The San Francisco call., 1896-07-19
THE FIVE DUCKLINGs-

One fine morning the Reed family decided
to take their lunch and spend the day at
Golden Gate Park, so that their four children
Irene, Jessie, Toddy and Theodore-might
enjoy themselves.
Now we must leave Mrs. Reed to prepare
lunch and hear something about Violet Brook,
who lives next door to the Reeds. Violet had
smelled the cakes and cookies all yesterday as
they came out of the oven in Mrs Reeds
kitchen, and could imagine seeing them put
in the large basket ready to eat. Now you
must not think Violet never got these things.
for her elder sister, Fanny, often made them.
But dare say they were not quite as nice.
Violers father was dead and, as her mother
was poor she could not enjoy as many good
| things as her neighboring playmates.
She watched with q longing eye as Jessie
Reed went in and ou of her house on errands
and listened to her-"Oh, we are going to have
splendid time. Don't you wish you
| could go?''
This was very wrong in Jessie, and really
think girl OF 8 years ought to know better,
though we will excuse her as she was very ex-
cited. Nevertheless Violet caught every word
of il and thought ii over again and again and
at last decided to consult with her sister
Fanny. But am sorry to say that Fanny, who
was not noted either for kindness or gentle
ness, and did not feel like consulting over any
thing, said: "Oh, run away, VI, and do not
bother me. Vera will be here in any moment
/ to go out wit h me and haven't got my hair
curled yet" Violet said nothing, knowing it
would not do any good, and ran out in the
! garden to speak with her best friends, the
| flowers.
| She was out there but very short time when
| loud "good-by' was heard, and Violet looked
up just in time to see the last wave of Jessie s
hand. But she did not pay much attention to
it, for she was really hurt: no. not as much as
to have even waved her hand back. Turning
| to the flowers again she went chRttering.
Violet stood in the center of the hower-bed,
| and presently the wind blew the tops of the
rose-bushes about her face, as if to enable them
to hear her words. At very interesting point,
and where Violet expires ed her feelings most,
! there came another "good-by." On looking up
she saw Fanny and Veva go strutnng off with
their curls and crimps. Now our poor little
| friend was all alone What should she do? So
tired of everything All OF sudden she heard
a gruff voice saying: "Ducksl Ducks! Ducksl
Ducks! Five cents apieceli Violetwent nearer
| to the fence, and, sure enough, she was quite
right.
Putting her finger to her forehead for mo-
ment TO think how many ducks her own
J twenty-five pennies-which had taken her q
whole year TO save up-would buy. she soon
found out that with this sum she could pur-
chase five-yes. fve-dear little ducks all fol
herself Telling the man to wait a moment
away she ran to the house aud returned
quickly with 25 cents. "FIYe If you please
mister" she said.
Violet was so delighted she could hardly
wait till her ducklings were out OF the basket
and into her own yard.
1t was nearly supper time, she got the
corn and turning the large elothesbasket up
side down Violet sat upon it and soon found
herself shelling corn and also scolding at her
"dear children" who gathered around and
fought il clumsy way over one little grain
as you see in the picture.
1t was not very long before Mrs. Brook came
home and was very glad to see her daughter
so happy.
! AS soon supper was over the wee duck
lings were fec and tucked in a cozy nest.
Violet retired early ana dreamed of al
kinds and colors of ducks, big and little, bu
not once of having missed going out with sis
ter Fanny or Mrs Reeds little girls.
The ducks were n great source of comfort
and soon became favorite pets of every child
In the neghborhood
MABEL C. SMITH (age 12).
| lOO1 DoWney avenue Los Angeles, Cal.