The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-17
.SlHDrs SECOND ADVENTURE.
THE LATH-BOY AND THE
PURPLE CATS.
copprfohted bv CAorlss B. Loemi,.

to Other iar-away worlds but although II uaincd
often that summer the Green Boy never cams
down on a rain drop and without hin, Sandy
could not leave the earth. 20 hs gradually came
to look upon his wonderful experience az dream.
But one day he was sitting At his window dur
ing a thunderstorm when suddenly there cams
binding cash and Sandy felt himself bcinc
rushed up through the air on thunderbolt He
had mover heard Of thunderbolts going away from
the earth and he had always supposed that they
wore hot. but before he had time IN think much
about II he had landed In a place that was on q
planet that WAS not Harrah. and was certainly
not the earth.
The ground was Of dazzling gold colce-
which made Sandy think that maybe IL was the
sun. and although there were many trees they
oil grew in pts-.not from pits, but in pits The
bigger they grow the deeper they sunk. 20 thsA
their tops WIRE always even with the earth.
That makes II eaaior 10 gather the fruit" aid
Sandy to himself. but Il isn't half as pretty a
our way and Il can't b any fun TO climb them"
He had landed In the middle Of large plain,
full Of tree holes. There was one house in each !
tree pit. but although he could soofor miles around
there not person In sight This made HIM
tel lonesome. 20 he hogan to whistle
AZ II in anrwer TO the call q Little dog BOUNDED
out Of a. tree hole and came weighing toward
him Ids hack. tail FIRST, with his four legs su9,
IN tho air. ~
Il wish there was SONS ono could ascqusotions
of" snid Sandy. What IN tho world has thia
dog got legs for II he squirms along upon hin
hack Ike shaker ! don't think that snalons,
DO squrm along ON their backs, but Sandy kncRl
what he meant, 50 II doesn't matter.
The little dog stopped in front Of him and began
TO zap. and the noise brought his master out of
the pit He was little boy about seven feet tau.
and so thin that Sandy immediately called him.
the lath boy. and by that title VIC must know him.
as he didn't tell Sandy his nAme
Hello" said Sandy. why does your dog ru1S
on his backg"
How could no carry fruit II he didnt1- AID
tholathboy. AN our dogs do that Jobinkum.~
said he in Just as good English that spoken
in Harrah, I want TO give you load Of pcacbos.~
And With that he Jumped into the top OF the treo,
and began to pick fruit that was shaped like an
apple. but had fun like peach. When he had
picked quito quantity and thrown them up 70
the ground he came out Of the pit with lhfle
wooden box that fitted exactly within tho appraised
legs Of the dog Then he Allied tho box with
peachels
Sandy was delighted I'll teach Rover 10 dc
that when 60 back" said he. only don'f
believe he'll ever learn TO squirm along on his
back. Can't your dogs run on their legs?- ho
asked.
Why, Of course. We could teach them to II We
thought ii worth while believe some have done
It, butt q useless accomplishment"
Sandy was a practical little fellow. and he saidi
Il should think II would be better II you must havo
dogs do horses work II you made carts and har-
nesses for them, and then made them run on their
legs They could go faster"
The lath boy gaspcd. Why, our fathers have
done this way for hundreds Of yeaIa It isnt
likely that we'd change now"
Sandy was not convinced. but he changed tho
subject You don't seem surprised TO sec me-
he said
What good would II do 10 be surprisedg said
the lath boy. IF you're going to stay long Ill
show you around. Have you my new horss
and wagon
why. I've only been here five minutes. said
Sandy impaueniy. Il came from the earth"
lie might as well have said. "Icame from the
leas, surprised,
lathbo: had told Jobinkum 10 take the peachels
10 his srandmother's This, like the trees and
S to IL p H sood 5he an ,hs no Srd saaa
alongside Of 1t and the horse was down in tho
vii w x r wa hs some n Ten ,n es T deep
shafts at the back of the wagon? asked inquisiivo
SANDY.
WHAT are her legs for and where would you
nut the shnfts7 answered the lathboy, as 1t he
thought that Sandy asked very unnecessary
In a minute both queries were answered. 1ot
at word from the hth-boy tho horse lumped
:" o. b"x lie hsd sort Of Yoke SS sround hs
neck aud the lathhoy made him walk into the
shafts head FIRST and then fastened them 10 his
yoke,
Sandy was on broad grin. Well Of all the
rart before The horse ways he began and then
,s'oGpcd ~ ne did not wish TO wound tho lnth~
Jump IN" Sandy obeyed, The wagon was
much The samc as Il You were riding in a return
hsil rhc lathooy chirruped TO his horse and
the animal started and pushed them along Al a
Sirdy laughed for Joy It's like going up
IN balloon and ooas,ing at the same time" said
Gc You know. on earth We harness the horss
IN. lsthboy looked incredulou. In frontr
kick msd and %
"Mhy, yes" said sandy
Then why do you do i'r'
Because our fathers have done II 70, hundreds
of s
for some minutes when the latter uttered a cry
what's the matter" asked Sandy. who had
heard nothing more dreadful than the miaowing
of several cats
s.n s' IT. sS shoulder sn Sdi s.% 81, p Or
seven rather furry looking cats running after
h va. and nd e be s.s S. SRS q &
The most terrible sRimais Tia, We have They SsS
they do They chase us and II they ever oaughi
MS they would tear us 10 pieces
But before he could say another word Sandy
had lraped from the wagon
They were on yellow PLAIN. Not tree was
in sight or rather out OF sight. for miles around
He faced the cats and said Here puss here ppss,
eats came running 70 him and allowed him 10
scratch them instead Of scratching him and they
putIed Just like earth cats
They were all bright purple color and their
hair was Longer than Angoras and they he'd nins
tails apiece Otherwise they were exactly like
your cot and no larger. certainly Sandy had
often heard Of cato nine tails but he had never
seen any before He had ball IA his pocket
and he threw II 10 the cats aud they played with
II Just as any cats would.
The lathboy had stopped the horse as soon
as Sandy Jumped out He was MOI ar agreeable
companion in many ways but he was not mean
enough 10 leave Sandy 10 his awful fate His
astonshment at seeing the boy play with the
cat was faihonleSs Finally he walked up 10
one and held out trembling hand The cat
rubbed against his leg and arehed her back and
looked over his shoulder at him, puIring loudly.
Arc there many Of them mp here" asked Sandy,
These are the only ones ever heard Of said
the lathboy.
Well, they certainly eat the rats, because