Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-08-24
ANNIE AND THE SUNASH
BY EUGENE WOOD
A Bedtime Story to Be Told Pending the
Arrival of the Sand Man.
Copyright, 1859

and q big, wide hat to keep the sun off her
face. One day. her papa didn't go down
town, and che asked him II he would take
her fishing, because he told her once that
she could go with him some Of these days.
isn't 1t some Of these days nowT' she
asked him, and he said yes, it was, and II
her mamma said she could go. why, he
would take her.
So her mamma said that II she would be
good little girl and wouldn't let her papa
get lost or fall in the water she could go,
and the little girl jumped up and down and
said: "Oh, goody! Goody!' and ran out in
the back yard, where her papa was digging
under some big boards and was putting
some big, fat fishworms into an empty
baking powder can. They squirmed and
wriggled, but they couldn't get away. and
when he caught enough he covered them
up with dirt SO they wouldn't feel bashful,
the little girl said. Then he took down
in it a whole lot Of string and hooks and
lead weights and things ike that, and he
got two poles, a big one for him and ut.
tie one for Annie, and then they were all
ready to go except the lunch.
The little girls mamma got that ready
and put into a nice basket cake and pie
and sandwiches and pickles, and hard
boiled eggs, and don't know what all.
away out past where the cars live and
sleep in the night time, and they got to
where the trolley man said: "All out! Far
as we CO." and then they walked long
way through a pasture. where there was
COW. and the cow looked at the little girl
and said, "M-moo-oo-oo-a!' but the little
girl held on tight to her fathers hand, and
guess the cow was afraid to hook ts. her ,1,;,o
girl said, I'D "a sticked her right in the
eye with my fishing pole, and she would
boiler. Ouch! Wouldn't she. papa?"
They went along. and went along till
pretty soon they came to the fishing place.
The little girls papa fixed the worms on
the hooks. and Annie turned her head be-
cause she couldn't bear to look at the poor
worms. all quirning, as If it hurt them to
right STILL for the fishes don't like noisy
people to come around where they are.
Annie sat SO long that she began to think
fishing wasn't nearly as much fun as some
other games, such as "P'tend we was keep
in house. and 1 was the mamma" when
there was little twftch on the end of her
line, as if somebody was picking at it.
away from me-"
We'll, don't you let him. That's fish.
Pull quick!'
She pulled. and the fish pulled. and her
papa helped her, and pretty soon she saw
something shining down in the water, and
she hallooed out: "Oh, papa! I've caught
spoon! 1t did look like a spoon; but
spoons don't wiggle around in the water
ard try to run this way and that. In a
minute the fish was out on the ground, all
kicking around and getting himself tangled
up in the line. He Topped right against An
MES bare foot; and she squealed: Don't
Her papa got hold of him and took him
of the hook. and the little girl could see
how the hook had stuck into the roof of
poor fish, because it must have hurt him.
Then her papa strung him on line, and
let him swim around in the water.
Hell get away, won't he. papa?" the
little girl asked when she saw him switch
ing his tail and scooting Ground.
NO Don't you see, I've got him hitched
Just like grandpa ties his horse when he
comes to see us?'
Yes, sir. Just uzzackly" said the little
girl
They caught some more fish, and then
they washed their hands. and had their
lunch; and. what do you think? The little
girls mamma had forgotten to put in q
cup to drink out Of.
Never mind" Annie's papa told her. 81
know where cups grow on bushes"
rs there a tin cup tree?''
Her papa laughed and went to find a
spring. 1t was a barrel stuck down into
the ground with just its top sticking up
and 1t was full of nice, cold water, SO cold
that it would make the roof Of your mouth
her papa picked up large leaf and rolled
it up just like one of those cornucopia
things that grow on Christmas tree full
of candy. He pinched up the bottom of it
and dipped 1t into the spring, and the little
girl thought the water tasted SO good
out of a leaf cup that she took a whole
lot Of drinks.
Then they went to fishing again, but
something kept coming in front Of the
little girls eyes and she kept brushing
1t away. and pretty soon she found herself
slipping, slipping right down into the cool,
green water The little girl wondered why
her m In TIM hoy,
she wondered If her clothes wouldn't get
all wet, and then she thought 1t was funny
the water didn't bubble in her ears and
make that nasty noise it did when she
lay down in the bath tub.
She floated along under the water and
the fishes swan up to her and said: why,
hello! This is little girl. What's your
name, little girl?'
annie"
what did she say her name wasT
asked big, bright sunfish. and held up
q fin to his ear.
"She said her name was Annie"
annie? Annie? I don't think I ever
heard that name before. Sure 1t isn't Kill
lie or Porgie or Minnie? I've heard them. |
think they're real nice, don't your
Minnie Is nice name, but don't think |
killie would be pretty for little girls"
well, Annie, what did you come down |
here for?"
she wondered: What did come down |
for?"
Hay? Speak up. can't hear you. |
Take that thing out Of your mouth and |
maybe you can speak palmer"
II haven't anything in my mouth |
Eyes you have. too. That red thing"
why that's my tongue"
well, whatever it is, take it out"
II can't. It's fast. Besides, if I took 1t |
out I couldn't talk at ALL |
''Oh, well, then, let it stay. What did |
you come down here for?' |
"Oh, for visit
"a visit? I don't believe we've got one. |
Here Bass, you look round and see If you |
can't find visit for the little girl"
mo, 1 came down to make a visit
what do you make it out Oft Mud or
grass or what?"
II mean came down to pay you visit"
"Well then hand 1t over" |
Don't you understand? I came down to |
stay awhile and ask If you were pretty |
well.'
"Oh, see. Why, we're pretty well, |
thank you. Won't you have worm?"
mo, thank you. don't like them. I
never ate any,"
eff you never ate any, you don't know |
they are good or not"
'They don't look nice, anyhow. I believe |
I'd like cake better"
"Cake? What's cake?" asked the SUM-
dsh. Anything good to eatT'
Eyes, indeed" said Annie. won't you |
try some?'
She thought she had eaten up every bit |
her mamma had put in the lunch but she |