The Van Buren press., 1893-06-10
TED'S STRANGE ADVENTURE.
How One Boy Learned to Take Better Care
Of His Things, tp8

~ y S'UNN0G NONCNI ONC'
How One BOY Learned to Take Better Care
of His Things. tPt u
Both Ted and mamma were very
tired, especially mamma. This was be-
cause they had been looking for things
all day. just before schooltime they
had searched the whole house for Ted's
reader: and after they found it on the
floor of the hall closet, Ted ran all the
way to school, but was ten minutes
late and had to stay mat recess.
He left his ovcrshoes at school, and
when he wanted to go out to play in
the afternoon he could not find his
cap. Ted felt sure he had brought
that home, but did not know just
where he had put IL; SO he and mamma
worked very hard to find out, and had
almost given up when Jane saw it in
one of the Kitchen wash-tubs, Ted
said that he remembered laying II on
the edge OF the tub while he stopped
to play with the cat, and Jane must
have pushed it in as she passed Ivy. (
The. cap soon dried by the kitchen
fire; but IL proved toowet to play ont
without overshocs, so Ted roasted
chestnuts over the library fire and mis-
laid. the tongs. They could not be
found when the fire needed mending,
but when mamma put baby May to
bed that evening she saw them lying
at the foot Of the crib where Mays soft
little feet would have kicked against
them and been hurt had no one hap
pened to notice. She looked very seri-
ous, and when she told Ted he looked
very grave; forhe loved the baby dearly.
As mamma tucked Ted in his crib
that evening she. said; well. Ted, |
am glad you, can't take your head and
legs ana arms off; for If you could !
am sure you would lose them. )"
Then she kissed Ted and left
him, never dreaming what strange
thing was going TO happen 70
her little boy. But think nearly
every boy who reads this story can re-
member strange things that have hap
pened to him between the time he goes
TO bed and the time he rises in the
morning.
When Ted was alone he turned over
and closed his eyes. liz. was thinking
Of what his mother, has said,and OF how
odd it would be if he really were really
screwed together and could unscrew
himself whenever he wished To. He
thought it would be fine joke to scare
the the boys at school by taking of an
arm and running after them as he
waved il over his head How surprised
and frightened they would be!
And now the strange thing happened
of which | spoke, although to Ted it
seemed so natural that he did not think
about it at all.
1t was no longer night, and Ted was
no longer in bed. II was recess at
school. and Tedwas in the playground
with all the boys. They were playing
very amusing game, in which every
bov except the leader and the Judge
had to unscrew one of his legs and then
follow the leader as best lie could "
was surprising how well the boys c"nld
hop and Jump, turn somersaults anu
climb trees with only one leg. The un-
screwed legs were placed gln a row
against the fence, and the name OF the
owner was written in the shoe of each,
so that the boys would make no mis-
take when they were ready to put the
legs on again.
After the game was over some OF the
bovs swapped legs, and as the bar
rowed member was almost sure TO DE
either too long or too short for It's new
wearer. they would limp around in the
most comical way; and it only added to
the fun If very short boy changed
with d very tall one. Ted was1ust
about to swap with Tommy Pearsons
when the school bell began to rlngsaha
the boys had to screw on their legs IN a
hurry and run inside
During the, afternoon while the oovs
were busy doing examples Jack Ames'
who sat IN front of Ted. turned his
head on the neck screw until ms race
was lust where the back OF ms heao
had been. which gave him avery funny
ionk When Ted glanced up from ms
slate he saw Jack, with his head screwed
nround. winlsing and grinning at him'
he could not help laughing out loud
When the teacher saw what had hap
roned he was very angry, and. walking
IN TO Jack, took the mischief-mahlng
head r off and put it on his desk as a
warming to the boys to play no more
tricks. Poor Jacks head looked very
sad nm ON the teachers desk, while lt.-ti the
@ rest Of Jack sat limp and quiet on the
scat IN front Of Ted. 1t was an awlul
marning to the boys. who were very
oniet and good until school closed. t.
Then the teacher put the head Dach III
Us nlace. but told Jack that II @ sucn !. a
thing happened again he would keep IL
until late in the afternoon.
After school was out Ted lent one OF "
NC leos TO Tommy Pearsons and put on ON
;nstead one of Tommy's. As tommy %
nss san inch shorter than Ted both boys
,;,nned M% a good deal; and they playea
.ar to see who could limp the fastest
'"T While they were in the midst OF TINS
N. Rurns Ted's father, stopped TO .aks
hin hin, home. saying he was IN a',,d grea,
h,,r hnrrv Ted, thinking his father ,''''ad wouad
be angry if he knew OF 'ns 'rbosa oo mouse
,rh;snersd to Tommy, whose nou's