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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1907-3-5, Page 3' •4. "THE CONSPIRA.TORS". ere' Tlf3N'T that I begrudge Tim Watson hie honor obeing pres- ident of our school class, but X *So think he might have gotten It le:m- eetly, an' not by mean trickery, You see, teacher told us how the big boy s and girls have their presidents an' other 'portant positions In school; so we thought we'd have a president, too. Tim Watson Is the biggest boy, He had no ,trouble frightenin' all the little alums to Vote for him; but most of the gills were for me. Election was to be next morning 'fore school time. 'Course, 1 wae mighty anxious, an' I schemed nest I knew how, I got a pretty good plan, too; an' if somebody who pretended to bo my friend hadn't tattled to him. I'd 'a' been 'president now, I'd like to ketch that fellow! We nad to walk 'most a mile to school. It'd been snowing and there was lots on the ground. My idea was to hide our fellows in the bushes, and, when the lit- tle fellows „came along, to make them pris'ners. Then one of us was to watch 'em while the rest of the fellows ran to the schoolhouse and voted for me. In that way td have what teacher calls the "majority." Well, sir, we hid: among triose bushes till we were almoet frozen. After a while Tim nn' some of his big friends passed, as well as lots of the girls. Indeed, so many girls 'went by that B111 Jenks whlepers to me: "Gee! I never knew there was 50 0110.133' girls. Funny, I don't seem to know all of them, neither," But it teas so cold that all were muf- fled up, 00 we 'spected nothing, That is, until the school bell rang, and we ba -d to hustle to eehooi or be late. Then we found that Tim had already been 'lected president: .And that he had made the little fellows put on their sis- ters' cheeses and coats, so that we had been fooled at our own garnet NOw 3, for one, don't think Tim Wat- son did right. Do you? An' I think I've got a better right to be president. A Speedy Trip e e stele hero, James," said Mr. Blank, calling hie office boy, elf Mr. Burns should happen to call while I'm out, be sure to tell him that I've sailed for England." Hardly had the employer disappeared when Mr. Burns entered. "Mr. Blank has gone to England, sir," volunleered the office boy, when he had assured himself or the identity of his visitor, "Sailed this morning, sir," he added. "When will he return?" impatiently queried Mr. Burns. James looked reflectively at the oppo- site wall and dug his bands into his trousers pockets for inspiralion. At last came the highly Intelligent re- sponse: "Don't think he'll be back tin after lunch." Possibly Will Be. A schoolboy essay read like this: America is a forolgn country. Amer- ica has much coal beds. When it le all used we shall have to use our brains for fuel, and It will be scarce." ." • FOWii "PAY!! 1 g' LEEEMAIP 4 HIJREAH, it's comet I can see It in mummy's faced.' shouted 0111 "Hurrah! Hurrah!" echoed 130s0 and Marian and 131111ebOY, Mother smiled at thle enthusiasm. "Yes, 115 cozne," said she, producing the letter Just received from daddy, "and he wishes us to Join him 3u0t as noon as poesible." "Gain' to see daddy!" piped Billiebeee while the rest all leughed. Joyously, You see, the Burtons had decided to build a home in Switzerland in which they planned to :mend the greater part 00 each year, But it 10 no easy matter to purchase the eight sort of ground, so Daddy Burton had be -on spending some time In Switzerland during his ne- gotiations, Then, too, he wished to personally superintend the building of their little chalet, for, although tho builders know perfectly well bow to lay out the house to best advantage—in order that certain parts would receive the sunlight and others the cooling breezes in summer—there were certain modifications especially desired. Now, however, the dwelling was completed, and he wished ble family to take pos- session at the earliest possible moment. The reunion was a happy ono. There was no one like daddy, you know, and they had missed him sadly during his "WITH BELLS HUNG ROUND THEIR NECKS', absence. So you may imagine how de- lighted they were to see him again and. to inspect their quaint little home. "Looks just like the Swiss cottage we've seen among the toys In America," commented Bess, after a thorough ex- amination of the chalet, "Yes," replied Marian, "but I never ILLICENT Was a little girl who always looked on the dark side of things. Sho was constantly on the lookout for trouble, and expected the most disagreeable things to hap- pen, It seemed to afford Iter a melan- choly pleasure to be able to say "I told you so" when her worst fears were realized, and the weather proved stormy, or the baby refused to sleep when every well-behaved baby should, Or the dinner burned to a crisp, or some such catastrophe occurred, Even when the sun shone anti things were running smoothly, she hovered round with dis- mal forebodings, furnishing more than the necessary shadows to the brightness Of the day. For some shadow is needed to teach us to appreciate the sun. "Dear, dear," sighed her mother; "Millicent, I wish you would pay a visit to the Kies. of Sunshine, and come back with a whole bundle of sunbeams to make up for the shadows you carry with YOu always:" "Is there such a person?" asked Mil- licent, eagerly. "Certainly there is! But X cannot tell you how to reach his kingdom: Those who do find it are ever after the hap- " pleat of mortals." Millicent pondered over her mother's words all day, When evening came and she lay down to sleep, she fixed her eyes upon the moon, sailing through en Unclorlded sky, and her last waking thought was a wish that she might find the kingdom of sunshine. The next thing she was conscious of was being lifted 5113o11 a moon -ray, and carried Up, up, up, until elle was leid en a cloud, lumillous with moonlight. "You :MO to find the Sunshine King- dom?" whispered a tiny star to her. (Millicent had heard of singing stars, but never before of a talkative one). "Follow mel" Sbe was carried in the wake of tho twinkler, quite out of the land of moon- shine, into a land of purple night—the realm of shadows, through which many must pass before they can reach the sun. "We are traveling toward the east," twinkled her guide. "We will soon be greeted by Dawn, You will knoev her by her rosy draperies." So, On and on. until a crimson light THE SUN GOD XN HIS BLAZING CXABIOT glowed through the gray and Mese Mil- licent's cheek. 'T will stop bete," said the star. "I ant the morning star and must go on duty at once.' Coneucted by Dawn, the little girl passed on to the region of the sun. So glowing and gorgeous it was that she was dazzled. The Sun King sat in a golden chariot drawn by fiery steeds. He reined them in at her approach. "What would you With me, child?" he asked In • gelatin accents. "Speak quickly! The. hours are such fleet -loot- ed damsels that they will soon outrun me, I am in continual chase of theme' "If you please, 0 Sun Xing, I would like a bundle of sunbeams to keep with me always, so as to be able to drive away the shadows!' "Anil 10 your heart large enough to contain thetn? It is only there that they H 31'S just the 110r00 ler 111 o Dick Very Moly' bro ten 11, „rhoy..,:y he 1100111 got a trio 1, when an auto whizees by, He doesn't oven blink an oye. Ile's ,180,1001h101 to keep; no really de stet eat a heap, Med meet' 11111 away 00 conree- 1 He'e just a WOOdell rthkingelleree. each gentle Waevet rze muot boo bees . Parrish, will consent to remain. The child that cannot carry sunshine in her heart will never be able to drive away the shad- ows. It is not necessary to come to the Sunshine Kingdom for them. They play about the earth many days of the Year. Children should catch them and store them up for use on cloudy days. They who look on the bright side of things and make the best of every hardship are able to spread more real sunshine than I have ever done. Go home, my child, and see that your heart Is so filled with cheerfulness that it will overflow and spread to then around you. This is the kind of sunshine that knows 110 shade." It may have been all a dream, but Millicent profited so well by the lesson tho Sun King taught her that today she is known both far and near by the name of "Little Sunbeam." AMY SMITH. Singing Ilettles. The Japanese, who know so well how to add little unexpected attrac- tions to everyday life, manufacture, 311 a great variety of forms, iron tea- kettles which break into song When the water bolls. The song may not be a very perfect melody, but it is per- haps as agreeable as the notes pro- duced by some of the insects which the Japanese also treasure for their music. The harmonious' sounds of the tea. kettles are produced by stetun bubbles escaping Loin beneath thin sheets or iron fastened close together nearly at the bottom of the keltlee. To pro- duce tho best (Alecto some skill Is re - (paired In regulating the flre. Tho character of the sounds varies with the form of the kettle. These singing kettles have been used for many cen- turies. ,Apprentioesthip, "Yes," said Mr. Pater, with ill -con - coaled pride, "my youngest inn, makes some smart remarks at timee. Only recently he asked MO ivhat it meant to be an apprentice. I told him 'that it meant the binding, of ono person to another by agreement, and that one person so bound had to teeth the other all he could of his trade or pro- fession, while the other had to watch and learn how things were done, and had to make himself useful in every way possible' • "What did he say• to that?" linked one of the audiente. "Why, after a few minutes tbo young rascal looked up at me and ealtl: 'Then I suppose you're appren- ticed to mother, aren't you, cla'" A 3 -Year -Old Colonel. It is a wonder that the poor little grand duke who is the hale to the dignity of czar Is not already over- whelined by his titles, Ile Is nearly ele Yearn old, lio Is loth= of an the Cossacks, chief of the regiment of the Guard of Vinland, colonel of the Fin. ty-eirst Regiment of Infantry of Zit- oeek, of the Twelfth Regiment of In- fantry of eastern Siberia, of the Corps of Cadets of irnalikend, and captain oe the Fourth Battery of Horse Aetilleree NotWitlitsatullng these dignities, it is said that his greatest Joy in life Is a pollywog dressed in blue and red, tor possession of which 110 00easlonally lights with his youngest sister, Pen - con Anastasia, who IS 0 yeate old, Mother—I rim sorry to hear that Tommy Smith tied a kettle to a poor dog's tail. YOU wouldn't do Ouch a thing, Would you? Bobby—No indoor/ mother, Tutother—Why didn't you stop him, Bobby? 'Robby -eel couldn't mother; / was holding the clog, THE PROCESSION STARTS even dreamed 00 having it In such a glorious place. Why, looking up through your big dormer window that groat mountain seems as though it were about to fall on me How much snow It car- ries on its summit!" "Big moutain bas white cap," gurgled Billieboy, more excited than any one else. At luncheon Sid told of his rather dis- couraging experiences in attempting to make tho natives understand him. "I tried both French and German at tho village, but they didn't seem to know either language. However, I came to the conclusion that it wasn't alto- gether their fault when I spoke what / thought was pretty good French to a Frenchman at the hotel. He listened to me for a while as though puzzled, and then asked me if 1 wouldn't mind using French, as that was the only language he understood." When the laughs had died away, Sid went on to tell of a celebration which was to be held at the village on the motrow, "Yes, it's what they call the Chal- andra Mara, a celebration held always on the first day of March to welcome the return of spring," explained Mr. Burton. Shortly before daybreak next morn- ing they were awakened by the mu- sical tinkling of bells in the distance. At breakfast Mr. Burton observed that early In the day all the boys of the village go about the streets ringing large bells bung about their necks, "In a little while," said he, "they w111 gather about the fountain In the Dublin square, after which they will have their procession." "0/1, can't we go and see it?" pleaded Marian. "Yes, I mean to take you," replied Mr. Burton. Breakfast was disposed of hastily, and soon they were in the village. The pro- cession was an interesting one. It rep- resented the return of the cattle to the summer grazing grounds. First came ono of the largest of the boys, who was dressed in black knee-breethes, white stockings, old-fashioned wooden shoes and a long nightcap, He carried a milk pall on his arm, and was supposed to be the owner of the herd. The ethers fol- lowed In single file, each personating a cow. At the end of the line another large boy, dressed in rough clothing and wearing a broad -brimmed hat, In his nand bo carried a staff. This boy is the herdsman, whose duty it is to see that none of the cows drop out of. lino (the cows always march In single 1110) Or stray from their accustomed pas- tures. Singing a "yedie-song," this procession wended its way from house to house, where gifts of fruit and nuts were col- lected. Mr. Burton informed the others that with these gifts the boys would glve a feast that afternoon to all the 'villagers and that the day would end In music and song. A few days later Binieboy burst into the house, clutching in each clubby fist a. bundle of scarlet Poffines. "Oh, mumsy," cried he, announcing an important discovery, "there's noth- ing but grass." You're an observing little Billieboy," laughed mother; "but, as a matter of fact, that is all they do raise here. They have no grains of any kind, or even timothy. Grass and olover they have, and that is all." Sid visited the neighboring town quite DECKING THEIR HEADS WITH WREATHS frequently now, and had already made quite a number of friends. Today he asked his father it lut could not attend the national athletic carnival, which he had heard would take place within the next few months. Mr, Burton promised to go with him, and then gave a very interesting talk on athletics and sports In Switzerland. Besides shooting, cite Swiss have verY few of the worts with Which we are acquainted, But nearly every Swiss, man and boy, engage in gymnastics— v;restling, running and the like. The in- struction is almost entirely under the control of the government, and there are branch clubs of gymnasts In nearly every town. There are a great many contests and reunions which are more or less local, and once a year a. great national assemblage, when winners in special events are presented gifts by the "crowned maidens." ) ynyclowgeal Fq1 Tn. &area oe all the dear ple.ces to 1110 is my little window Sleet: Though &Indy and bright 18 the gay nursoree JIM heaped up with toys, Moo 00300'1 1 ever see. sure that most cheerless and Ois- tnal be Without any window seat, Croat tales about fairies 1 carry to rood In my little eviltdOW seat; Tins windoW 10 Fairyland 50011114 .A.nd, IftifV4 t2o.Pakrincesses," ono does not need / Look tar trom my Window Settto A thly brown cottage I see, through Ole glaze, From Ins, little window* scat; Sometimes 3 prebend 'tit a witch who _ lives there, ot whom all good lassies artd lade Sheeld beware, Or the home of the big, middle -Meth and wee boar;— Put I'm Sate in my Window seat, The nicest of all the nice plaCes 10 dream rt My little window 00311 Por there, in the light of the StraNing atinbenne .A. monarch 1 am, and my 101113(101n I deem MY own -ingest, own Window scat, Velmt interested Marian and ell IlitheY most waa the opportunity of en3oying every kind of Weather. When it was summer dosvn on a level With the chalet al/ you had to do to get a lino ride en your sloe wain to trudge up the MOU11- lain side for a disteenee, Where there wee any amount of =OW, Tiley en- joyed themselves immensely. Amid With surroundings as theme it did not take long for the weeks, and then the months, to slip by. Soon thnie autumn, and with ite ending the Pesti- Val of the Aupentiadung, when the re- turn of the Cattle from the mountains was celebrated. Here in eastern Switz- erland, ht the lofty valleye of Engadine, all the original customs had survived. "As we saw the aering festival We certainly shan't, mew seeing this," said Mr. Berton. Sid climbed all the way up the Moun- tain to where, In tiny chalets, dairymen and %%omen had been making butter and cheese during the summer months. The men and Women now packed these products in large baskets, which they leaded 1313023 their shoulders and car- ried to the base 011 the mountain, Here the butter and cheese were packed 111 wagons. The COWS, who had been feed- ing on the tender grass Ingh up the mountain all summer, were now driven down, Then the long train of cattle and wagons began Its march toward the village. In the meantime, their friends at home prepared to welcome them. A. delega- tion, led by a company of Children, set out to greet the returning train. The boys and girls were arrayed In their very best garments and carried wreaths of flowers, while the older members of the party bore banners and various de- vices made of colored paper. When they met the train, the children stood on both sides of the road and sang their song of weleome, Then they decorated the beads of the cattle with wreaths, and packed themselves upon the great piles of cheese with which the wagons were laden. Sid was shouting and waving his flag With the best of them as the procession entered the village. His sisters and brothers cheered hlm from the roadside. All the villagers united in song. Finally a stop was made and the cheese and butter were removed from the Wagons and stored. Later In the day there was a grand frolic on a grassy plot near the town, where games were played and songs were sung. Tired, but thoroughly pleased with all they had seen, the Burtons entered their chalet that evening. And as Bess and Marian began to sing softly the first 11110 of the festival song, "Hurrah for the Alps," the irrepressible eid threw ur'Illiusrrhaaht 2 LI. tR.e,"tlidp's and Switzer- land." Even Mr. Burton Joined in the bur - rails that followed, while Mrs, Burton whispered to herself and hurrah for such a happy little home." Only One for Him AS the train stopped at a small sta- tion, the traveler leaned cut of the 'window and called to a small boy standing on the platform: "My boy, won't you please buy a butt from the shop yonder, and while you're about it you might as well get one for Yourself for your trouble." Very 3001 0118 lad reappeared munch- ing a bun. Handing the traveler his change he said: "Very sorry, sir, but there was only one left." A Pertinent Question. A. little boy went to the dentist's to have some of his "first" teeth ex- tracted. .Alter they were out the lit- tle fellow felt very unhappy about his loss, when the dentist, to Comfort him, said: "Ole never mind about that; they'll come in againl" "In time for dinner?" asked the lit- tle boy, his face clearing. Pull of Glory. William Dean Howells, the popular Writer, says that when his talented daughter, elildred, was a child she looked up suddenly from her break.. fast one bright morning, and said: "leather, I am full of glory." "What do YOU moan?" asked her father. "Why," said the little girl, "a sun- beam Just got on aly spoon, and I have swallowed ft." Pitting Punishment. Toby—Boohoo! Boohoo! I got whip- ped for thin' nothine Tony—Honest, what did ytili do, Toby? Toby—Nothine I tell yoe. I've Just got the whooping cough an' when I asked pa to buy me a Mite and let me take lessons he looked mere 'flayed than he did when I used. to 0011911, an' sailed right into me. Tabby Jones SI5wnhwen"site nrst carne tO uff—a, curt - Only a, mite of a 11111013 piing little ball of fav, which no one would ever have taken, at first glance, for a, real, live pussy cat, But Tabby had come to stay, and soon, by her nilschlevoue pranks, the proved that the was, Indeed, a real pussy—and a neely ono, too. Polly and Tabby Were enemies trona the very beginning of their acquaint- ance. Undonbtedly 11 Was Ineptly emit.. ousy on part of the parrot; for Pollen who for a long time hue been the only pet Of the household, eid not take Maul- ly to the idea Of sharing our favors evitil Tabby. But if Polly tenneed her 111 will by teasing the eel, Tabby was not a whit behind in taking every op- portunity to pay the parrot back In the eame 00111, One morning the two were quite peace. able. This In Itself was remarkable, TABBY IS ASHAMED and a warning that something especially annoying would soon happen. Sure enough, early in the anathema we were startled to hear from the di- rection of the pantry a succession of shrlelcs from Polly, and teen the words, many times repeated: "Tabby Jones, stop that! Tabby eones, stop that!. Hurrying to the scene of disturbance, • we were sUrprlsed to find Tabby in the act of pilfering from the pantry, while Polly sat on the window ledge scolding at the top of her voice. It was hard to tell le PUSS were more ashamed of being caught than she was angry at Polly's betrayal. Needless to say, each became stlll more distrustful of the other after that day. Net Ball rus to one of the very newest games. A popularity greater eve11 than that of ''diabolo" is pre- dIctee for it. Net ball resembles in some slight de- gree both Mabel° and tennis. Each player (there are usually two in a game) is provided with a little net fastened be- tween two sticks, elehen the sticks ere held wide apart the net is extended, and presents a. surface) similar to that of a lawn -tennis racquet. When the net 161 held loose it forms a pocket in which the ball may be deftly caught. Two halls (a lawn -tennis ball may well be used) are continually kept in motion, being tossed between the two players. Whenever a player fens to 'return" within proper bounds, or misses a ball thrown to him, it counts a point for his adversary. While it is easy to catch the ball in TOSSING TEL, BALL the net it is rather diffiellt to make the right sort of "return.' This latter le done by tossing the net forward and at the same time Jerking the sticks as far apart as possible. When 3,013 -10005110 very skilful you may use your net Just as a tennis racquet Is used, not em- ploying the "pocket" at all. This, of course, gives you a great advantage over an adversary who has to catch it each time In the pocket before returning. Net ball WEIS born in England, and is already becoming quite the 110g1.10 in France. Hle COULDN'T help being funny—, Pierre couldn't—and if I was as tunny as Pierre I'd run oft to a circus end be a clown, too. But that wasret the flrst time Pierre ran awaY. Once ho toid jimmy and me all about how be followed his uncle on board ship, 'fora the vessel sailed from France, and hoW Pierre's uncle decided iet last to keep him. Pierre's uncle, you know, Is chef at our liotel, so that's hoW we came to know them both, JimMy and 3 knew—oh, a hong while— how very funny Pierre was, '011.1135e One thno When We gal's a. little enterthine ment he came dressed in a clOWn'S stilt and danced releer dances and Sang all sorts Of fenny songs, So we weren't surprised a bit tvlien Pierre ran away. Heel always said he Was tired of belle' in' his uncle in the kitchen—that's what Pierre did, you know—ancl Soon he Waa Wang 0.3110.3, somewhere, It did surinlife lie a whole lot, though, When in the very. next circus we went to see whom should we lincl but Pierre! He came over to the ropes and actually spoke to 3111IIII3' (1110 Me, Yesser, he did! Jimmy and / felt prouder than anything. Soon SS 31111111Y and 0 get to bo as big es Pierre—art' he's almost a men-ewe're gain' to, join a eireus, too, without Waite to groW as funny as Pierre. Most likely we'd haVe to wait a 'hundred years to bo that tunny,, PIlePcItE