The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-03-10


| vas making her last tin Of biscuit anc
said:
Mamma, please put me TO bed. I an
| so sleepy and tired. Rover is asleep;
! and Kitty and 1 will go too"
Run away, ClihCId. ! am too busy.
IF you are so sleepy, 20 up stairs and lie
down in your cot; but you had better
play until after dinner, and then take a
nap with me"
Clifford did not like the idea Of going
upstairs alone, so he ran outdoors 10 play
as his mother had told him. But the
shade was only in such a small place by
the house, and he would just 20 over
there by the wheat 1t looked cooler
there as the grain waved in the breeze.
SO he trotted over the road TO the edge
OF the grain; and, sure enough, it really
was cooler. SO he sat down in the shadow
OF the tops that stood four feet high.
As he sat there his attention was attrac-
TED by some little red-birds that were
flyipg back and forth into the wheat.
Suddenly he remembered what his papa
mad told him the night before about these
blrds VINO had built their nests all
through the grain. And Clifford felt so
CORY for the baby birds that would he
so cruelty killed by the big machine An
at once he thought: II will 90 a IlftIn
way in and ind some nests. and 7 YIN
put them out in the orchard. How glad
the poor mamma birds will be when
save the little brides lives.
No"' CiiHord's mamma had often told
hiln never TO go away from the bouse
alone, but he had forgotten all else non,
IN MS wish TO save the lives of the voI,,c,
DlrdS that were in such peril SO into the
Forest or yellow glory he made his yyav
On and on he went, hunting for the nsste
flnally, the poor little man was so tireJ
or making his way and OF SEARCHING IN
VAIN for birds. that, after an bonr'e
tramp, he decided TO go home IN HE
mamma" So he turned around and start.
ed back; but which way was hack2 TIo
was so small that in coming through ne
had not broken single stalk. but had
slipped between them, and so had MOI
lett trace behind. ''
lie turned back expecting. Of courso 70
come out right in sight of mamma l,i,ob
en- door: and he wondered if dinner ,,o,,Ia
De ready and if mamma wouId he oIad
10 see him now. So he made his ~, =
it'le farther; and then. he thouobt h.
would sit down and rest iust mn
WhIie' and perhaps he would hear tho
home. "iu run on
When Mrs. Holt finished the biscp,t :,
, "Io '.ihe 10 prepare the dinner. once or
-. s'"u5Ht vi CAHOrdS flushed face
came 10 her; and she thought he -.
nave gone upstairs after all. because 80
"du Deen such long time since sbo "a
seen anything OF aim. When noon cane
,Hriil Diast OF the long tin horn brougb,
~; mont ana his two men home N
.nelr dinner. To Mr.. Hollis ino,,,r,.
mere Is Clifford?" Mrs. Holt renIia1
asleep upstairs" His dinner wac go
.uIiy put away for him and the mon re-
turned TO their work
Late IN the afternoon Mrs. Holt auoko
with start from the long nan Che M
taken on the dining-room sofa wbera sh'
had thrown herself for a uttIa ras, -
lore going upstairs. Her first ,bo,,osh.
was or Clifford. and upstairs che aaw
into the little room where his cot stnod
lie had not been there at ALI no. a,
her room Thoroughly alarmed she went
up into the garnet. where he Sometimes
played. but all was silent and emrtv
The next instant the horn sent &c caIi
echoing over the prairie, In blast aftar
blast, recalling Mr.. Holt in great haste
All was CONFUSION now. What had be-
come OF Clifford?
TIE first thought was of the small,
,reek that ran half a mile bevona the
house. and its banks were searched in
vain Tor a trace. They went along the
road Tor miles In eacn direction but moth.
ng was TO be seen. except the goIden-
headed grain on either side, noddine their
goodnight TO the setting sun. At length,
Is the great full moon was rising. thsy