The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1878-05-24

on anu on. h1gnerl fastef trees,
houses, rocks, hills, blending into one
confused mass as we passed beyond the
clouds and looked down upon the light
ming and the rain. On we few through
the light air toward that great, round,
fiery ball, in the center of which, formed
by galaxy of bright stars, could dis
tinctly trace large figure - On
with the speed of the wind The large
| figure had broken into thousands, mill
ions of little 9's, sparkling, shimmering,
dazzling. On I on the bottom of the
vehicle grated upon the pebbly road; the
man in chargeplaced me upon the ground;
the strange machine once more rose into
the air, and was left alone.
"After a moments bewilderment /
looked about me, and was amazed, de-
lighted. at the scene which met my
gaze. There was on one side a great
forest, filed with mammoth elms, ma
pies, oaks, taller much than our tallest
poplars, whose foliage, shining, luxuri-
ant, was of the most delicate blue, like
earth's summer sky; carpeted with q
soft, rich, velvety grass and moss of q
similar tint to that of the silver-lined
leaves; and everywhere walked or flew
wonderful birds, of rare size, gorgeous
plumage and matchless voice. On the
other side extended a vast field of nod
ding flowers, through which flowed
a stream clear as crystal and filed
| with fish of shining gold. Above
stretched a sky of the faintest pink,
with here and there the daintiest of
dainty white clouds.
/ 10 1@,,k
was not until 1 had grown somewhat ac-
custor'ed to the novel scene that
observed one remarkable Pc
culiarity OF the place = that every
thing bore some reference to the
figure 49, The giant trees of whatever
sort or description were trained to form
it; every blade of grass, every leaf,
every flower, bore it somewhere upon its
surface; the crystal stream traced it in
its wanderings; the shining leaves as they
rustled to and fro in the balmy air,
sighed it; the brook babbled 1T; the
crickets chirped it; the insects hummed
it; the birds, each in its own tone,
warbled it; and solemn old owl hooted
in stated measure, Number Mime t!
Number Mine
However, I did not speculate long
upon this strange p' lenomenon. Happy,
delighted, l rambled on until came to
high stone wall, through one of the
openings of which L saw q great
city, whose tall, massive bIild-
ings were constructed of solid stone,
and along whose broad streets men and
women OF giant stature were hurrying to
and fro, all wearing fantastic caps from
which depended nine tiny little bells,
which tinkled and jingled with soft,
silvery sound at every motion.
"Of course I entered the city, and l
was immediately met by huge monster
who was bigger than any two of the tall
est men ever saw. l turned to run,
but 1t detained me by an immense hand
and then, strange to say, spoke to me IN
kind, reassuring tone. 1t asked me a
great many questions and examined me
curiously. When it said Come home
with me- knew, someway, that 1t was
was the Comet King. Immediately we
stood before palace built of polished,
blue-gray marble, surmounted by cupo-
las, turrets, domes of the finest cut-glass,
and oynamented all along its smooth,
beauteous sides by rows OF stained-glass
windows.
81 was eager to enter, but 1t said,
No, no, You must wait until your eight
brothers have been in
81 turned away and burst into tears of
vexation and rage. l was still Number
Nine.
"Do you see yonder broad rivers' 1t
asked.
st did see it rushing madly, tumult-
uously along, and also saw little boat
tossed about on its rolling waves, rowed
by single man-an old man with bowed
form and silvery locks.
GO Well, 1t said, / am sorry for you,
Number Nine. I will have one of your
brothers, whichever one you may desig-
nate, rowed to the opposite shore, where
it is eternal night and wilderness. he
can never return, and THIS you will have
at least one less to wait for
Delighted, I dried my tears, and
ceased my sobbing. And now, which
boy should L select? / started to my
feet and paced the square in front OF
the palace door with knit brow and
clenched hands but all to no purpose.
/ could not make the selection.
wen, WHICH one, NunDef
Nine? asked 1t.
"But somehow, the more tried tc
make haste, the less haste 1 made.
Which of my many brothers, indeed
would be willing to spare forever from
out my home and life? Certainly moi
; Will or Jimmie, my willing assistants in
study; not John, who so many times I'M
dertook my tasks in addition to his owl
in order that 1 might have the more
, leisure for play; not George or Henry
, who were ever ready to mend my bat
, tered sleds and toys; not, surely, Bob
merry, light Bob; and by al
, means not Ed or joey, my dear play-fel
: lows and companions.
al am waiting politely said 1t.
"Oh, dear could not make de
cision and, besides, was beginning tt
feel faint impression that did no
wish any one of the eight sent away
after all. At last 1 limited as much t,
my companion.
"'Pooh 7 said It, very impolitely
T Nobody could blame you. If you wal
1 for eight, when will you get in-thinl
of it would dispose of one of them.