Wichita eagle., 1888-05-11
BABES IN THE WOOD.


This was eagerly asked by enc Of three
| little boys, who were spending their sum-
mer vacation in the country on fruit
farm, where there are also lovely woods,
| with great, tall redwood trees, towering
up 100 feet, and even more, toward the
blue sky and God who made them, and
here and there madrona tree grows,
with its bark peeling of in its own peculiar
way, leaving the tree bright red and
as smooth as satin; now and then the
bark clings in fakes of pale yellow. Close
by we find the beautiful bay tree, with its
long, pointed, fragrant leaves, and all
about such lovely ferns. Beyond the
woods is a mountain very steep and
rugged.
These woods were great temptation to
the boys. Stuart was so anxious to go,
and Herbert and Romney came running
in and added their pleading to his.
Their mamma decided that they could
90, but said: cit is too warm for you to
walk all the way, SO you had better take
Old John" He was a steady old horse,
who had done his share of work, and the
children were allowed to ride him about
the ranch.
At this the boys clapped their hands
and shouted: sob! that's fnel We can
have Old John and take turns riding"
So their mamma put up some lunch for
them. She knew boys have way of get
ting hungry, whether walking or riding.
They kissed her good-by, and started off
in merry glee.
Old John looked at them with his gentle
eyes, as much as to say, "Do you really
think this is fun, boys9 I had much
rather lie down under big oak tree in
the pasture and take nap until dinner
time" But. nevertheless, he went along
in his careful way and as their mamma
watched them go down the hill she caught
a glimpse of hat waved in the air, heard
the sound Of their last "Good-by, NAM
ma" shouted with the full force of sound
lungs, and the echo across the bills caught
it, and back it came to her as she turned
away with q glad heart to see her dear
boys so happy, and went about her morn
ing duties.
The hours passed without her realizing
how long they had been gone, and they
did not know how long it was either.
They went to the woods, and, after run
ming about awhile, decided to eat their
lunch, and then went UP to spring to
get drink of clear, cold, sparkling water.
They caught it in their tin cup as it
trick,ed down over the rocks and passed
through bed Of green ferns that left it
clear and cold.
just as they finished drinking Stuart
said.
'Say, boys, let's climb the mountain. I
don't think it looks so very steep. We
can take turns on Old John"
GAN right" answered the others; s'but
what if Old John can't climbs''
''Oh, guess he can," said Stuart. So
the others got on the horse, and he trudged
along beside them
Old John picked his way very carefully
over the stones and through the brush.
After awhile Stuart was SO tired the boys
got down and he took his turn on Old
John, and so they pushed on and up.
At last they reached the top of the
mountain. 1t was very nice to be so high
up They could see the broad Pacific
sparkling in the sun. They were tired,
but didn't mind, and thought it was fun
Somehow little boys can do so much for
fun and play, but get tired very quick
when it comes to working. I wonder
why it is.
Well, by this time it was after ~, and
their mamma began to feel uneasy, be-
cause they didn't come home; but grand.
pa said:'
ST expect they have found nice, cool
place under tree, and, being tired, have
fallen asleep They Will be home in lit
tie while"
But alasi they were anything but
asleep. They now became tired looking
about and watching Old John eat grass
and leaves, and all at once found they
were very hungry, and tried to find the
path they had gone up by, but couldn't
find it. They hunted and hunted, and as
they looked down the mountain it seemed
so much sleeper than when they went up
in the fresh morning air, with light
hearts. 1t seemed to them SO steep that
ifthey tried to 60 they would just fall
over and roll down and down over the
stones, and they didn't Like the thought Of
that. In little while more they lost all
their courage, and sat down and cried;
then, as they became more and more lone
some and afraid, their cries became
screams Al last they were worn ont,
AND Sc were forced to be quiet for while.
Old John kept eating In eopsepte,a
way Il did NOS matter to him now
whether he was or the mountain or in
the pasture, for he found plenty to eat.
After time the sun went down, and il
began to grow dark; then the boys broke
ont crying again. Old John looked at
them as If to say; "What is the matter!
Pm going to lie down under this big tree.
There are lots of dry leaves and shall
have a nice bed" So he lay down and
stretched out his legs and made himself
very comfortable.
The boys came to the conclusion they
would have to stay in the woods all night,
so when they had exhausted themselves
second time with crying and shouting,
they were SO sleepy they couldn't keep
their eyes open; SO they lay down between
Old Johns legs and put their aching
heads against his body and pushed their
feet down in the warm leaves.
All at once Herbert called out; Boys,
we must say our prayers" SO they got
down on their knees, folded their dirty lit
tie hands, and with trembling lips said:
ssNow lay me-" 1t seemed to comfort
them, and telling Romley TO lie il the
middle, because he was the smallest, they
nestled up close together and were soon
sound asleep, worn ous with their long
tramp and crying.
Old John, too, fell asleep, unheeding
the weight of their heads. which by
degrees slipped down to the ground, they
were SO tired They tossed about and
each turn made . few more leaves fy up
and fall down over them; SO they were
well covered from the night air.
We'll, all this time their mamma had
been very sad. Grandpa went away right
after dinner, never doubling the boys
would be home in a little while.
Just as the big moon came up from be-
hind the very mountain where the boys
lay asleep, grandpa and the men drove ii
the yard Wien they found the bows had