The San Francisco call., 1896-07-19
KILLED BY oRossNEss.

Ruth Brown was the Oldest OF four children;
her father was a machinist on Mare Island,
There being much to do at home she was
obliged to help her mother about the house.
One very sunshiny Saturday Ruth's mother
gave her some peas to shell, telling her she
could take them outside, it being cooler than
in the kitchen. Ruth took the peas, but was
not pleased with her work. She was thinking
of book she wanted to read, and forgot every
thing until she felt something nibbling at the
toe of her shoe. Looking down she saw some
fluffy, downy, yellow balls of ducks, with their
black eyes aud broad bills asking her in duck
language to give them something to eat. Ruth
really loved them, but to-day she was CROSS
At first she threw them the shells; these were
too hard and smooth for the tender bills of
little buckles. and they began to quack, quack
for something better. Ruth felt little pity,
but did throw them few OF the peas. These
were not much better than the shells.
A duck would get one of these little green
balls at the end of his bill and would roll it
around several times, nearly always dropping
it and going back to look for something softer.
By this time Ruth was tired, it seemed the
pile of peas never would be smaller, and in a
temper she kicked at one Of the little ducks
with more force than she really meant to use.
Poor little ducky rolled over few times,
turned on It's back waved its little fan-shaped
feet, gave faint quack and died Then
Ruth realized how naughty she had been. She
picked up the poor little duck aud cried, but
all her tears and sorrow could not give back
the poor little life she had taken. She brought
the little dead thing to her mother, told her
how sorry she was, and promised ever after to
do her share of the work in more pleasant
way, and never never would she allow her un-
happiness to bring trouble to others.
Vallejo, June %. RUTH HAscAL-
WHAT BECAME OF THE PEAS.
One day Mamie, who is a little girl 8 years
old. was shelling some peas for dinner. Now
Mamie is very fond of peas, and these were
the first they had had that year, so she worked
busiIy away, for she wanted them to be cooked
for dinner She had shelled nearly all of them
when her mother called her 10 come and run
to the store for some things. So she set the
peas down on the basket which she had
been sitting and away to put on her hat
1 and started for the store, which was several
blocks away. Now. although Mamie lives in
the CITY, they nave few chickens and ducks,
| and at this time Mamie had some very cum
ming little ducks, of which she was very
proud, and which she had brought up herself,
their mother having been killed by cat when
| they were very small.
While she was at the store the little ducks
came waddling along, and being very hungry
after q swim in the pond they thought the
peas would make q good dinner. So into the
pan they jumped, eating some peas and scat
tering others around. After q while they
] jumped down and began eating those on the
| ground. When Naunie returned she found a
great many of the peas gone, while there
stood the ducks eating away. She did not no.
tice it at first, but when she did she was very
angry but her mother eonsoled her by prom
Using that she would buy some more in a few
| days. So she gave the few that were left to
the chickens, aud went into the house to help
| with dinner.
ELSIE AKELAN (12 years old).
Gualala Mendocino County, CAL