The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, April 3, 1898, Page 31

THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, SUNDAY, APRIL 3, 1898. Bovs~Gurl GIRLS LEAD IN STORY WRITING. April 12 will be the last day to mail stories to be placed upon the boys’ and rls’ competitive pages. The girls are ing a much better showing than the s-up to date. The boys must move with more energy or the girls will be liable to be easy winne Washington and Qregon and many towns and cities California are represented by the ju- nile writers who have entered upon competition. This indicates that e is widespread interest in the nal quel 5 there any superior- x in literature been decided to increase the imber of judges. ‘There will be fif- judges, eight women and seven They are all engaged in educa- work and are all outside of San 0. Their work will not be ar- but it will require good judg- They will say whether the boy T the girls’ page is the better. will be requested to write judgment for publication. This be the least interesting featu ir. No one will take exception the majority to the women ing up the bench. A better aver- will be taken by arger than ller number. T is the fifteen inst 1lly intended. Fifte 1 be represented by the judges. 1 insure variety, interest and f thought. Driscoll, Dorland street, ancisco; R. Maud Mallory of , Cal, who was one of the suc- competitors for place on the Authors’ Page, and Eugene P. s Angeles, who enjoyed have forwarded suggestio: 2 1ing g test of liter thinks that there point u has been consist of diffi- v be- but that matter Mallory wi which sh is story scussion concerning It will be recollected i had as good s in the pre- is competition. Young children are S as older ones—perhaps more he long run, originality is ain to excite its full c f interest. Originality will be one of the leading tests applied in se- lecting the stories for the competitive s. Only about one fortnight re- for their stor the boy and girls to mail 0t ¢ t that the 12. To have place pages will LITTLE NELLIE'S VISIT. have to work y with. I do fe Weaver. 2 Mrs. Weaver Nellie to be a helpful Nellie wipe the dust the chairs. . Weaver found Nellie cry What is my Nellie c. Vellie tald her and then her ellie, if you lived in the 1 not think so. There eople there that if you 1l you would be lost. Oh, yes, I would like it.” right May morning when 1d Mr. Weaver and s to go to San Franci their destinz She ul ion at it was grand. v dresses! took a walk. walk in So P a along very happy. In a minutes she turned around and she not see her mother. She started to Her mother was looking for Nellie beheld Nellie Mrs. and enjoyed her ride. When they reached the hotel Nellie s nearly run over by a hor: n get- g out of the car. She was glad when the week was up and her parents and herself started to go back to their little village home. After that Nellie always did what her mother thought best. EDITED, BY DAVID H WALKER . THREE BEARS viell GOLEIE R Goldilocks, fleeing from the ig Bear, the Middle-Sized Bear nd the Tiny Bear, had reached her home in safety she bolted the door of her bedroom and looked out of a window into the near-by for- est. She saw the Three Bears looking at her earneStly. She ran from the window, harried into her bed and pulled the bed clothes over her nose ON THEIR WAY TO VISIT GOLDIE. and lay there, trembling, hearing the Bears growling outside. Presently there came a loud knock- ing upon her chamber door. Goldilocks made no noise, but went farther under the bed clothes and stopped breathing to listen. “Oh! oh!” she thought, “the Big Bear and the Middle-Sized Bear and the Tiny Bear have broken into the house and they will drag me out from here, and—and— what shall I do?” The knocking continued. Goldilocks stood it as long as her fear would per- mit. Then she jumped out of bed, thinking that there might be'a chance for her to escape by the window. Lo! The Three Bears were all in front of the house. Goldilocks breathed easily again. But who was that knocking at the door? “Is that you Tom?"” she asked. “Yes, let me in.” Tom was Goldi- locks’ “big” brother. She was glad to hear his voice and she hastened to open the door. “Well,” said Tom, “you and I are in a nice pickle. Pa and ma have gone to town and will not be home for a week. You and I are here to keep house and here are the Three Bears, who will not even let me go out to get wood to build a fire. There is not much in the house to eat. Now, what shall we do?"” Tom was twelve years old. Goldi- locks was younger—hardly ten. These two children had to plan how to outwit the Three Bears. They went to the kitchen to talk it over. There were three windows in that room, a big one, a little one and a middle-sized one. While the children talked three shad- ows fell into the room. The Three Bears had smelled them and were now looking in, the Big Bear at the big window, the Tiny Bear at the small window and the Middle Sized Bear at i the middle sized window. Gurrough! Gurrough! Gurrcugh! The Three Bears flattened their noses against the window panes and growled in chorus. Goldilocks was dreadfully scared, but T¢ said: “We'd better let them into the house, or they wiil break out the windows.” “Yes,” agreed Goldilocks, trembling violently, “perhaps, if we let them in, they will not be so cross.” Tom unbolted the door and said, in a loud voice: “Will the Big Bear, the Middle Sized Bear and the Tiny Be: please come in and have some supper The Three Bears did not wait for a second invitation. In they walked. The Great Big Bear took the.easy chair; the Middle-sized Bear sat in a rocker and the Tiny Bear took Goldilocks’ little chair. There were three sharp GOLDIE PLAYS AND THE BEARS SING. cracks, and all the three chairs broke down at once; and the Three Bears fell on the floor. “Fine. trick!” gro\&d the Big Bear; “and I think we’d better eat . these children up at once, for I am growing very hungry.” “Good idea!” Bear. Just then a queer noise came from the parlor, where the Tiny Bear had found the piano and was playing upon it, seated on a revolving stool. There were some tinkling sounds, then a great crash upon the keys, and then a heavy fall. The Tiny Bear had not understood that the top of the piano-stool turned, so it fell off. In a second it was angry, but its accident served to call the other bears into the parlor, and before they thought more about eating the children Tom had run to the poultry-yard and was back again. “Quick, Goldilocks,” said he; *“put on your apron and cook supper for the Bears!” In a trice a fire w ns’crackling in the stove. Goldilocks had on her white apron, acting as cook, and she looked so sweet that the Three Bears fell in love with her. Truth to say, they were more in love with the sweet smells that came from the stove. Such white bis- cuit! Such yellow cookies as she made! I believe that the fairies helped Gold- ilocks, for she had supper cooked and ready to serve.by the time the Three said the Middle-sized i gl Bears had lost -their curiosity and had begun to growl again. She placed a white spread on the ta- ble and put so much on it to eat that even she was astonished. She had roasted three geese, one for each of the Three Bears. When she opned the oven it was full of roast goose—ten, fif- teen, twenty birds—all browned and smoking hot; and there were three huge platters full of hasty pudding; pies and frosted cakes by the dozen. The Three Bears murmured with de- light, as they tucked their napkins up into t They made funny noises while they ate; and they were as greedy as pigs. ~When they had eaten until it should seem that they must burst, Tom pronounced the magic word: “Honey “Eh!” said all the Three Bears at once. ' “What's that? Honey? Bring 1t at once.” Tom went out and came in, stagger- ing under a load of honey in three pans, a huge one for the Big Bear, a me- dium sized pan for the Middle Sized Bear and ‘a smaller pan for the Tiny Bear, ' What a growl—three growls in fact— of pleasure rose at that festal board! THE BEARS HAVING A GREAT FEAST. Bears like honey more than they like little girls. As long as the honey would hold out there was no danger. for Goldilocks to fear. 2 “Your health, Goldilocks!” said the Big Bear, taking a long drink of pure honey. “Health,” echoed the Middle-Sized Bear. “Great sport,” said the Tiny Bear. ““Rah for Goldilocks!” The Three Bears ate until they could not hold another morsel. Never in their lives had they been so feasted. They talked about moving and making Goldi- locks their cook. Such goose! Such cakes and pies and cookies! And—oh, my!—such honey! “What will we do next, Goldilocks?" asked the Big Bear. ‘“We might have some musie,” Goldi- locks said, demur ly. “Just the thine " all the Three Bears responded. ‘Let’s sing. You ought to hear us!” Goldilocks sat at the piano and played while the Three Bears sang. The Big 31 Bear led of and the other bears came in on the chorus, about as follows: THE BEARS’ SONG. Three Bears once lived in a little house. Their cupboard once was bare! For Bears who much loved to carouse They found this hard to bear. Chorus. Then Goldilocks came to the place— She would have fed us rarely— But off she skipped—with weeping face— ©Oh! She escaped us barely! When the Three Bears roared the chorus of this queer song Goldilocks laughed so that she forgot to play the accompaniment.” Up jumped the Big Bear and took her place at the piano. Up jumped the Middle Sized Bear, drew up another chair and began to drum. Up jumped the Tiny Bear, found a lit- tle chair and pushed it to the .piano. All Three Bears played'and sang at once. Their big hairy paws thumped out strange sounds; their hairy 'throats made stranger noises; anon their long red tongues hung from their mouths and they laughed uproariously. But all things must end. They grew tired and sleepy. Goldilocks and Tom insisted that they should sleep in the house. There was one huge, wide spring bed, with snowy sheets and soft blankets, for them to rest upon. They slept well, but, in the morning, there was a strange hub-bub in the little cottage. Tom had set the bed like a trap. One strong pull on a stout cord that was fastened to the bed, and it shut up at once! 2 Never were Three Bears snared so be- fore! Neverbeforedid Three Bearsgrowl, threaten, coax and cry so! Tom saw that they were securely trapped and, locking the doors, drove away with Goldilocks to the house of a neighbor, who was a- great hunter. The next day the Three Bears were sold to. a menagerie. | Goldilocks had the house of the Three Bears for a playhouse. GOING AFTER BERRIES. BY CLARE STRATTON. Where were the children? They ‘had gone with thé others to pick blackber- ries. Their mother did not want them to go; but they teased so that she fin- ally yielded, telling Ethel and Clyde, the older ones, to take care of them. But they saw some berries and ran off, leaving the little ones to look out for themselves, They saw some berries, too, and ran off to get them, and when they had picked them they ran after some more. Pretty soon they were a long way from the big children. It was late in the afternoon when they looked around and saw that they were lost. Helen, only three years old, began to cry. Harry, who was older, tried to be a man, and told Helen not to cry. They wandered until it was dark, and.they were tired out. Then they sat down and cried and cried. Soon they saw a cow and Harry milked and they drank the milk. Then they picked some grass and put it all in a pile and lay down on it and went to sleep. ‘While they were doing this, their mother and all the children were look- ing everywhere for them. . After a time they saw Helen's sun- bonnet. They followed on until they came to the river. There they lost the trail and they thought the ‘chil- dren had been drowned. But they went over.the bridge and, when they had crossed, they found the tracks again. Three miles froia the river they found the little ones lying fast asleep. Their mother woke them up and they danced and laughed. When they got home and were eat- ing bread and milk, Helen started to cry hard. She said she was crying be- cause she was lost. s “But you are found now,” said her mamma. “Well, I didn’t have time then; so I am going to cry now.” And she cried herself to sleep. Her mother declared & X )\» A BV 2 2 P HERE THEY ARE HAVING A BEAR NAP. that they could never go blackberry- ing again, unless she went with them. AN EVENING DREAM, BY MAY BETH. By my window I sit thinking, While the sun sets in the west; The herds come homeward clinking Their bells and seeking rest. Its silver radiance bringing The moon illumes the air. The church bells, softly ringing, Call young and old to prayer. The choir's melodious voices Come to me, sweet and low; My heart of hearts rejoices In dreams of long ago. STORIES ABOUT LITTLE PETS BY BEATRICE DI BERNARDI. flmu&mmuxmnumnumwwxmmfl Trixie did not.love her dolls as de- votedly as most little ladies do. Then you think she must have been very lonely sometimes because she had no little brothers nor sisters to play with? No, indeed! Her warm little heart kept her very busy with her pets of varijous Kinds. Grandma and grandpapa had a large play house built for her. Oh! yes, the dolls. were all .there, to be sure, but they were disposed of in distant cor- ners! I suppose if they had suddenly be- come: animated there would have been much comment and ' indignation ex- pressed in their wide open eyes be- cause their mistress had brought into their presence birds, a pet guinea hen, and once a guinea pig, and had caressed and chatted with them and allowed the two mountain quail te walk up her arms to her head before their very eyes! ‘While they, the dolls, might only be elegantly attired in ball gowns and walking costumes. They did not un- bill, but he did not mind; for he knew it was only play, you know! When a nest contained pretty little eggs she was delighted and all concern for their being undisturbed; and, when those eggs became odd looking birdlings— well, be assured they were reared in luxury, and were given favorite names, to which they quickly responded. They loved the gentle hand that caressed and cared for them and en- tered into Trixie's ideas daintily and intelligently. Wh after they had been placed in position two or three times they understood, and afterward only required a signal from her to know just when and how to repeat it. Such specialties as running up minia- ture stairs and lying down, getting up or turning a somersault is what she taught them. In her own room she had a bay window. A branch of eucalyptus placed there furnished a place for the Australian paroquets to slide down and to sleep at night, hanging by one foot, upside down. But the mocking- birds and the goldfinch, together with “It’s doind to rain,” said Gladys, And she looked both merry and wise. “Why, how do youw know,” cried Madge and Flo With wide and wondering eyes, “For yow can’t read, and papa says The weather clerk don’t know ?”’ “Mine does, I duess,” laushed Gladys. ‘““Yes, Just wait and he’ll tell yow so.”’ And sure enough, from the garden, Where the winds of spring blew strond, Came a funny croak that seemed half a joke, The violet beds amond. Then next it was under the rose trees, And the curious children spied A speckled and brown frog hopping down In the thick green leaves to hide. While “Rain, more rain,” he called for Till Madgde and Flo said, “ Well, You're a. pretty clerk of the weather, your work Is nothing but play to tell, It’s going to rain and spoil our fun,”’ But he solemnly answered, “Rain,”’ While the clouds blew low into piles of snow, And frogdy was right, it was plain. For fast and harder came raindrops, Till the children ran inside, But though surely soaked that frog still croaked, And for ““Rain, more rain,” he cried. You don’t believe it ? Listen Some day near a pool or bog. And “ Rain, more rain,” he will tell yow plain, This weather sharp of @ frog. derstand how Trixie loved these warm little creatures. After all, you know, they were only dollg! The little girl coaxed until she had an aviary also. A room opening off the old lumber room of curiosities made a splendid one. It had ‘“pigeon-hole” nests and bracket nests, and a nice drop fountain for bathing purposes, where the feathered friends could take their daily bath. There was a large wire cage looking out on to the side porch, where stood two long, high back gettees, where Trixie could lounge and learn of happiness in the songs of those singers who would come out into this cage to sing to their dear little mis- tress. Trixie used to go into this aviary room, sit down and read and watch her pets. She would pretend to try to rob a_ nest builder of the bit of paper or raveled rope he was gathering in his e oo WOoODV'T D2 RiDe MAIK DE PAIPER CHRSERZ SIK? the- three Java sparrows, always as- cended to the window cornice and sat in a row to sleep—a yard of birds! “Cheto” was saucy and passed most of his Short life in trying to coax a quarrel with “Bochie,” one of the mock- ing-birds. Well, he picked at his long brown feet so hard one day that “Bochie” lifted his wings high, stooped down and picked him up in his beak and swung him about so hard that when he fell he was dead! Every day when all the other feath- ered friends were taking their siesta the two paroquets would put their heads under their wings and sing cor- rectly the songs they had learned from the mocking-birds. Trixie had one unruly pet, a hand- some coated gray squirrel. He would not yield to kindness, neither to ad- monition, and once he bit her cruelly “THE BUMPKINS ASTONISH THEMSELVES AND THE GRANGER BY THEIR WILD CIRCUS HURDLE RIDING. :