Fair play., 1881-02-12
4 Quaint Old City.

On the >loping side Of hill. just
where the shadows fall darkest from
the high peaks. is built the quaint old
city of ShUt-cvc-iown- Indeed, the
sides of the hill are So steep that the
little houses must be propped up with
pillars made of wood or iron About
the whole city is built wall high anil
strong. Four gates lead into the prin-
cipal streets. and they are hung on
HINGES of rubber. These gates move
back and forth so noisclessly that the
people inside know nothing OF il The
houses are small and lined with soft
velvet and feathers: they are of the
most queer shapes and sizes. The peO-
pie who live there look like ghosts in
their long white robes. They are eN-
ceedinyly peaceable. and always quiet.
| think | never heard of such thing as
4 fight oI even quarrel inside the
walls Of Shut-eye-town- There are
birds there, hosts Of them. but they
never sing. they are as silent as the
people They sit with their little heads
twisted TO one side. and their wings
over their faces. There are cats and
dogs and chickens and horses and
cows, bu. ihey never new. nor bark,
nor crow. nor neigh. There are fow-
crs there, too. but thcy hang down
their sweet head, and cry great tears
because the big sun neyercomes around
that way. The BOYS and girls in
Shut-eyt town never sing. or laugh, or
skip, or go to school, or have picnics.
have visited this strange city many
times in nv life. Indeed, cannot re-
member when first went. like the
place SO much, and have become 30
used to going there. that | feel very
much Disappointed and sometimes even
cross if tail to take my Usual journey
20 the city on the hill. once knew
four little men whose mamma told
them. one evening. that it was high
time ihey Were of TO Shut eye town.
But those naughty chaps set up such
n screeching and screaming that their
mamma was much troubled to know
what TO do She was thinking Of some
plan to follow. and the lads were roll
ing on the floor when in walked the
great. fat, kind-looking old Mayor os
th. city OF Shut-eye. His name was
Fery Sleepy. Esq, and he carried a
great knapsach on his right arm. All
the children liked this kind old man.
He stopped but moment TO whisper
something 20 the bows, and a he spoke
he dropped on eight eye-lids eight tiny
weights. These weights, though 50
sIDall. held the lids down 50 firm
l. that the four little men could No
longer hold them open. Directly in came
the big Mayor again. and gathering
them up in his arms he carried them
off inside the high walls. and shut the
big gates fast and safe He treated the
boys very kindly, as he does all the peo-
pie who visit his city. He took them to
ride in balloon tina, had wings like an
eagles and they visited a acave with the
walls made Of diamonds: they saw dogs
with elephants ears. and elephants with
long necks ike thS giraffe; they saw
horses with wings; and rats with pink
tails and blue eyes; there were robbins
with horns; and cows that could sing
and dance: there were tops tha, would
buzz by touching spring; and rabbits
that played a. baseball. Such wonder-
ful sights and s,Ich wonderful sounds as
these four lads did see and hear.
just as the sun lighted up the high
peaks the big Mayor opened all tho
gates. and down in the town br the
river the bells began TO ring and tho
whistles % blow: and ont came all the
people. the birds. the flowers, the horses
and cows. and Shu.-eye town was left
Geso.a.e.-E J. Tr.J2j.e,