The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-12-25

zulu
81 know how to run"
eft is not civil to interrupt There's
milldam little way from here that is always
interrupting me, and il hurts my feelings SO
can hardly get over it, said the brook. u
can teach you was saying-to run, Ito wash
dear little pollywogs till they are nice and
clean, and
ooh dearv' cried Kate ''my foot is in
mudhole and Eve lost my shoe! Can you tell
me how to find T'
ssNo," said the brook.
So Kate found her shoe, emptied from it
five pebbles, teacupful of water, and
Young eel, (which sounds like a receipt for
soup-but is not Then she put on her
shoe, and ran away. On the low branch of
an apple tree sat beautiful pigeon, with
rainbow colors on his neck.
"Perhaps" thought Kate 81 can learn gen.
tleness from the cove. 1t said SO in my read
er and it ought to know" So she spoke to
the dove:
"What will you teach me?"
The dove put his head on one side to re-
fleet. --.
''The first thing learned" said he twas
to break an eggshell. Then learned to fly
but you can't do that. Oh! will show
YOU how to put your foot on the best kernels
of corn which, you see, leaves your lbill quite
free to peck other people and drive them
away so that you can have what you want, at
your leisure"
.Oh, you selfish birdw cried Kate. 81
would be ashamed to do such thing"
The dove looked surprised, and flew away.
Kate wandered on quite mournfully, for she
began to think that she never should find
anyone to teach her-when she heard an ex-
ceedingly solemn voice, that sounded as it its
owner lad caught hoarse cold while bury
ing his last friend. 1t said:
''Who are you?"
'Did you speak to me?" asked Kate.
sTo who?" replied the voice. Kate was
so busy trying to see where the owner OF this
very extraordinary voice could be, that she
quite forgot to answer, which was very impo-
lite.
''To wit, to who" repeated the voice, in
TdGueE CEOSS GOuCs 1Auu AAoeS3 SiesiAho ~P'
saw sitting in the hollow trunk of an old will
low tree, large gray owl, which looked as
solemn as the funny man of daily news
paper, and as wise as the learnedest book
that ever was written and never was read.
In one claw he held a pen, and standing on
the other foot, used it also as paper-welght /;
for he had at least seventeen quires of paper
beside him. About twenty pages were close
ly written, and it was on these that he stood.
Kate promptly told the owl her name, and
| added:
'sYou must be very learned, and people al
ways say 'as wise as an OWL, so you must be
able to teach something"
sTo who, to you?' asked the owl. "Bat
1 warn you that have but little time to
spare, for am very busy writing book"
.sWhat shall you call the book" asked
Kate.
ssProvelbial Verbosity" replied the owl.
SIS it poetry?"
:I don't quite know" said the owl. cit is
hard to judge of ones own work. think it
is, for the lines begin with capital letters. In
other respects, am not sure; but it will be a
fine book. speak quite frankly to you, for
assurance is the best honesty"
what does that remind me Of" said Kate.
"Oh know! Didn't you mean to say Hon
esty is the best policy?'" ..
ats the same thing, to a really great
mind'' answered the owl. "Of course l
meant an assurance policy" ...
Kate was puzzled; but merely said: cit
may be so, you ought to know, but it didn't
sound right to me.
s.Take care of the sense, and the sonud
will take care of ITSELF" replied the owl quite
loftily.
| "Ohp' exclaimed Kate, suddenly, my
frock is spoiled. 1t must have been when
was at that muddy brook or else when crept
under the fence"
'Tts a torn delaine that has no turning
remarked the owl.
| "Why"
Because it is only printed on one side"
''Of course-I know it" said Kate.
The conversation seemed to be at an end,
| when the owl said suddenly:
| Ou udu UCOOCl AOnN hS"3 ~ ~ 0S'SN-S
| late-and time is tied to a weight for no
man,
Indeed, to Kate's surprise, it had become
dark: and as she did not know how to find
her way home, she at once began to cry.
But the owl, who was really very good
hearted bird, laid down his pen, flew out Of
the tree, and hoped along beside the
child, to show her the way home. They soon
crossed the field, and found themselves in the
| familiar yard. There they met the red ant.
He stopped them.
s'Did YOU" said he "find out why Solomon
told you to 60 to me?"
''No, did not" answered Kate.
ssThen we will 60 and ask him" said tie
| ant.
sfBut haven't time" objected Kate. "You
had better 60 With him. advised the owl, sit
is only seventy minutes to six"
"Why didn't you say ten minutes to five?
asked Kate.
| "Because six is you tea-hour'' said the
owl, sand you see you have time"
.'But such long journey will be very ex-
pensive, and have only ten CENTS"
Chow dull you are' said the owl, Cline
is money-and have just proved to you that
you have time. so of course you have money.
| Goodbye-I must hurry home to my book. y
Good evening said Kate to the owl; and
after he had flown away she turned to the
ant, and said: 'rm sure he was mistaken in
some way, but as am not sure how it was
Il will 60 with you"
owe shall need valise and band-box''
said the ant.
"But we have nothing to put in them"
$50 much the better, they will not be heavy
to carry. The cars leave in three minutes
will 60 to buy the valse and the bandbox, land
will come back for you"
"But where does Solomon live?'
81 don't know"
s'Where do the cars go, then?"