Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, July 3, 1910, Page 26

LECTION time i shere for the Busy Bees. As the faithful Bees know, king and queen. extended to all who write for THE OMAHA SUNDAY BEE It is time to select ll!o new this voting privilege is the page. Think over the stories you have enjoyed most and send in your vote right away for the boy and girl whose stories please you most. Right here the editor would like fully the rules, to ask the writers to read over care- Some are forgetting and writing on both sides of the paper; others discard the pen and ink and use instead the forbidden pencil. Out in Pueblo, Colo., there is @ boy who writes that he enjoys reading the stories of the Busy Bees very much, and also that he would llke to join the Post Card band. This boy, who h written an interesting letter, h bowever, neglected one important particular—he has not signed Lis surname. 1f he will send his full name the Post Card exchange will be glad t6 put it on the list. The prize winners this week are Thelma Fredericks of Grand Island and Alice Davey of Davey, Neb. Any of the Busy Bees may send cards to anyone whose name is on the Postcard Exchange, which now includes. Jean De Long, Ainswortl, b. Irene MoCoy, Barnston, Neb. Lillan Mervin, Beaver City, Neb. Mabel Witt, Bernington, Neb. Anna Gottsch, Bennington, Neb. Minnle Gottsch, Bennington, Neb. Agnes Dampke, Benson, Neb. arle Gallaghar, Benkelman, Neb. (Box 12) 1da May, Central City, Nel Vers Cheney, Creighton, Neb. David City, Neb. I, Dorchester, Neb. Eigin, Neb. ‘sl Reed, Fremont tholomew, Gothenburg Marguerit: ) West Charles street, Anna Voss, 407 nd, Neb. Vows, 407 West Charles street, Gr Island, Neb. 155 West Eighth street, d_Island, Neb. 408 West Charles street, Grand Island, Neb. Pauline Schulte, Deadwood, 8. D. Martha Murphy, 923 East Ninth street, Grand_ Island, Neb. Hugh Rutt, Leshara, Neb. Hester F. Rutt, Leshara, Neb. {lios Temple, Lexington. Neb. uth Temple, Lexington, Neb. ‘Anna_Netlson, Lexington, Neb. Edythe Kreits, Lexington, Neb. Marjorie Temple, Lexington. Neb. Alice Grassmeyer, 1646 C street, Lincoln. Marian Hamilton, 2029 L street, Lincoln. Elsle Hamilton, 22 L street.’ Lincoln. irens Disher, 2000 L street, Lincolu. Hughie Disher, 2000 L street. Linceln, 221 South Fifteenth street, Mildred Jensen, 708 Bast Second street, Fremont, Neb. Helen Johnsos street, Lincoln. Althea Myers, 224 North Sixteenth street, Linceln. Louige Stiles, Lyons, Nev. Estelle MoDonald, Lyons, Neb. Milton Seiser, Nebraska City Harry Crawford, Nebraska City, Neb. Harvey Crawford, Nebrasks City, Neb. Luclle Hasen, Norfolk, Neb. Helen Reynolds, Norfolk, Neb. e Letha iarkin, South Sixth street, Nor- 34 South Seventeenth Neb folk, Nel Emma Marquardt, Fifth street and Madi- won avenue, Noifolk. Neb, ! Genevieve M. Jon P{‘y th Loup, Nel Willlam _Davis, 221 est. Thir North Platte, Neb. £ Loulse Raabe, 200 North Nineteenth ave- nue, Omahi, Frances Johnson, v North Twenty-fifth avenue, Omaha. g Marguerite Johnson, 33 North Twenty- 1 avenue, Omaba Emile Brown, 2322 Boulevard, Omaha. Helen Goodrich, #4010 Nicholas street, Omaha. Mary Brown, 283 Boulevard, Omaha. Tva Hend 4402 Dodge street, Omahy, Lilllan Wirt, 4168 Cass street, Omaha Tewis Poff, 111 Franklin street, Omaba, Juanita Inn 2169 Fort street, Omaha. Bassett Ruf, 18i4 Binney street, Omaha. r Cohn, 846 Georgla avenue, Omaha. 1981 G street, Lincoln. Ada Morrls, Frenkiin street, Omah Myrtie_Jensen, 2900 Yaard street, Oma Orrin_Fisher, 1210 8. Eleventh Et., Oma) Mildred Erickson, 2109 Howard 8t Omaha. Oscar Erickson, 307 Howard 8t., Om Gall Howard, 4122 Capitol avenue, Omal Helen Houck, 1635 Lothrop street, Omai Emerson Goodsich, 4010 Nicholas, Omaha. Maurice Johnson, 1027 Locust 8t.. Omal Leon Carson, 112¢ North Fortleth, Omaha Wilma Howard, 4722 Capitol avenus, Omaha Hilah Figher, 1210 South KEleventh, Omaha. Mildred Jensen, 3107 Leavenworth, Omaha. idna Heden, 2% Chicago street, Omaha, Mabel Eheifeit, 14 North Twenty-fifth street, Omuha Walter’ Johnson, 245 North Twentieth street, Omaha. Emma Llnu!lhern, 3211 North Twenty-fifth street, Omal Legnora Den} The Alblon, Tenth and Pacific streets, Omaha. Mae Hammond, O'Nelll, Neb. Madge L. Danl Neb. Zola Beddeo, Orleans, N Agnes Righmond, Orlean: Marle Fleming, Osceola, Neb. Lotta Woods, Pawnes City, Neb. arl Perkins, Reddington, Neb. }idna Enls, Stanton, Neb. Lena Peterson, 211 Locust 8t, E._Omaha. Ina Carney, Sutton, Clay county, Nebraska, Clara Miller, Utica, Neb, 5 Mildred I'. jones, North Loup, Neb. Alta Wilken, Waco, Ni Leo Beckord, Waco, Mae Grunke, We: oisie Stasny, Wi Frederick Ware, Panline Parks, York, Kdne Behling, York, Mary Frederick, York, Carrie B, Bartlett, Fontanel Irene Reynolds, Little Sioux, Ethel Mulholland, Box 71, Malv Eleanor Mellor, Malvern, Ia. Katherine Mellor, Malvern, 1a. Ruth Rob’é“‘:}'}] lllll’llll‘,’l_lhl. Ty Margaret B. Witherow, Thurman, la. Bortha McEvoy, R. F. D. 3§, %ox =, ouri Valley, 1s. ll:m'y L. Workin| 2063 W. Huron street, Box & Helen ¥. Dovu Mis- Chicago, Adlena Sorry, Monarch, Wyo., ¥red Sorry, Monarch, Wyo. Pearl Barron, Monarch, Wyo. John Barron, Monarch, Wyo. Bdith Amend, Sheridan, Wyo. Pauline Bquire, Grand, Okl. ¥ied, Bhalley, 20 Froup street, City, Mo. aty Melgtosh, Sidney, Neb, Nellie Diedrick, Sidney, N Eunlce Wright; 53 North aro) Sy Wilber, Nob. arol Simpeon, , Neb. Phyllls Hi& 632 West Heventeenth street, York, Neb. Muclle Moore, Silver City, Ia. Mabel Houston, i3 . Sherman avenue, aha. umzm Tolleson, 4846 North Thirty-elghth arer Baker, Lander, Wy Mabel Baker, Lander, Wyo. K Corinne Allison’ Robertson, Wilber, N Ellsabeth Wright, 18% South Thirty-fitth svenue, Omal Marion Staples, 1313 South ‘Thirty-tirat street, Omaha. Ka an sireet, The Flag Brigade By Willam Wallace, I, HE glorlous Fourth was coming! Only a few days more for the Boys of the Flag Brigade walt! And of the brigade was full happy anticipation. They \ing for weeks—ever sinee Tommy Ryan's father came home one evening (o way: “Hello, Honny! You'd better be gut- ting ready for the Fourth; it's on its way here. Then it was that Tommy talked the matter over with his comrades—Frankie Bryant, Jimmy Lamont, Ned Brown, Billy Downs and the clown of the ‘“band. Fatty Hoover. It was Fatty who alwars “cut up capers” and made his companions laugh till their sides ached. Let's have a flag brigade,” Tommy suggested, when the boys had assembled in Blly Downs' father's stable. Tommv had called the meeting and was acting us “spokesman.' “Good!" ecried Frankie. tiags at home. ““Yep, let's have a burgade, “I've got three acquiesced Jimmy, not knowing just what a brigade meant, but knowing it would be some- thing of & patriotic nature. “Must we all have flags, Tom?' “Sure,” explained eonversation became Then and Tommy. ener outlined and Tommy was to management of its development all march, carrying fl something, too,” Tommy said “What we sing?" asked Ned who had a lusty voice and loved to sing “ make it ‘Anybody Here Ses no!" protested Billy. “Let's & Hot Time in the Old Town night’ For we'll make thi “Say, don't you kids know what | Fourth means”’ asked Tommy in & 1 gusted tone. “‘You fellers would better learning what was done on the Fourth of July. Gee! such soni ~'0ld Glory' and such songs. “Old Glory means the ankle. 1 never heard that pame flag of a a to ch individual boy o had the vary scon & plan for the glorious Fourth was have tull “We li , and we'll sing Brown, sing o= 8 hum, woan i Ihe idea of singing Why, we'll sing natlonal ars this is my wcheme,' explained sitting on the edge of the manger while his hearers sat on some straw at his feet. “Early in the morning we'll got up «nd be ready for the great parade, which is to take place to 10 o’clock. Uncle Andy (s to be marshal of the day, and he'll let us in the parade, see? Then, after the parade is over, we'll all go to the plenic grounds—along with the other folks—and have a good time celebrating. Pa sald #ive me a half dollar to spend just as I pleased—only I was not to please to buy firecracke: for they are too dangerous in & crowd where there wimmin and chi'ren”” And Tommy looked important as he spoke of “wimmin and chil'ren.” He hardly felt that he might by classed with the latter. “Well, I'll have about a quarter to spend as 1 like,” sald Frankie “And I'm going to have lots of peanuls and lemonade. I love 'em both.” “I'll not have more than & dime,” com- plained Fatty. “Daddy won't be home over the Fourth, an’ Mammy doesn’t belleve In letting’ kids have much money to throw away, as she calls apending money on the Fourth for stuff to eat and drink. She's the same way about a dlrous day. But and Fatty's face cleared, "I know what I'll do. I'l stand on my head and do some tricks for a crowd of chaps and “Well, Tomm: their girls, and the chaps will toss pennles, to me. Ob, I'll earn some spending money on the Fourth." Then the meeting was adjourned till the following day, when all would assemble with their flags. And then would begin their drill, directed by Tommy—Captain Thomas, ae the boys now began to call him “1 can )1 #t see that our brigade will be a Le slorious “aid by Vell, there's a song that has some vig name,” sald Tommy, excusing his ow mistake. “Anyway, we'll all sing Cheers for the Red, White aud Blue, Yep; 1 know every word of that Fatty it too. “Well, you can keep the parody pistol pocket on the Fourth,' Tommy. as it proved. fled manner on the Fourth. Fatty. “All right, Pal." grinned Fatty the old-faghioned song with the bunch. But—what sre way the rest we (o do, any “Three in your declared & real master of the situation. He meant to have every- thing go off in a most patriotic and digni- And he would PUt Up With no nonsense, not even from ' sald ‘A'nd I know a funny parody on “I'Nl sing of *ARRIED THE BRIGADE'S § A NDARD (First Prize.) The Hen. By_Thelma Fredericks, Aged 11 Years, Bast Fifth Street, Grand Island, Neb. There lived in the country a farmer named Mr, Davis and he had a little girl named Edith. Now, Edith did not have many things to play with, so she made pets of the chickens and other animals of the farm. One hen was very pretty and layed eggs every day. One day Edith acked if she could not have Speckle sit and her mamma. #ald yes. Edith put one and a half dozens of eggs under Speckle. When three weeks had passed Edith went out to see if Speckle had eny chickens. When she came in the house she had n whole basketful of little chickens. “Oh, mamma,” little chickens, Mre. Davie put them by the fire and they soon began to chirp for their breakfas They had bread and milk for breakfas ‘Then they were taken out to thelr mother, who took them out in the barnyard to show them to the rest of the fowls. They grew very fast and before long Edith had one dozeh of hens and several roosters. Speckle was 50 delighted with her family that she determined to hatch another brood of chick- ens. Soon Bdith had a whole barnyvard full of chicke said Edith, “look at my (Beconid Prize) Fairy Truth and Falsehood. By Allce Davey, Aged 13 Years, Davey, Neb. Blue Side. There was once & fairy whose name was Truth. She had a sister whose name was Falsehood, Falry Truth was a good fairy, but Falsehood was a wicked falry. A little girl, named Mab, was going Up town to get some things for her mother. Her mother sald she could have § cents for candy, but Mae thought she ought to have more. So she spend 10 cent On the way home Mae wondered what she would tell her mother about the money. Falry Truth and Fairy Falsehood were near. Fairy Truth whispered to Mae to tell her mother that she had spend 10 cents instead of § cents. Fairy Falsehood told her to say she lost the mon At last Mae decided to tell her mother the truth, and when she did, her mother id she was very proud of her for telling the truth. Mae was glad then because she had told her mother the truth. A Firecracker’s Life i Years, 21 South B y-soeond Hireet. "Red Side. I will tell you my life from the ftirst to the last. The first I knew was that a man had me in his hand. He had made me out of thin pasteboard and powder. First he 100k the pasteboard and rolled it up and then put powder in me. After he had done this he put pasteboard in both ends, but left & small, round hole in the center of one end of the pasteboard. Then he took a wick and put it in the hole. Men put me in a small pasteboard box with other crackers and thea put us in a blg box and put us on a train, We traveled for some time. Finally the train stopped and a man Iifted us out wnd put us in a freight depot. An express wagon camo and & into it and took us to a store. The store man put us in his store window, A little boy came and bought me. e kept me in the house all night. In the morning the boy got out of Led, took me In his hand and put a lighted mateh to my wick and threw me down. Soon I popped and that was the last I knew Why the Catch Was Small, Alts Kibler, Aged 13 Years, 71i West Twenty-first’ Street Kearney, Neb. Blue Eide. It was a sad day In ponds, rivers, lukes and oceans, for you must know that the king of all the fish had dissappeared. They had searched for him, but he was not to be found. . Unless the old klug was found soon & new king must be appointed. For if one was not appointed all of the unruly fish would make mischief. But all the fish were hunting for the old king now, and it was almost a month be- fore all the fish were assembled. Gold fish was not there yet. She was a cousin of the old king. Just about the time they were electing a new king, gold fish came in. She was questioned eagerly. Yes she knew about it. §he had found the king and hls attendants. They were in a fisher- man’s boat near the coast of northeastern Maine, and there was no one in the boat then. The fish determined to dead or alive. S0 the spearfish put on their army clothes and lead by gold fish, soon found their king. But lucky for them, the fisherman was not there and they got their king again. The king alone was alive and there was no need of electing a new king. And now all the fish vowed they would all be careful about eating the things which were found In the hottom of the ponds, rivers, lakes and ocea And they all did and that is the reason why the catch is often small, . The Twins’' Party. Viola Hansen, Aged ) Years, Polnt, Neb. It was just @ week before John's and Mary's birthday. So John said, "I am go- ing to ask mama if we can have a party on our birthday, because she always said ves to them. The ‘week soon passed and at last came the day. The company came and they all played until luncheon time, \ They that had brought presents ' were taken to another room away from the others and they were very happy. Pretty soon they heard a nolse. Hank! hunk! again. And they were told to put on their wraps and they went for an automobile ride and were taken home. John and Mary said they had a very happy time that day. Nutting. y g, Thompsou, Aged 13 Years, BY Gl o0 River, Neb. Bl Side. The three Brown children had been prom- ised that they might go cut in the woods nutting. In the morning, before the sun had peeped above the horizon, the children were up and dressed and by the time breakfast was ready, the chores out of doors were fin- ished. Breakfast was soon out of the way, but there was the dinner to be packed yet. By the time the clock struck § they were all in the wagon ready to start. They drove for three miles and then rewched the place for which they had started. After resting for a few mihutes they got their tin palls and started to work, They chatted merrily away as they worked. By dinner time they were all hungry enough to eat the hearty meal which their kind mother had =o neatly put up for them. Whea dlnner was By have thelr king By West over they carefully Pm—m— e howling success,” sald Jimmy, hopetull}. “And 1 bet we'll get into the paper, too.” “Sure we will" aftirmed Tommy. “Uncle Andy knows Mr. Heart, the editor of the paper, and I'll ask Uncle Andy to tell him to-mention us in tne rourth of July notles A happy smile went over each expectant tace, and as the boys started toward their respective homes eacn in his own mind saw his own name shining in huge letters in the columns of the Weekly Mail, the one paper the town afforded. The following 'days were busy ones for the members of the Flag Brigade, and each night found Tommy tired out from drilling his band. The boys had decided on uni- forms and their mothers, anxious that their young patriots should appear in the parade Quly dressed for the occasion, were making the uniforms according to Tommy's deslgn. The coats were to be made of blue cotton with large white stars dotted over them, The trousers were to be of red and white striped calico, representing the stripes of AND OF THE BAND TARRIED SMALLER FLAGS, the flag. Their heads would be covered by straw hats from the bands of which would float little tlags. But Fatty declared he could not weer so dignified & uniform, so he designed a costume for himself which was made after the style of & clown's sult. One-balf of the suit was made of red, white and blue striped cloth, while the other half was of bright green. Fatty explained that the red, white and blue half was for the U. & A, while the green was for ‘“Auld Ireland, from which not one of his ancestors bad come, as they had all been very French." The morning of the Glorious Fourth dawned and the Boys' Flag Brigade was out In flylng colors. Fatty was the most brilllant in color of the lot and walked in the very front of the ranke, which came two by two, Tommy commanding. Fatty carried the brigade's standard and ecach of the band carcied a smaller flag. While passing on front of the reviewing stand and while directly in the eye of Mr. Heart, editor of the Weekly Mall, the boys began to sing in thelr best voice the stirring wong, “Columbia.” Tou be sure Fatty was uot in the key, and as his vojce carried above the others a laugh went up from the uetencrs, But the boye did not mind that iudeed, Fatty was aiming at fun-making, ot when he heard tne merry laugn at his vapense he fas more thau happy And so the day wore on, the grand pa- wde endwg at 11 and the townspeople Eoing to tne plenie grounds a m.le from the vidage, Tpere the brgade had best ume of thelr hyes. Macty )im'l\nm ing so mai clover and laughabie tricks that he was Lthe recpent of dozens of pennies. Ang you may Knay (hat ivoe creant, lemonade, peanuts and candy weie indwiged in by every member of the band, Fauy being able to pay his parc the expenses. And when evening vame every motner's son of the Fi Brigade declared he had never belore emoyed ILnsed ay he had on that glorwus Fourth, Ang In the we kly Mall thg ¥Fag brigade wos wottn Uy &t great length and special glory given L Capain Thomas, who became one of the lending young patriows of e ltue ety Wuere he lived. ok And many proud parents met on the evening of the glorious Fourch to talk over jr sons, the members of the Flug Brie gnde, an put us THE GLORIOUS FOURTH D G THE COURTESY OF LI, packed the dishes Into the large box and they played for a short while. They then took care of the horses. Within half an hour they were all at work once more. By night they were all tired enough to climb into the wagon and start for home. It was 8 o'clock before they were seated at the supper table. Wien the supper dishes were out of the way, they sat around the tire and told of the long day's experi- ence. They hud gathered enough nuts to keop all winter and to feed the hungry squir- rels, who come (o visit them each year. At 9:30 o'clock they were all tucked in bed, ready for a good night's sleep and (o let the happy dream of another nutting day pass over them. Story of Spani;EAmerica.n War As Told by a Blade of Grass. By Margaret Ludwig Aged 14 Years, 2312 ‘Capitol Aveliue, Omaha. T was walking through the battletield one day when I was stopped by a pleasant, squeaky voice. It was the first and last time in my lite 1 ever heard a voice that was both pleasant and squeaky. But this one had both of these qualities. Imagine how frightened I was when 1 learned that it was a blade of grass that spoke in this squeaky and pleasant manner, For, belng but a little girl, I reasoned that this must be a witch disguised in this manner (o enchant me to some under- *ground region and imprison me there for- ever. But I soon learned that this blade was not « dreadful witch, as I had feared, but a common blade of grass. Ah! Did I say common? It was by no means a common blade. For had It not heen given power by Mother Nature to speak in the human tongue? Ah, yes! The blade had told me so herself. And when one can do that, when it is not one's nature, one is not a common thing. The blade bade me sit down on the grass beside it and I obeyed. It said, "I have been given the power to talk in the human tongue und will tell you a story in my hour of “human tongue talking. ‘Twelve years ago,” it began proudly, “there were two great armies on this fleld, They were gathered together to fight a dreadful battle. They fought all day, only stopping for a drink from their canteens now and then and a while at noon to rest, Soon after resting they fought again, The vankees retreated to the block house in their rear and before the day was well spent the yankees won over the Spaniards, “‘Many volleys had been fired in the mean- time und at each voliey many brave men tell. Some falnted as they did so and died without waking, and still others fell dead from a sudden bullet, but uofle’ fell that could go & step farther, for they were all brave men.” Here the blade stopped tu swallow a lump In its throat. ‘Those were sorrowful tmes,” it fipcted. “And they were brave meu very brave men.'"” 1, 0o, was sad; 100 sad to ask it w go on with its story, and so, vising, 1 quistly away. Bui, lo! 1 had been dreaming; have remembered my dream ever Conundrums, By Arline Helm, Age v p Burest, South Omshe Meb. ™ Bius sibe What is the difference between a robber and a teacher? Answer—A robber says hands up and the teach says hands down. What is the difference between a godse egg and a lemon? Answer—A goose eg8 has got & yolk and a lemon hasn't. Who was the first whistler? Answer—-The wind. What tune did he sing? Answer—"Over the Hills and Far Away Hickamor Hackamore on the king's kitchen door. All the king's horses and ul) the king's men couldn’t drive Hickamore Hackamore off the king's kitchen door Answer—~-—Sunshine. What has holes and yei holds water? A busy who fsn't, Answer—A sponge. Our Idea of a hero Is a man who never has any bad luck. A slow way to become a millionaire Is to work for the money. It's easy to love our undertaker gets them. Many men find it harder 'to dodge bill collecturs than automobiies. The succ.ssful man jumps at & chance, while the other fellow 15 balking at & logical conclusion, Vearly your acquaintanc friends until you are in a pos them, bride has is the discovery that her husband doean't epjoy entertaliing her relations.— Chicago News, re Yea 10 but 1 since. Pointed Paragraphs ., man hasn't much use for one enemles—after the are your n o use The Poisoning of Match Makers cases of resulted| ANY have States matches. PSSR tortn bulletin of bureav of labor. The article was pre- vared by John B. Andrews, secretary of the American Association for Labor Leg lation, the aim of which is the conserva- tion of human resources. Mr. Andrews is to discuss the same subject at a meeting of the association to be held in Chicago this week. slow poisoning in the United from the ' making The facts are set recently published the United States in a Phosphorus necrosie, or “phossy jaw," is @ particularly distressing malady, due to the white phosphorus commonly use in manufacturing the ordinary matches with which the American people are familiar, Many workers n the ‘maich industry are afflicted with this malady. The precise num- ber is not knowi, because of the lack of re- liable statistics. It is entirely feasible to produce matches without using white phos- phorus, but the cost of production fs about 5 per cent higher by the other process. Un- der competitive conditions one manufic- turer cannot undertake to assume this bur den so long as his rivals do not The leading manutacturers of matches assert that they would be glud to abandon the use of white phosphorus in making their goods if there were & law requiring all to do the same. Naturally this would have to be a national law. The imposition of a prohibitive tax upon the manufacture importation or sale of matehes containing white phosphorus would answer the pur pose, Not only would such a policy render the workers in this Industry immune from the dangers of poisoning to which they are now subject, bu* matches =0 produced would be harmless to children who some- times put them in their mouths. The use of white phosphorus in the mateh industry is forbidden by the princi pal foreign countries. Inland took the lead in 1872, Denmark followed in 1§74 It is disgracefnl that the United States should be so backward in a matter of this kind, The growing tendency in this countyy to give attention to the subject of occupa- tional disease |8 encouraging and holds out the hope of early improvement of condi- tions.—Chicago News. Little Rag-a-Muffin BY MAUD WALKER. ITTLE RAG-A-MUFFIN lay on the floor, utterly miserable. £he lay face downwards, 70 that she could not see anything that was golng on about her. But she could hear. And that was almost a pity, too, for the things she heard made her more and more unhappy. Rag-a-Muffin was nothing more or less than a rag doll, and a very sofled one at that. She had been in existence ahout six months, which is quite an age for a doll. .But now, In tue sixth month of ler age, oame the first rcal sorrow she had ever known. She nad & rival. And & most beautiful rival, too. A rival with a hard, pluk china face, hands and feet, and with honest hair on her head. And this rival h&d only come on the morning of my story. K-O-PLUNK_ON THE RAG-A-MUFF Indeed, it was the rival's appearance which had thrown Hag-a-Muffin iuto such despair on the floor, tace downwards But to go back & bit; it 3 not little Bee Davis' fault so much as it was the fault of Bee's granufather, for it wus that old gentieman who brought Miss China Face to his little granddaughter. It wus Bee's fifth birthday, and grandfather thought It nice to fetch her & fine china doll for u birthday gifi, He must have forgotten about poor Rag-a-Muffin, for he certainly was old enough to know thai & little girl can love only one doll &t a time, and (he lust arcival nearly alway the first dolls In the shade, ®o Lo speak well Dee's grandtathier red a long box and produced from it the beauti ful_china with honest halr all tied up In & brand new Boe's fac was all expectation, and she ran o grand daddy, orying out: "Oh, is she fo sranddadd And then, when granddaddy certainly s for the sweetest little girl in all the world," Bee knew it was for her, and ko-plunk on the floor went Rag-a-muf- fin, face downwards! And there the poor one lay, so unhappy the she did not care to exist. And she was only six months old, mind you! And as she lay grieving her poor sawdust heart out she heard her little mother, Bee, saying such lovely things to the new china doll. And evidently Miss China Face was enjoying the caresses that had for- merly belonged to her, though she. rag thing, could not see what was Koing on, her eyes belng tized agalnet the carpet. But she heard! throws when doll, the ribbon 8 "It or “Oh, you beau-ti-ful dolly!” Bee would say. Then Rag-a-muffin could hear her kies the hard-faced doll. Oh, the puin that shot through her heart at this proof of transferred affection. “You are the lovest dolly I ever had, said Bee, tenderly. “See that rag thing on the floor? She wus my best dolly till you came.” And this almost broke heart in a dozen pleces. little hope kept her SOrrow That same evening Bee's mother picked Rag-a-muffin and carried her (o Fees room. There she put her on a shelf just above Bee's white little bed. On this shelf lay many forgotten toys, some in a maimed condition. There was a wagon with a wheel gone. There also lay a tin soldier with his head smashed Into the funnlest shape one ever saw, and his sword off. A little Noah's ark, without & single ani- mal, rested on a pasteboard box filled with 0dds and ends of all sorts of little toys. Aud so she was doomed to this! IDiear, honest, affectionate Rag-a-mufil But of one thing she was glad. She lay with her face upwards and could see all about twe room of her little mothe, Bee or many, many days Rag-a-muffin lay on that shelf between the Iaimed un soldier and the crippled wagon, t0o sad (v speak a word to the fellow sufferer, Tin Soldier. Perhaps he could have told « liarrowing tale, too, had she opened con versation with him, But she preleried o suffer alone. So she passed days and days and nights and nights, her lot becoming sadder and sadder. But always there wa: one MNttle hope which kept her alive. Ana that lictle hope held her In good stead cie day. And this 1s what happened through that hope All of a sudden one after rushing into the room, climbed right 1o ihe bed (and her slippers were dusty, tool) and lifted Rag-a-muffin! And what is more astonishing) Bee kissed Rag muffin's very dirty tace! ‘I'd 'most forgotten you, Rag-a-mully sald Bee. "I have been playing all the time with Princess Anna. You know wy china doll. But what do you thi has happened? Why, that nuughty Cou Dick had Princess Anna In his avms went and fell down the hill by and broke Princess Annw all’ to Ouly her hair le good. I'll feteh her ie mains here and lay 'em on the shell Then away ran Bee, her tirst and dearcst love, poor, litule, solled Rag-a-muftin, Licld closely (o her breast. And after that Rag @-muffin wae g0 bappy that she Jid noth Ing but smile and smile and Cousin Dick made & face at her, saylng: “I'd like to make her mad so as to see her quit grin nin But Bee replied: “‘You could not make Rag-a-muffin quit grinning. Her mouth is painted that way. But I think she's so pretty, 1 do. And she's worth a dozen china dolls, for they can't stand anything at all without getting smashed. Anud jusc see Rag-a-mufty! Why, she can be tossed about like & ball aud ] scratched Yep, and gets up geinniug us plied Dick Must Rag-a-muffin's Only one poor from just dying of on Bee camne on the Fash. ‘But that's like & girl, anyway. have & rag dul”