The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1881-10-21
MASTER HYRAX.


easy chair. OF course he was taking O
nap; for, first, he had shut his eyes,
and then he had put newspaper before
his face, and then he had begun to snore.
He had stopped snoring now, but the
newspaper was there still, and he did
not stir.
Harold and Violet were playing in the
corner. What were they playing? What
do children play? 1t is so long since
was child that am quite puzzled. All
L know is that Violet had her doll a fine,
French lady, dressed in her best walking
suit, with gloves, and hat, and parasol,
and veil all complete, and q tiny basket
on her arm, besides. Violet had bas-
ket on her arm, too; and Harold -.
All, yes, L see now. That must have
been it. Harold had laid board across
two chairs, and on it he was arranging
all kinds of things-a dolls shoe, heap
of little pebbles, another of grains of
corn, a few shells, ball. Now you
know, don't you? They were playing
store, and very nice it is. Presently
Harold had an idea.
"Violet, he said, "we haven't got
half enough money here. People in
business need lots of money, you know.
Just you go upstairs and bring down the
box of make-believe money, that's a
good girl. And, while you are about it,
just run into the kitchen and bring in
some coffee, and some currants, and
some rice, and few tin boxes that spices
come in. Then you might bring ball
of string, and u lot of paper-oh and
mammals letter-scales, and few books,
ard-and-. Well, that's all L think OF
just now"
Violet was good little sister, and she
went off obediently. The newspaper
rustled little, and if Harold had looked,
he might have seen an eye peeping from
over the edge of it; but he didn't look,
not he. He was much too busy arrang-
ing his store TO the best advantage.
Just then the door-bell rang, and
Harold jumped up.
Its mamma, he said, as he peeped
out of the window. :" L wonder Nam
ma" as the parlor door opened, odd
you bring the book l wanted TO borrow
from cousin Clara"
"Oh, Harold / forgot all about it, u
said mamma. "I'm sorry, but L had SO
many errands to do that L could not re-
member it. :"
"Oh, dear and / wanted it so much, "
grumbled Harold, dolefully. every
body always forgets what L ask them"
:" Here are your things, Harold-all l
could bring, at least" said Violet, COM
ing back with her arms full, just as
mamma went out. "There's the coffee
in one paper, and the rice in another,
and--oh, dearl must have dropped the
currants. And there's your string, and
your box of money, and a roll of paper,
and three tin boxes, but couldn't bring
the books, nor the letter-scales. Indeed,
couldn't carry any more, Harold"
"Just the way" grumbled Harold
again. 81 never saw anything like it,
Nobody ever can DO what want. They
|, forget or cant bring en- or some
thing. Just you trot upstairs again,
now, and bring down those books Any
old ones will do. / want them for
shelves. And, while you're about it,
bring my little express wagon, and"
Harold ~
1t was Uncle Joe who spoke. The
newspaper was off his head now, and he
was sitting up and looking at the child
rem. "Harold, do you why the hyrax is
without tail? ?"
Harold thought it was a very queer
question, but he didn't say so. Uncle
Joe usually meant something by his
questions, and probably this one had
meaning.
whats a hyrax ?" asked Violet
GA little animal something like rab-
bit" said Uncle Joe. "Come here, and
Ill tell you about it.
But Harold wants his things" said
Violet, hesitating.
Never mind about Harold's things,
just yet" said Uncle Joe. "They can
wait but I'm in storytelling humor
and that can't wait. Jump up on my
knee. SO Harold, too. Now, then
"Once upon q time there was COM
motion in the Animal Kingdom. The
world was not very old then, not even
old enough TO be quite finished of. No
body knew that, though, until on GER
tain day the King of the Beasts issued
proclamation. What's proclamation
ell his faithful subjects that if, upon
certain day. they would repair to his
court, they would be handsomely fin
! lSneu OH.
Finished off, said the beasts. Why,
we are finished off. What more do we
want? We have teeth and eyes and ears
and paws. A tail? What do we want
with tail You can't eat with tail,
nor see nor hear with q tail, can You?
Then. what's the good of tail
Just then fly stung Goodman Ok
on the side. He leaped about foot into
the air, but the fly still stung and stung.
He tried to brush it off with his foot, but
his leg was too stiff.
$50 no 1 said Goodman Ok. Now,
I see the good of tail-a nice, long,
slender tail with brush at the end. All.
yes The king may make his mind easy.
/ shall be sure to be there
"And so said all the beasts but no
BODY was as anxious as Master Hyrax.