The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-03-17
A STORY FOR CHILDREN.
LFrom vic's Magazine.1


do you know whether his life is in
sured %
Il hope so; after his last attack Sam
told me that he would get the Pelican
to insure him for five thousand
Osborne could never spare SO much
money from his income
These good natured goSsips were talk
ing in the loud whisper often affected
by those that visit the sick. Little
Rose, six years old and mOtherless, had
been told to keep very quiet lest she
should make her father worse Her
tongue being thus forced to idleness,
her ears We're more eagerly employed,
so she caught a few words of the low
spoken dialogue, and the childish i'm
agination supplied the rest.
Stealing silently from the room she
sought her brother, Jim, who, being two
years older. was to be consulted in
every emergency.
Jim, where does Mr.. Pelican live2"
Mr. Pelicani Why, the pelican is a
kind of birdi FL show you its picture
The boy climbed to a shelf, and tax
ing down a small natural history, found
the bright eolored Illustration.
But they said Mr. Pelican, JIM and
there's a Mr.. Lamb in town, you know
What did they say about this Mr..
Pelican?"
THAT he would insure father if he
took the fever again, and Dr. Johns
said the fever is very high this morn
ing.
'Aunt Mary might send to Mr. Peli-
cam
He would ask too much; five thou
sand dollars. But, Jim, if we went and
begged him perhaps he might do it for
less
wei, let's go and find him. said
Jim. I'VE needn't tell anybody
In a few minutes a small pink sun
bonnet and a big straw hat We're to be
seen moving, side by side just above
the half-grown cornstalks of. an adjoin=
ink H1d H1a faI57 o4,4ad
to make short cuts, and were soon at
the edge of the last field within sight
of the village. As they did not know
where to find Mr.. Pelican, they agreed
to take Main street, which contained
the principal stores and residences, and
to walk on opposite sides, inquiring at
every place that looked promising.
Jim could walk much the faster, and,
although he sometimes fingered to call
across with an encouraging word to his
sister, she soon lost sight of him en-
tireiy- Then, weary and disheartened,
Rose sat down on some broad steps.
and began to cry
Presently a man assembled the steps
and entered the house. Pushing back
her sunbonnet, Rose stared in the di
rectiOn he had taken The man had
disappeared, but she saw a bright col
ored picture hanging near the entrance.
1t was a pelican; yes, the very bird that
Jim had shown her in the book.
There were words below in very large
letters. and Rose managed to make
out insurance" because she had heard
Jim spell it aloud so often the day be-
fore. Surely, Mr.. Pelican must be
somewhere, she thought; so, taking
courage. she entered and approached
a portly, pleasant looking gentleman.
please. sir
The big man smiled down upon that
little figure in limp sunbonnet, torn
dress, and tangled eIzrls, and then no
ticing the tear that fingered on her
cheek, inquired gently:
what troubles you, my child?"
please, sir, are you Mr.. Pelican?''
mo and the man smiled again, 81
am the head of the Pelican, but not
quite all of it. What can the Pelican
do for you, little grip
Jim and I want to ask you to in
sure father from the fever
so your father is i'll. What is his
name?"
"Sam Osborne, sir"
Osborne, a good man. I am sorry
that my insurance cannot cure him, as
you seem to suppose. But do not cry,
my dear. I viii send a man who can
do him more good than I can. Tom,
is that DR.. Turner's buggy across the
street2'
Yes, sir" said the porter.
ASK him to step over here a mo-
ment''
Jim who had now come in looking
for his sister, was much relieved to
find her safe and cheerful.
"Oh, jim! jim! 1 have found Mr..
Pelican"
much discouraged in his search.
you know, we have no five thousand
dollars" he said to the big man.
'Dr. Turner will not expect it.
"Win he cure father for nothing2"
perhaps he may; he will try to cure
him, at any rate. But tell me, chill
dren; what made you think Of coming
to the Peliean?"