The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-05-23

pocket and blew it three times. The call
was answered from the woods and in few
moments there appeared before them a
! figure-fouT-shaped donkey, drawing
! figure wagon, i'll which was
seated another tiny man, for all the world
exactly like the figure three.
/ Edelyn could scarcely keep from laugh
/ ing outright at the comical sight as Shut
! somboo introduced the newcomer.
This is Mr.. Plus, Edelyn; he will take
| charge of you and show you the sights"
| Then she was tenderly lifted by unseen
| hands into the wagon and was driven
rapidly through the forest.
| Pretty soon they reached small town.
"a crazy little place." Edelyn thought,
! for all the streets, houses, people and ami
mails were shaped like figures.
Here we are,' Plus cried. Follow me
and Pll ask my wife to give you some
supper and put you 10 bed. In the morn
) ing I'll show you around the town.
AS they neared Plus house the figure
| shaped poultry and animals in the back
| yard set up a terrible outcry. Pretty soon
Edelyn could distinguish words, and
scarcely believing her ears, she heard the
hens cackling, the roosters growing. the
donkeys braying and The pigs squealing
these words, Here she comes! Look at
her! Look at herl The little girl who
goes off to play before she studies her
lessons!"
Plus ordered them to be quiet, ana
seemed TO feel badly that they were so
rude to his guest.
Edelyn felt ashamed, and could scarcely
swallow the fgure-shaped food which was
set before her.
After breakfast the next morning Plus
took her to large plaza or park, in the
center OF which was a great pile OF
luscious pears. Around t is pi were "a
great many people, all busiy engaged in
eli her adding more pears 10 it or taking
/ away from the number.
/ "What are they doing that fo1 p asked
| Edelyn.
"WelI, you see, Miss" answered Plus,
this is Mum Der Town, and those people
are adding and subtracting."
adding and subtracting. What do
you mean?"
why, you see some of the people are
putting on more pears, that's adding; and
the ones who are carrying away the fruit
are subtracting."
"Oh," said the little girl.
They then left the pear market and
went into a large building, which con-
tanned only one room.
Down this room, from end to end stood
tai BILE. On it were hundreds and thou
sands of pieces OF plates and around it
were seated great many men and women.
who were trying to place the pieces TO-
gether to form perfect plates.
what are they doing here2' inquired
Edelyn, greatly interested.
Plus, ever agreeable to and patient with
his visitor, explained to her that they
were trying to form whole plates out OF
parts.
But how do they know how to ind the
right parts?"
"By the shape and size OF what they
commence with. If they find one-third
tAey know they need two thirds more 10
make the WHOLE
"Oh | understand now" said she 'bet-
I ter than l ever did at school,"
Thus they went on all through Mum Der
Town, andPlu did his best to settle the puz-
zing problems which had so often wor-
ried the little girl.
Finally she became very hungry, and
| bAcy Auo W ~ tuc EOuSe. lneIe,
seated at the dinner table, was Jolly
Shutsomb boo, and Edelyn related to him
some of her strange experiences.
Alter the meal was over Shutsomboo
cried, Its time for you to go home, now"
1 and picking her up carried her to the top
OF a ladder. He then touched an invisi-
! bic button, which set bell 10 ringing at a
| great rate. All at once there sailed over
their heads and to the top of the ladder
magnificent balloon, into which the little
| girl was pushed.
1t was furnished in grand style, like
beautiful parlor. and best OF all, on the
| pretty table was silver dish OF delicious
candies and fruits.
Edelyn ate as much as she could and
then looked out OF the windows at the
clouds and treetops. Then becoming tired
she threw herself on soft couch and was
soon In the land OF dreams.
How long she slept she could not tell.
for when she awoke she was lying on the
grass in the forest. II was very dark, but
she did not feel afraid, for bending over
her was her own dear father. His lace
! looked rather sad and white and he held
a large lantern in one hand. Without
word be picked her up and carried her
home where her mother was waiting.
After being forgiven for her thought
lessness, she told her parents about her
trip to Number Land.
They laughed and said it was only a
dream suggested by guilty conscience,
but Edelyn still believes it was q real ex.
perience. Strange to say, from that night
she has taken great interest in arithme-
tic and always stands very high in that
study. She gives to little Plus all the
credit of the great change and says he ex-
y