The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1899-07-26


shade of large oak tree. Hearing
the children laughing so merrily,
mamma came to see the cause of so
much fun. Finding large brown
beetle, they had turned him ON his
back, and Jane was tickling his
stomach with long piece OF grass to
make him Nick. 1t certainly was
funny to see him draw mp his legs 30
quickly and so tight to his fat shiny
sides.
Mamma looked on for moment, and
then said.
II fear the poor little bug is not
laughing or having good time. Re-
member, he can see you; and to him
you are real giants-monsters with
immense round eyes, and mouths rs
large as lions. Do you wonder he
is in great fright and tries to run
away?'
While the children were listening
to their mother, the beetle turned
over and began running off very fast.
"Oh, do let's all follow him, and
see where he lives" cried Jane. So
away they ran in quick pursuit,
mamma following more slowly, across
the street, over Mr.. Paine's lawn next
door, to the woodpile. There he went
under a log. On lifting the log very
quietly and slowly, without disturbing
him, the children found Father Beetle,
with Mother Beetle and all the little
Beetles crowding eagerly around him.
81 WONDER" said mamma, ''if he is
telling his family of what befell him
this morning-how he was seized by
terrible looking creatures, treated in
most cruel manner, and just escaped
with his life.
Dear mel" said Jane, looking
sorry. "I didn't mean to scare him.
] suppose boy or girl is a giant to a
bug. Better come away, John, and
let him have rest"
Mamma was glad to see the children
carefully replace the log aud leave the
Beetle family to themselves. She
knew Jane and John wished to be
gentle and good to all living things,
that they did not mean to be cruel, but
they did not always know what would
hurt God's = littlcst ones.
Another day Johns mother was
shocked to see him thrusting n long
brass rod down an ant-hole. Think
how terrible that must have been for
the little helpless ants! Quickly she
called him TO her, and asked if he
would like to hear a story-a story
about giants. There was nothing the
children loved so well. So John
called Jane, and they ran to the porch
and perched themselves on the great
arms of mammals rocking chair, each
flinging little hot arm around her
neck, and pressing their velvet cheeks
against hers to show how they loved
and how good they thought her. This
made their mother feel rested and
happy. Then she began;
"Once upon time there was
pretty little house, painted all white,
with climbing roseyine over the
front, covered with the pinkest and
sweetest OF roses. But sweeter than
the roses were the little children who
played about that house, and very
happy they were in that dear home.
One afternoon the mother, with the
little ones, was sitting before the open
fire popping corn and roasting apples
hung by long strings from the mantel
over the fire, when suddenly great
wooden club as long and large as
forest tree came crashing through the
ceiling. The whole top of the house
seemed to be tumbling in upon them!
The cruel club went crunching, pound
ing and destroying, and the family,
who moment before had been so
happy, lay bruised and crushed on the
floor, and the pretty home of which
they were so fond was ruined. A
great giant had done it as he passed
along"
sob! that is not a true story, is it,
mammal" asked Jane, in distress.
TT couldn't be-" exclaimed John,
soberly. There are no real giants
nowadays"
''It is true there are no giants now
Of that kind for my children to fear"
answered their mother, very gravely.
''But today my little boy was cruel
giant. With a great brass rod he
broke through the roof of an ants
happy home-a house that had taken
| tutm weeks OF nara WOfk 10 Dullu-
and killed mother and babies, bruis.
ing some, and crushing others, and
running their homes"
30 john" cried Jane, ''the poor
antsl'
Then both children sat very still
and grave, thinking over mammals
| giant story.
At last John put his head down on
his mothers shoulder and whispered
earnestly, 81 forgot that time; I'm SO
sorry. But I'll try to remember after
this, and, ii am giant, can be
good one, anyway = can not,
mamma?"
And after that the children seldom
forgot. They remembered they were
giants, and tried TO be good ones.
Instead of hurting or tormenting these
tiny little creatures, they learned to
love and watch them. and now Jane
and John know many curious aud in