and useless suffering, all because she saw the good old moon over her left shoulder. And Henry laughed. Exit October. The wayside weeds were white with frost, the morning air was cold, I saw a gipsy lass whoudanced on fall- en leaves of gold. She wore a scarf of araber silk, a scar - all over the large, well-filled living pers. Benton." let petticoat, room. Ned, the big yellow collie, ran Vs. 7, S. He that worketh deceit, playfully from one of the searchers A little later Henry followed Dora And hops of garnets in her ears-, and shall not dwell within my house. The to the other, thinking it was a frolic.. into the kitchen and whispered glee- fully as she poured the steaming cof- she fiaenorga.thl aetyheellrowthrloeaaveas a seeks the cempany of the faith; He thrust his nose into corners, pawed fee, "Good luck, little woman! Weloft, and king em far an wide, ful, and shuns the companionship of , wrinkles in the rug, and then brokethe wicked. The matter of compan-: strewed th f d closed the deal. The oId gentleman isionship is of the utmost importance.i THE SUNDAY SC11001, LESSON NOVEMBER 4 World -Wide Prohibition — World's Temperance Sunday. Psalm 101 1-8; Proverbs 23: 29-35. Golden Text - 1 will set no wicked thing before mine eyes. — Psalm 101: 3. LESSON SETTING—This week we have our quarterly Temperance Les- son. This is not an interruption or a turning aside front the main theme of the lessons. Temperance is a world • question just as the Missionary move- . * • men is, emperance is a vi a p of the missionary movement. In- temperance is waste of life and soul power, just as Christianity is conser- vation of life and soul power for the highest ends and purposes. We know how intemperance has been one of the great hindrances of the missionary in his work, for where the missionary has blazed the trail, the rum seller has followed. Moreover, the intern- perance of so called Christian nations is a reproach to Christianity in the , eyes of many non-Christian peoples. A world that has turned to God will be a world that has turned to tem- perance. I. THE WISDOM or THE ICING, Ps. 101: 5-8. Vs. 5, 6. Whoso . . slandereth hia neighbour. . In the preceding verses of the psalm, the king has been expressing his sense of responsibility as ruler 'of the kingdom. He promises to use his power temperately by recog- nizing his duties to God and man. Power., like anything else, can be used intemperately. David says he will remember what he owes to God and to man. Now, in the following verses, he describes his attitude to those who forget the law of temper-, ance in all things. He will destroy the rnan who is intemperate in speech, who speaks false things against his neighbor without regard to truth. Him that hath an high. look; "he tat is lofty eyed. This is intemperance of pride, and ambition—the sin that magnifies others and belittles others and magnifies self and ignores God., He that walketh in a perfect way.: This is the man whose life is from day to day regulated by high ideals.I He has a standard by which he guides his life. There is a pathway in his, life that he seeks to walk in. into a loud bark, i to Nova Scotia. to 11 "Come, see my gold, and help yourself, na t.txe ram. we can manage. And I can gee a "Well, dear, we shall have to give it whooping crop off that land next sum - up for to -night. It is time for you to I "Never believe in superstitions, Maudie," said her mother. "No, Mother, never 'lieve in 'Stish- uns! What is they?" asked the chub- by infant between bites of crumbly cooky. "They are very silly thoughts, Maudie. But sometimes Mother just can't help thinking them. Now, I wish Father would come. It's so late we • sball have to eat our supper without ' leg with me." go to bed. Let us hope that it will It was good luck after all! Henry A snowflake drifted on the wind, the come to light to -morrow." was home safe and sound. The storm day began to Wane, The collie still continued to bark was over. It had blown the owner of A vagrant in a ragged coat came shut - and jump but his mistress was in no the land right to their door and now mood f 1 y. e searchedfor the they were assured of the wish of their morning paper and it could not be hearts. Dora knew just how much dif- found! "Isn't that too bad?" she ox- ference that extra piece of land would claimed croesly and looked reproach- make in their year's receipts. fully at Ned as though it was his After supper, Henry escorted Mr. to heaps of withered leaves. fault. Stevens out to his car, gave him min- He lifted 'up his peevish voice, and call - She knew that the sensible thing ute directions as to turns, short cuts ed the gipsy maid, waiting. Ill put Father's in the oven was to to keep hot." go e and forget the storm and bad stretches of road, and in a And she put on a russet cloak and and all suggestions of trouble but she trice the little man was gone. 7 During. supper Dora could not for_ decided to sit up for her husband. "I ani going to take a look at the teal:tiny obeyed, k between the • new moon. She hardly enjoyed the . get her "unlucky" first glimpse of the the owner of the fortythe other h "1 shouldn't be Perhaps he was waiting in town to see attic roof," he announced upon comingl And in on e back to the house. sumac's last red ember, the chilly side of the meadow, that they wished surprised if it were leaking, after all And gaunt gray ghosts of goldenrod hot, tasty supper and spent most of to buy. 13 ut why couldn't he have the mealtime attending to the wants started home berore the storm? of the little ones. "I hate to have this The rain poured down harder, blow - feeling," she said to herself, "but I ing in sheets against the windows. cannot help it! Aunt Martha taught Every few minutes the thunder boom - me to be afraid of bad luck. I won- ed heavily. Dora began ;to be thor- der what ancestor passed it on to her? nughlY frightened. She crouched fling down the lane. The gold (alas! 'twas fairy gold, the glitter that deceived) Beneath his stumbling feet was turned down in Henry's easy chair with her 1 wonder how far back it started any- ' shot. Fill the fountain about quarter - 'way?" hands over her ears but even then she Everything is all right now—and it full of hot water, and then pour in the could feel the jar of the storm was good luck after all!" she chanted ' "Clara," she said, turning to her Around the drawn window shades, below h breath. h t. Shake the vessel briskly so that tip apple sauce, "have I ever told you fire. y the great chimneyin b her tthat went ) '- 'cli. athea shot will scrape along the bottom g the lightning played like a frame of bOnce she stoee _ plder daughter who was busy dishing and sides of the fountain. This will tween the living room and the diningi .. have when I was a little girl?" about the beautiful locket I used to Ned raised his head and walkediroam, and listened. to a rhythmical remove the scum an make e oun- dthe f slowly to the door to listen. Growling, drip -drip, drip -drip, and could hear tain sweet and clean. this downpour. He lifted a hand -lamp from the hall table and disappeared up the red -carpeted stairway. Dora passed lightly back and forth from dining room to kitchen, softly singing as she cleared away the dish- es. "Oh, I am glad that Henry is home --I am glad that Henry is home she vanished with November. --Minna Irving. Drinking fountains that can not be reached on the inside, can be cleaned with scalding water and a handful of • "Why no, Mother," said Clara eag- he lay down, with his no pointed straight at the threshold. His ears erly. "What ever became of it, and quivered, his tail moved back and !.'what was it like?" forth heavily, he held himself keenly "I wonder if I can describe it so at attention. that you will know how it looked? It Dora finally took herself in hand .is a long time since I lost it. It was and went to the back of the house to a solid gold locket with a blue enamel- make sure that all the windows were led medallicin on one side, surrounded closed against the rain. When she a wreath of fine blue flowers On - returned, Ned was still motionless, • the other side were your Grand- listening. mother's initials in blue enamel. It "Good dog, good old Ned!" she said. was her locket. She died, you know, when I eves a child." "If anythin should happen, you and A Little Child's Gratitude By Mary Collins Terry As the Thanksgiving season ap- proaches, it behooves us to think about our children. Shall we let them stock and the house and the children!" w.`"c" le,_ok,uforerard to t ha day as one in "It must have been perfectly beau- are the on y ones to take care of the tifill," said Clara. "How did you lose physical and social indulgence "I lost it in the brook one day when ' He was on guard, he said to her n—a big dinner, lots of fun and coin- / was crossing the little footbridge dog language. it, Mother?" 1 Ned beat his tail sympathetically alone will be the outstanding feaeure hear Aunt Martha's he • any, qr shallwe make an effort to house, down in ' Cr -ex. -crash!" That terrible thun- instil in them gratitude, a real thank- the- valley where I used to live." der again! Dora held fast to the fulness for the things which come to Dora's eyes had a far -away look as if doorframe to keep from tremblin5. they were gazing upon that old scene. ee am going to make myself go to, - them dabytby day? A child is not a Then after a moment she said alou that window and look out! What' ' grateful i tle animal by nature, and "I'll tell you, Mother!" broke in Bobbie, "next summee we'll all go would Henryf li. k that 1 e new the. mother mils 3. if t b - untiring guidance down there and I'll find it for you, I enry say 1end care form this virtue in him was afraid like this?" As she drew she would have him- be a useful and can swim!" he added proudly. the shade aside, lig,htning flashed alive Y m "It is not very likely that yqu could ember of society. that it had happened at new -moon Dora gave a little scream and darted asks three-year-old Danny, stopping told of the loss, "Bad luck! You must eyes with her arm as the thunder, ion wthaermmid.st of his cooling drink on August day, "Why, Mee. time. Aunt Martha had said when away from the window, covering her have looked at the new moon over louder than ever, followed the flash. Moore's black and white cow gave your left shoulder." Dora had not "That struck near us!" she gasped. you the milk, dear. You remember She was walking up and down thewatchedo tried very hard to recover the locket, since Aunt Martha was so positive rcialn _, , we her going d wiu the road now, her hands clasping, eaL'il last night. Toxn loroughu tile milk th b tt f "b d 1 k." eBae hick bad luck for us!" she 'whis _ She was roused from her recollee_ I pered with pale lips. "What do you say to him for bring - tions lay, a' dire little saund at her! Ned lay motionless by the threshold, in g your milk?" , She briught a cloth to sop up the ' tress's every anxious step -Suddenly . ' anti you're tired, dear," she said comfort- "1:/111, it Is bad to be scared! 3)o you e vivid, forked sign like fiery handwrit- PP find it after all these years, Bobbie. His mother did not tell the children ing "Muvver, where. milk tum fromee across the black of the night. that there was no use trying to get °ther until the over and put it on our porch." Izniickles were white. elbow. '014 Maudie how could your ,following with loving eyes his rnis- '"I"ank you," said Danny triumph - White stream. "Well, *ell, I suppose she stopped beside him and exclaimed, Y. "And what shall we say to the good ,ine.ly. ewe are ail tired to -night, j hear, Necl?'I do not want to be afraid, old cow?'" Father would contel" j I am ashamed of myself." And then "Tiank you." He waved happily in It had been a wearYing day. Even gathering herself togethef, "I am not the direction of the Moore's barn and ,the children had worked hard, for be- going to be afraid! I will not!" 1/sides helping gather fruit in the orch- I Ned thumped his tail and continued lane where he had spent many bliss- ful evenings watching Tom drive in the cows. lard they had wrapped hundred of ap- his watch. . •ples in paper and packed them SomehoW, just saying those words . • "COrne chickadees little ones come next cli2p of thunder she clasped her led in this simple -----------------------------— fully away in the attic. thade Dora fcel braver, and at the Little by lit -6,e our children can be' of workers behiad the food they eat, the clothes they wear, and in fact any and all of their material blessings. It is only one step more to the lov- ing Father who gives thee rain and sun, who causes all growth, to whom our gratitude must go out for His care. Let Thanksgiving day, then, be a day when our children remember in thought all those who have helped in gathering together the fine dinner for the.day, and further still express this gratitude. No virtue is worthy if not outwardly expressed. a,ps ere is a needy family who will not have so much for Thanksgiving-, clay, and the children can help pack a basket ind deliver it to them. The mother can sum up` her little lessons and say, "So ma.ny-peoPle have helped us to 'have Thanksgiving dinner, now we must help someone else to have one." Thus she will turn . . the little one's spoken gratitude into service: "Tom Islas brought our milk every day, let us save this big red apple to give him to show him how thank- ful we are." • Thanksgiving is a fitting prepara- tion for the. beautiful festival day which follows so soon, Christmas. It is when a child truly feels and ex- presses, gratitude that. he in turn is ready to give and do for others. "LOVING AND GIVING"—will make sunshine in our world... "God --hat He -gave." There is a companionship that helps; to right thoughts and right actions1 as well as to wrong thoughts, and, wrong actions. Companionship should not be a matter of chance but of , choice. He that apeaketh falsehood' shall not .be established (Rev. Ver.) ;. shall have no permanent place. The! royal favor will not be extended to t those who practise deceit. The court! will not be the scene of subtlety andt craft, but of honesty and faith. The, king seeks to order heart, home and court aright. II. THE WOES Or THE DRUNKARD, PEOV. 23: 29-35. Vs. 29, 31. Who hath woe . red- ness of eye? This section of the les- son. turns our thought to temperance, in our accepted sense of that word. It has to do with the physical and moral effects of drunkenness. The writer calls attention to the after effects of a debauch, after the first exhilaration of -body and mind has passed. The drunkard, perhaps, sought to drown his woe. and sorrow, but it waits for him in the morning, greater than ever. Perhaps he had sought to banish his weariness of body, but the morning brings in- creased pbysical unfitness. Perhaps he had sought intellectual stimulus, but the morning finds him dull and heavy. The life needs release from the burdens and heaviness of life, and there are ways of escape. which re- create the powers of life rather than dissipate them. While we aim at pro- hibition, we must see that healthful forms of recreation are made possible for all. It will be noted also in the chapter from which the less.. 12 is taken deals with other evils of intemper- ance—gluttony and impurity. All of them are the waste of bodily and soul power. Vs. 32, 35. At the la.st biteth like a, serpent. V. 29 deals with the im- mediate results of intemperance. This verse deals with the final results of drunkenness. When it is all too late the drunkard realizes that the cup is a cup of poison. These words were written thousands of years ago, but they are true as ever to -day. The results of intemperance are always the same. But the experience of an- cient days is unheeded by the world to -day. This is one reason that jus- tified prohibition. We are dealing with a subtle and treacherous foe. We are justified in seeking to protect the heedless and the weak from them- e -The right interpretationf total prohibition is 'total protection. We seek to shield the child and womankind from the results of intem- perance and to protect the drunkard from himself. The difficulties of en- forcement, which all must admit, do not provide'a sufficient'reason for in- action. It may be said that we can- not make people better by legislations Very true, but reinember that so long as we legalize the liquor traffic we are making man worse by legislation. The liquor traffic is a lawless treach- erous force, and as such we must deal with it. We cannot compromise with it, much less legalize it. Thine' eyes shall behold . . thine heart s/util ut- ter perveree things. In the conclud- ing verses the writer points out how intemperance destroys the whole nor- mal course of life. Mind and tongue and body are all out of joint. They do not function aright. .? will seek it yet again. Yet he has power to break away from his course of life. He is chained as well as poisoned. 1. THE CHILDREN'S . _HOUR I baskets and paille; wheelbarrow and 1 cart—all were filled in less'n no time. ! And the.Bunny Hollow folks agreed to come again next day—that is, if the frost held off. Daddy Longears felt a little dubious about that—sald he was sure there was a touch of it in the air I HARVEST TIME IN B'UNN'Y' I HOLLOW. "Hi, there, you little Baba!" It was farmer Jones who called, and he laughed when he saw how he had startled the Cottontail bunnies—why, they nearly Jumped out of their skins. Let's see—here were Molly and Sal- ly Cottontail; and Bobby and Billy. And, they had stopped under the big chestnut on their way from school to see how soon the nuts would be ripe. When Mr. Jones came up to them he said: "Say,.Cottontails, would you like to have lots and lots., of potatoes— enough to last all winter? Yes? Well, just you run- and tell your daddy to come right quick , and bring all the bags and basket ho can find; tell all the Bunny Hollow folks, too; there are plenty and to spare lying around the field.and• it's a shame to -have them waste." "I3less me! Ho vi the Cottontails did fly for home. Through Killdeer mead- ow—then through the big woods; they never rested until they came to their own doorway, overhung with pretty red Virginia creeper. And they just banged their way into:the touse to see wht ihould be first to tell the nelliwas. Cottontail told th am she was stir- prised—and she asked -where were their pretty manners? But when -she heard about the potatoes, she was as excited as they were. And she int-. 'ined,iately"dtspatcheil j31,117 to call' his 'dp,ddy—he was, shucking corn; and ;3,doIly to ask Granny Wobblenose would she please, ma'am, mind the baby" so Ma could help in the field. While eobby and Sally ran round Bin- ny Hollow to tell the neighbors, In just about the whisk of a rabbit's tail the ,Hopovers and. the Terfootsr the Longears and the Wobblenoses and oh! I couldn't begin to tell how many others were getherecl in the'Cot- tontall's dooryard. Timothy Tarfoot had his cart and Daddy Longears had his new red wheelbarrow., • On tlie way to the potato patch Maria aIopover seed: "It's lecity for us that farmer Jones had such a big crop of potatoee." At which Daddy Long.. ears replied: "Yes—and it's luckier still that he's so klud-hearted„" They worked like beavers. Bitgs, even then. Jemima Wobblenose said soothingly: "Now, Daddy Longears, don't you cross any bridges till you come to them—no doubt to -morrow will be beautiful." About that time Matilda Tarfoot missed her Tommy and Tilly. They had a most anxious time searching for them—indeed it was quite dusk before s they were found, hiding'in a clump of tall bushes, close to the edge of Cedar Brook. • They tried to explain at one and the same time. Tommy said it made his back ache to pick up so many 'pota- toes, and Tilly said it made her back ache. So Tommy thought they'd take a little :walk. Then, Tilly said, they saw Mr. Fox; and then they hid in the bushes, arid they'd never, never run away again. Daddy Longears thought they ought to be punished, but Martha said they'd been punished enough. "Well, then," exclaimed Daddy Long - ears, we'd better make tracks for home, and build fires to keep our po- tatoes warm—mind you, they must be kept warm for several days." "We know, Daddy, we know," laugh- ed all the bunnies, and away they trot- ted --chatting and laughing. All at once they were quiet, for Bob Cricket and his folks were giving a concert and they all loved to hear the nansic. One after another they said good night, and when the Cottontails reach, ed home tired but happy, they found Granny Wobblenose waiting for them ,.uad,er, the Virginia creeper—with baby Winky in her arms. ' I .4 Thanksgiving's Gettin'' Nigh. When -ma begins to fret an' fuse 4) An' cook an' bake an' stew Au', when th' woodbox won't stay full No matter whatcha do, - When pantry ehelves get full es ticks With cakes an' bread 'an' pie Why you.kin part near figger Ole Thanksgiyin's gittin' nigh. When all yer folks an' relatives From thutty miles er-roun Eapesherly the folks that's been A -lithe. in the town ' Come traispsire back a-visiti»' T' stay a week ---oh my!, Why Yon can sutt'uly /lugger Ole Thanksgivin'a mighty nigh.