The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-08-07
Boy Who Turned
Books Into Food.

His name was John S. Smith. and
he lived in a little village among the
Berkshires, near Stockbridge. I'm not
going to tell just where or you'd all
be writing letters to him asking nun
how he did it, and he hates to answer
letters.
John Smith was 8 years old on one
of his birthdays. He had also been )
and and a whole lot of other num-
bers, but it was when he was that
he first discovered his peculiar gift. He
was sitting in the kitchen, reading,
while Kate, the hired girl, was max
ing tomato ketchup. Well, you know
how hungry the smell of that good
condiment makes a fellow, and John,
who had not eaten a mouthful since
breakfast-and it was now nearly y
o'clock a. m.-was naturally ravenous.
He held his book in two hands and
said to Kate: II wish I had something
good to eat" Then he felt something
soft in his hands, and 10 and behold
his book was a cake. He didn't stop
to think of the consequences, but he
just ate it. and it was "licken good,
as his Aunt Penelope would have said.
But after he had finished it he wanted
to read again about the man who want
ed to SILVER; for it was "Grimm's Fairy
Tales he had been reading. But he
couldn't do it, for the book was in his
little stomach. Well he didn't mind so
very much, because the book wasn't
his-only borrowed. But Kate was as
tonished to think he could turn it into
cake. She was not much of a reader
herself, and she hated baking. Land
sakes,'' she said, 'if I thought I could
get rid of baking by turning your pas
books into bread and cake I'd never
light the oven again.
Il don't suppose you cam said John,
"but / guess l cam"
"Well, try it, said Kate
Johns father was a minister, and he
had 200 or 800 theological books in
his study. He was not at home that
morning, having gone to Fittsfield to
attend some convention or other. So
John and Kate went into his study
and John said to her, What do you
need?"
We'll" said she, 81 was going to
bake bread this morning as soon as
the ketchup was done. You might
make me a large loaf of bread"
What bookll 1 take?" asked John.
ooh, any book. They all look about
alike He'll never miss it, he has so
many"
So John reached up and took down
"Fox's Book Of Martyrs" He held it
in one hand and said: 81 wish this was
a loaf of bread" And then remark
able thing happened. Both John and
Kate We're surprised atgit. The book
still continued to be a book.
why, that's funny" said John. 4
thought I had the power" He grabbed
it in both hands and again said: Il
wish this was loaf of bread" and
this time it became warm, fresh loaf
Kate was delighted. So was John.
What boy wouldn't be?
1t was such a large loaf that Kate
wouldn't need another for three days
They had it for dinner and Mrs. Smith
complained that it was heavy, but what
could you expect? You can't make
light bread out of heavy materials.
After that at every baking John
converted a theological work into bread
for the family, which was what his
although not so directly. But after a
while Mr.. Smith noticed that his Ii
brary was growing beautifully less, and
as he never loaned his books he Won
dered thereat. At last Ole Saturday
after completing his sermon he lay
down upon the sofa to take nap, but
he was awakened by hearing light foot
steps. Through half closed lids he saw
his son enter the room and take down
a copy of 1.-THE Great Growth of Con-
gregationalism in New England and
make a loaf of bread out Of it, and as
he was a quick witted man he realized
what had become of his library and
also fathomed the cause OF the late
heavy bread. He reprimanded John
severely until the boy told him that he
had only done it to ease Hates iabors,
and then the old gentleman made her
cease her labors entirely and retire to
her home for an indefinite rest. For
he learned that a loaf has to be paid
for sooner or later.
But although John never took any
more books to turn into bread he often
amused himself by making pumpkins
out of rocks or candy out of twigs, and
when the older boys and girls of the
village went on an excursion to Bash
Bish Falls they always took the little
fellow along, as it saved the bother of
putting up lunch. He made lovely
chicken sandwiches out of moss.
One day Rev. Mr.. Smith, his wife and
John went down to New York to see
the sights and among the places that
they visited was Central Park. John
was very much interested in the an
cient pottery, and the mummies and
things that he saw in the Metropolitan
museum, but as most of them were
under glass he did not do any damage,
as he might have done if he'd suddenly
become hungry and turned an Egyptian
into a welsh rarebit or a Roman coin
into Neapolitan ice. His father was
little nervous, however, and he
breathed sigh of relief when they got
out safely.
On the way over to the monkey house
John saw the great obelisk that was
brought from Egypt few years ago
and set up in the park. He said to his
father: "Oh, papa, that's older than you
or or even Aunt Penelope, isn't it?"
Eyes, my son." said his father, and
then he told him a lot of interesting
facts concerning it that I won't repeat,
cient times, but about a boy who is
still living in Massachusetts. ~
Finally John walked up to the ODE
lisk. Hands off," said his father ner-
vously, but either the boy didn't hear
or else he didn't mind I prefer to
think that he didn't hear. AT any rate