The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, December 11, 1898, Page 31

FOR THE SAKE OF HER DEAR FATHER < ¥ A! Oh ma!” a shrill voice called, as its owner, a tall, thin girl, came hu o the kitchen 1dr were at the or break- “Down cella milk. What do you want her fo e girl did not reply, but whisked down the stairs ing your two year **Oh, mother, do wait “We she will this milk upstai pan carefu ascended the steps She stopped to place it on the table and went on into the sitting room, fol- lowed by the children. 1d 3 and her e s tall arp wrinkle all, sh y n th= room had an ex worked nervously awl. ' she cried, “are you Mrs. Haw- caller 1y , pacing up and She air and her fin, with the fringe of BY MARIE ALLEN KIMBALL, MARYSVILLE, CAL. & o to himself,” muttered his wife. “And I've walked ten miles to get here.” “Likely, this morning!" No; part yesterday,” flushing slight- ly, “and your girl says he’s dead, and I don't know anybody else in this town,” she faltered, “but I must go on the train. Won’t you let me have it? T'll pay you back and more too.” “Well, you can’t have what T ain’t got. If 1 give to everybody that asks me we might starve. What with the )s and the agents wund the folks wants to get back East, it would gar anybody! Husband never could se people or 1 shouldn't be situated (as the thought of her ame over her); no, I Tke woman turned to the window and wrung her rds. Liza had been listening with dilated eyes. Now she pulled at her mother's gown. “Ma, money “Well, a d may I give her my dress it you do yowll go without I can't get it Li had worked for the neighbors; pared fruit, run errands, and in various wa accumulated enough money to get her a new dress for an approaching school exhibition, in which she was to take a minent part. She glanced out of the winiow to where a distant smoke betokened the coming n. “Oh, ma do say quick or she can’t g0.” Her eyes were eager with plead- ing to give up her treasured little PUZZLE—FIND THE SPANISH SPY. From the Baltimore American. “No, I can’t, 'm in such a hurry. I'm Mrs, Bone and I'll tell you what I came for; I want some mone Mrs. Hawk'n_ gave a sort of snort. o do all of .s,” she replied, “and it's mighty scarce here.” “Oh, let me tell you. I've had a lot of money left to me and the lawyer has written me to come down to the city and sign some paper. and get it. H got to go to Mexico right off on b ness, so you see I must hurry to c him. I haven't got money enoug opening her purse. I must have $ more to get the ticket. I thought I'd find Mr. Hawhins here. He was good » years ago.” better to other folks than :ER HAZ TER po 12 TER I OUM Ay WATCH EM GR b . GREW SINCE WE WENT. ; hoard. “She'll pay it back.” “That I will, child,” exclaimed the woman, who was intently watching them. “Well,” said the mother, “I have hing to do with it; you earned it; and if you want to throw it our own affair.” iffly to leave the room. a took hold of her arm. ‘“Oh, r, do say 1 may. Don't you think would like it?"” Hawkins looked at her itated. iza's eyes so eagerly were daughter cazing at like her her fathe: very “‘Well, you can if you want to,”” she said coldly, and went out of the room. D2 KALIFORWY- AYL sTAY Liza hurried away and came back with the money and some food, which she was hastily wrapping in paper. ‘“Here,” she said, thrusting it into the woman’s hand, ‘‘there’s only just enotigh and you'll have to run,” she said, and pointed at the approaching train. “God bless you, back.” “‘Oh, rum, run!” She started and Liza watched the race and saw with relief the train draw up and then start away. She had cast her bread upcn the waters. Would it return to her after many days? She turned slowly into the house and be- gan to take up the braided rugs, pre- paratory to sweeping the room. “Liza,” called her small sister, “ma says you're to come to breakfast. “No, dear, not this morning. I gave mine to that poor woman,” and she went on cleaning the room. “Liza”—Mrs. Hawkins stood in the door—‘come to breakfast this minute. If you have pnade a fool of yourself once this morning you needn’'t go on doing it.” “‘Oh, ma, I had to give it to her. I was so sorry for her, and I know she'll pay it back.” “Fiddlesticks; vou'll go to th exhi- bition 'in your old dress for all your work.” “I'm willing. mother.” “Well, you'll have to be. If ever there was a child like her father”- she mut- tered to herself—‘"always ready to give everything aw y.” The days wore on. A week passed, and the school exhibition was drawing near. Liza's luck seemed to have de- serted her. She could find nothing to do to earn even new ribbons to brighten her old gown. She e~gerly watched each incomin~ train, but no old lady appeared; no letter was received. She began to fea. that her mother was right; that she would never see the old lady in. She told herself over and over, “Anyway, I couldn't help it, for she said father was good to her.” She was washing the dishes one morning when the children came rush- ing in. “‘Oh, Liza. come and look. Here’s an awful nice buggy stopped at our gate and a lady’s getting out.” “Is it my poor woman?” “No; a lady; she’s got lovely clothes.” Liza hurried to a front window. ‘‘Oh, it is, it is,” she cried. “It's her face; she’s got’ her money and new clothes.” The figure coming up the yard, ele- gant in sealskin .and silk, bore little outward resemblance to the shabby one last seen running to catch the train. This apparition silenced even Mrs. Hawkins’ long tongue. “My, sakes alive!” she ejaculated when ‘she opened the door. “Yes, it’s me; didn’t expect to see me, did you?” ““Well—no, but come in, ma’am.” Mrs. Bone came in and sat down gin- gerly on a chair. “Don’t look much like I did, do I? I got my money; thanks to your girl. ‘Where is the child? I've come to pay my debts.” Liza came shyly in and found herself gathered into an embrace. “You dear child! What should I have done without you that morning. Here is your money and something else. I heard what your mother said to you.” She untied a big bundle and disclosed folds of soft cashmere and shining rib- bon that fairly dazzled Liza. “There, don’t thank me; it's yours and you deserve it. How do you like my things?” She got up and displayed her fine gar- ments with the pride of possession from which the newness had not worn off. “You see, I got my money. We live on a starve-out mountain ranch and my old man was off hunting work when I came away. I can tell you our old place and the children will shine when they get the things I've brought home.” Liza wore her pretty dress to the school exhibition and was happy in the consciousness that she had done some- thing “which pa would have liked.” THE HOUSE OF WISHING BY LUCILLE HARPENDING, SAN FRANCISCO. LORENCE was a little girl just six years old. She was a very pretty child, having large blue eyes and long golden curls. Florence had a little stuffed rab- bit, which she dearly loved. It was pure white and had the prettiest pink eyes that any one ever saw. Her great- est treasure was this little bunnie, and she was always wishing that he would child. I'll pay it THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, SUNDAY, DECEMBER If, 1898 and have him talk our language and be alive,” she said. Every once in awhile a growling was heard which frightened her very much. ‘A little door near by attracted her attention, so she opened it and found that it led to the woods. She went out and as the evening was drawing near she lay down on tha grass. When it became quite dark she felt something soft beside her. She looked ‘around and’ there was bunnle looking up into her face. “Oh! Bunnie, my preclous pet, are you really here?” she cried, hugging him_close. “Yes, and you see I can speak your language, dear mistress.” Florence could not say any more, but. kissed him again and again. “Let us now start for home, Bunnie,” she said. ““All right, we’ll just go into the ‘Wish- ing House’ and wish ourselves home, and I will tell you all that happened to me,” replied Bunnie. “Oh! All right, we will go, dear Bun- nie,” she answered. “Florence! Florence!” a volce called, and the next moment she found herself lying on the grass in the meadow, with Bunnie by her side and her mother bending over her. She looked at Bun- nie, but he did not move, only stared up at her with his glass eyes. “Why, mamma, I dreamed that Bun- nie got lost and I found him and he could talk our language and move.” ““Well, dear, now come home to sup- per and tell us all about your wonder- ful dream.” 2 EDITED BY DAVID EDNA’S CHRISTMAS. BY VILETTA HILLYER. He days were going very fast when Christmas would soon be here, and most every person was helping Santa Claus in getting presents ready. It happened so one day that Ed. a Smith, a poor little girl, was writing to Santa Claus to bring her mother, father, sisters and herself something and also bring little Anna Wells, who was sick, something, too. When who should presently open the door but ..r. Brown, Aressed up as Santa Claus, asking what she and her family wanted for Christ- mas, and upon receiving an answer of what they wanted he was about to de- part when Edna asked him to bring something for Anna Wells. Well, Christmas came, and there in talk to her. “But I want him to talk the way we do, for 1 cannot understand his squealing,” she would say to her mother. One day Florence took her bunnie and went out into the meadow to play and pick flowers. She soon grew sleepy and lying down amidst the flowers she fell asleep with Bunnie in her arms. When she awoke It was evening and she started to go home. But where was Bunnie? H: was gone. She searched all round for him and then throwing herself down she began to cry as if her heart would break. “I will go and find him,” she said, and getting up she started down the meadow away from home. Pretty soon Florence came to a forest and although it was dark she entered it and bravely trudged on. She kept on steadily going till at last her little legs gave out and she dropped to the their best room was a lovely tree and ground so tifed she could scarcely something for each one ol them, also move. But thinking of her dear little for Anna Wells’ family and $10 for the Bunnie and crying for his loss she doctor and medicines which they needed sobbed herself to sleep. The next day very much. she was aroused by the singing of the And it was a merry Christmas to both birds and the rustling of the leaves. families. HE merry Elves were on mischief bent, As through the long halls they crept; This way, and that, their tiny forms went, Nor L ime ‘Margery tucked in Tier downy cot, Llewellyn sleeping so sound Of the liftle Elves) yisit knew not; Nor saw their bright eyes so round. wakened the ones that slept. The old clock struck the hour of twelve, With his great resounding voice; Instantly startling’ each round-eyed EH, “The clock,” was the leader’s choice. Some clung to the pendulum swinging, Some tapped on his old time bell; Till the solemn old house was ringing With the chimes from Elfin dell. They turned the hands on his solemn face, And what could the old clock do? But just to stand it with the best grace, And wait till the Elves were through. At last the first streaks of dawn appeared, And the Elf queen called her band; For daylight is all the Elf band feared. And the old clock waved his hand. Then soon the soft sunlight came streaming Right into the children’s eyes, And wakened them from their dreaming, “Get up, it is time to rise.” Never a sound from their dear old clock Had come to tell them the time; Vainly they waited his slow tick-tock, Their friend had forgot to chime. “The clock must be growing old,” they said, “To have stopped right in the night.” But neither dreamed, in their downy bed, That the clock had had a fright. She could not recollect where she was till she saw little brown and white rab- bits running to and fro among the trees and then the memory of it all came back to her and her eyes filled with tears. She went over in the direction of the rabbits hoping to find Bunnie there, when she came upon a little house on which was written “The Wish- ing House.” Florence entered, but no one was there. “Oh! I wish I could find Bunnie Little Johnny had been disobedient and was told that he must be punished, but that he might choose between a whipping and being shut up in a dark closet. After a moment's thought he asked, “Mamma, who's going to do the whipping?” “Why do you ask that?” queried his mother. ‘‘Because,” replied the youthful diplomat, “if you're going to do it I'll take a whipping, but if papa’s going to do it I'd rather go in the closet.” RUTH’S VISIT 81 TO WATER QUEEN ITTLE RUTH was sitting in the large armchair before the fire. Her aunt had been reading .a fairy story to her and had just gone to the kitchen to see about getting supper ready. Ruth sat there wondering if there really were fairies and wishing she could see one. Just then she heard a voice saying, “Good evening, little girl.”” She looked around and saw 'a little lady sitting right in front of the fireplace. She wore a white dress trimmed with pretty sea- weed, and on her head was a beautiful crown. ' BY ISABELLE SWAIN, PALOMA, CAL. & & suspended from the celling by tiny gold chains. On they went to the other end of the hall, and the fairy opened a door which let them into a large room, which the fairy told Ruth was the throne room. Ruth followed her in and saw a golden throne all decorated with seaweed and lighted up brilliantly. Six fairy ladies were seated around it. “These are my daughters, and now we will go and see my soldiers,” said the queen. She opened another door which led into a garden, where there were fruits ERE is an ingenious puzzle originated by E. W. Thomsen of this city, who resides at 10 Twelfth street. The trick is to fold a sheet of paper 6x5 Inches in size as to make with only one cut of the scizzors all the geometrical figures in the above. Mr. Thomsen says that the whole design recalls the crucifixion of the Savior. The crossrests upon foundation stones; the diagonally drawn lines at the right and left represent clubs with which the Savior was bedten; the dice recall the fact that his raiment was disposed of by lot. Who can solve this puzzle? The size of the paper when correctly folded and ready to cut is 3% inches by % of an‘inch and there are six folds only. “Why, you must be a fairy,” said Ruth. “Yes,”” answered ‘the little lady, “I am the Water Fairy Queen. I live at the bottom of the ocean. Wouldn't you like to see my palace and the other fairies?” Ruth said, “Oh, yes, I would like to see it very much.” . “Well, come along,” said.the fairy, and she led the way to the door and they both started off in' the direction of the beach. When they reached it the fairy turned around and said to Ruth, “Follow me.” She stepped into the water and began to go down, Ruth fol- lowing. When they reached the bottom she suddenly became as small as the fairy. The fairy told her that it was natural for all people who went down there to get small and that they grew jarge again when they reached the top. Ruth now found herself in a beautiful little city, with lovely buildings all made of pearl. At the end of one of the streets she saw a large building more beautiful than any of the others. It was all ornamented with gold, and it hadhighstepsof pearl. There were also some fairy men, who seemed to be guarding it. “What is that beautiful building?” said Ruth. “That is my palace,” said the fairy. “I will take you to see it after we have seen other parts of the city.” So they walked on down the street, and Ruth saw many other fairies. In all the streets, suspended from spider webs, were lamps which looked like soap bubbles with lights in them. Ruth thought it was the most wonder- ful place she had ever been in, and she told the fairy so. “Yes,” said the fairy, “‘all of our citles are beautiful. I will show you some more some day.” They were now on a street that had tall houses on both sides. The fairies were playing gayly everywhere without a thought of a care. Ruth and the fairy walked down that street and turned into another. They walked to the end of it and stopped in front of the palace. “Now we will go in,” said the fairy. Ruth followed her up the stairs, and they entered a large hall all lit up the same as the streets, except that the bubbles were fastened together and and flowers of all kinds. Over on one side of the garden there were about fifty soldiers. They looked so much like tin soldiers that Ruth thought that perhaps they were. But just then the queen told thém to march and they all commenced to march around the garden. Ruth was getting tired and hungry from her long journey, and when the soldiers stopped marching she said to the queen, “I think I had better go home now, if you will show me the way.” “Go home!” said the fairy, “Indeed you can’t! I brought you here to stay.” Ruth was frightened and, seeing the door open, she ran through it, down the long hall, and out into the street. When the fairy saw her running she called to the tin soldiers to go after her, and they all ran through the hall, making a ter- rible noise. Ruth looked back and saw them com« ing and she commenced to run faster, not knowing where she was going. Just as she was turning into another street the soldiers caught up with her and took her back to the palace. When they reached it thev put her into a room and shut and locked the door. She be- gan to push hard on the door and the room began to shake, and one of the ‘bubble lamps fell down and smashed to pieces. It did not make any noise when it fell and Ruth continued to push the door. Then another bubble that Wwas right over the door fell down and smashed on her head. The light that was in it began to burn her hair. When she saw it she stopped pushing the door and be- gan rubbing her hair to put the fire out. She got the fire out so quickly that it did not do much damage to her hair. She looked around to see if there were any more lamps that could fall. Then down fell the door with a crash. She was free now to try to find the way home. The tin soldiers, admiring her bravery, escorted her through a long corridor. Suddenly she found her- self homé again. She rubbed her eyes and stared about her in wonder. Gone were the fairies, the tin soldiers and the city under the sea. She has never seen them since. 3 e A little girl, while praying, remembered her soldier brother and wound up this way; “And dear Lord, I pray that Axel don't get shot; but if he's got to get shot let him get shot in the leg. Amen.”