The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-11-25
THE TIMES. RICHMOND VA, SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 25 1894


the remainder would soon be added. DAME
wrote and erased and wrote again. Wnue
Polycarp selected a few suitable grave,.
stones to aid In his digestion. Al last IL
was completed:
His wings so brown
Are lined with down,
He's the prettiest bird in all the town .a
She read the two stanzas aloud anu
without waiting added third:
''Polycarp he
Sleeps In a tree,
As happy as a bumblepee'
II don't know why I put that last n ,me
there, but it's true; he's aiwas aid not
even when l scold him." DAME on n be-
know that poetry does not hee zee neopie
in This World who wish their poetry iarse-
ly made from what Imaglnat,U,a The last
ply. That bumbiebee went into sort of
musical sound. She gave her pet MS
name for the same reason Van I-vie
afternoon she heard Gran arn what she
road about This man had little attraction
for DAME. only the name caueht nei ena
She had tried whole month 10 mn
something approPPsonrIyeea rp. II sounded
well and written, II had a nice, smooth
look besides she could make ioveiy cap'-
tai Ps. ..,..s,ard the
temnfation to draw from memory ,he
picture that had gone into her tniIu
stanza But one thing gave hs so,,ct on
pected trouble, now sne was ~ t t.r;h,,.od
happiness. when his head was tucked
away under his wing; and then she Tor,
soIare inches with misunderstanding,
bees large. and bumblebees small. and
bees without any humble at all.
Polycarp called her wandering thoughts
hack 10 the task in hand. He nipped at
her fingers in c ical way, and even
tried to get possession OF her short pen
Gil. ,. III. owr
little life. or make up poem ABOUT MIN
MY Polycarp
Is awful sharp
She could think of nothing to rhyme with
carp and sharp besides harp, ana TOT
some reason she felt it unsuitable to have
him play that or any other musical IN
strument Very reluctantly she drew her
hand over the two lines. IT was TOO oan
to give them up. but nothing seemed u
come to fill that last line. She tried
new thought:
He is so funny
But not for money
And again that provoking last line made
her a world of trouble. In desperation
she added, finally:
He'd like to live on bread and honey"
But in another instant the three lines
were dismissed, and with smile OF sat
isfaction she hastily wrote:
Hes rather SLOW
Learning to crow,
But he'll 'stonish you all bimeby. know
Poor DAME! These few short verses
had so tired her. that when Huldah came
back from the field she found the heavy
slate had taken a slide downward and
the little author was fast asleep. Very
tenderly she carried her into the house
and placed her in the curtained bedroom
to have her nap out. Polycarp was no
where to be seen; grasshoppers and katy
dds proved too much of temptation
when his mistress eyes were closed, ana
the hattery so dear to his soul ceased to
reach his ears
The child slept on past the dinner hour.
The old clock in the kitchen twanged out
its one, then its two, and in a few min
utes would have struck three. when she
opened her eyes. She had half a mind 10
cry when she saw where the hands or
the clock stood and realized that her
dinner must be eaten alone. GrandmOth-
er had kept it warm for her, however,
and Hudah stopped her work and set II
on the table. She had finished her din
ner before IL occurred to her what she
had been doing when she began her nap;
Now she would finish her little poem and
make the pictures; and Huldah and
cooled on paper-if she got the paper.
Here, DAME, are your crutches," put
In the serving girl. Better go outdoors.
hadn't we? Polycarp'r be round hunting
q y
calicoes and things"
Never mind the sewing work, Hull
dab. just want the old slate; and say,
don't rub Olt the least bit of the pic
lures or verses"
Huldah walked very slowly and read
az she came. Then she bent over her
little friends shoulder and spelled out
the last lines.
II declare, DAME. if you amt real
genius; your verses sound like book
readn'. Your portraits of Polycarp-I
never see the beat.
DAME explained how she was going to
make the poem longer, and draw more
pictures. and Huldah reminded her that
at the end her name must be written
Miss Jane Van Tyle"-"folks always
sign their names" She then planted
rather vigorous kiss on Danie's mouth, so
by one move stopping further words and
showing her appreciation Of the whole
matter whether finished or not. A half
hour later, above the rattle of the kettles
and pans, childs voice reached her ear:
"Hu.dah! Huldah! the verses are ali
done, but where's Polycarp? | can't make
another picture till he's here"
Hudah dried her hands as she went
ont of the kitchen door.
81 guess Poycarp must "a been takn'
a nap too, and amt walked up yet. Come
to think, | don't believe I've seenhm
since-since | was talkin with that
hot