The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-05-14
THE BOY UHO MADE FOOD OF BOOKS
And the Narrow Escape of the Obelisk in
Central Park from Him.


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 he writing letters to him asking
him how he did It. and he hates to answer
letters.
John Smith was q years old on one Of his
birthdays. He had also been 3 and I and a
whole lot OF other numbers. but it was when
he was 9 that he Arst discovered his peculiar
gift. He was sitting In the kitchen reading
while Kate. the hired girl. was making tomato
catsup. Well. you know how hungry the
smell OF tina. good condiment makes a fellow.
and John. who had lot eaten a mouthful since
breakfast-and 1t was now nearly 8 o'clock A.
M.-was naturally ravenous. He held his book
in his two hands and said to Kate. Il wish had
something good TO eat" Then he felt some
thing 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 1t was
'lickin' good" as his Aunt Penelope would
have said. But after he had finished it he
wanted to read again about the man who
wanted 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 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 1t 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 mover light the oven
again"
Il don't suppose you can" said John. but
l guess I can"
We'll. try it," said Kate.
Johns father was a minister and he had two
or three hundred theological books In his
Stuhy He was not at home that morning.
having gone to Pittsfeld TO attend some con
hi. .T stHdy do and Ho Jo nee s@!d to "er;
""Weii.' said she. Z was going to bake bread
What bo2kll take" asked John, u,..
He'll II" never Ser miss it, h. has IS 50 'S mans s'"'D' &s:
So John reached un and:took-down FoZ's
an. .BGo sai a. AA n TIs6 this .s ra hsIa d i IL Of Sns sr. sSPa
And then a remarkable thing happened. Both
John and Kate were surprised at it, The
book still continued to be a book.
hss ~ f;a' rsS :"%ry' If IL s! sSHS s$ u! 111oF PS!$
Of bread and this time il became a warm.
fresh loaf. Kate was delighted, So was John
It was such a large loaf that Kate wouldn't
dinner. and Mrs. smith Complained that it was
make light bread out OF heavy materials. ,
After that at every baking John converted
u tntOlDSlcdl NOIh w bltdu- lol llle uIlllS
which. was what his father had been doing for
after a while the Rev, Mr.. Smith noticed that
his library was growing beautifully less. and
as he never lent his books he wondered there
n. A last one Saturday. after completing his
sermon he lay down upon the sofa to take a
nan. but he was awakened by hearing light
footsteps. Through haif-closed lids he saw
his sen enter the room and take down a copy OF
'"The Growth of ConRregationalism in New
England" and make n loaf out Of II. and as he
was II quick witted man he realized what had
become OF his library and also fathomed tine
cause OF the late heavy bread. He reprimand-
cd John severely until the boy told him that
he had only done it to ease Hates labors and
then the old gentleman made her. cease her la
bors entirely and retire to her home for an in
definite rest. SO she learned that a Loaf has
to be paid. for sooner or later.
But although John, never took any more
himself by making pumpkins out OF rocks or
candy ont OF twigs and when the older bows
and girls OF the village went on an excursion
to Bash Bish Falls they always took the little
fellow along. as IL saved tho bother OF putting
up luncheon. He made lovelyschicken sand
witches out OF moss.
One day the 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 tho ancient pottery and the mummies ana
things that he saw in tho Metropolitan Muse
um. but as most Of them were under glass he
did not do any damage. as he might have done
II he'd suddenly become hungry and turned
an Egyptian mummy into a Welsh rabbit or a
Roman coin into q Nsapolitan bee. His father