The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-07-08
MADGE LEARNS ThE
DOGWOOD'S SERET.

to gather Wild MOWERS lpf ahc h'"
err table at the fair tonight"
wait a second and IN ask mamma
Yes, It's all right; may go;'' and mo,
ment later Madge Spauding had whisked
on her straw sailor hat and was bounu-
ing down the piazza steps TO join the girls
waiting for her. They were jolly happy
lot a dozen or more from the big board
ing school on the HILL an ideal one. by the
way where much liberty and few rules
left the girls free to enjoy themselves ac-
cording to their fancies. the wise rrin-
cipal realizing that much more was 10 be
expected from girls who were guided py
love and taught to understand the limita-
tons of the word "gentiewoman than
from those who lived in constant appre-
hension of the bugbear word don't
Madge was a day pupil at the school ana
had many friends among the noarders'
| by whom she was always included IN
any plans for a good time.
Where are you going to get the how-
ers?'
''up in the Ogden woods. There are
| loads there and the dogwood IL perfect
iy beautiful now" said Paula Barnett.
| The woods were soon reached and the
girls scattered to the various parts oner-
ing the greatest attractions. Madge and
Paula stroiled away together. IL was an
ideal afternoon in the latter part of May.
and the woods were as they can only
be in a late springtime. Birds were CALI
ing 10 each other In the maddest. merri-
est way and waking the echoes with their
jubilant songs. sunbeams played at hide
and seek with the children. danced upon
the bright green leaves and painted the
flowers with more brilliant hues
Lets go down this path" said Madge.
II see loads Of dogwood blossoms In that
little dell"
IAN right; come on. and I'll make you
beautiful wreath"
Tho girls N be balt
fairylike spot in the midst of the wood
land, where the grass seemed greener. the
sun brighter and the dogwood blossoms
more snowy white than elsewhere.
hedge OF the trees grew about the edge
| OF the open space. which seemed TO have
been planned by Dame Nature for fairy
revels
Now, sit right down on this soft grassy
bank and I'll dress you up" said Paula,
ana had soon woven pretty wreath Of
blossoms about Madges sunny head.
Il see some beauties over there. Don't
| stir while / go and get them"
Madge snnggled down in her soft nest
and Paula wandered further and further
| away Madge's eyes followed her in a
| dreamy sort OF way. for how could one
| help being dreamy when the very SUM-
shine was brimfu of dreams?
Presently. as she sat there in the alb
| solute silence OF the woodland, broken
thrush or hum of an insect. she became
conscious Of another sound. a very singu-
lar one indeed. Sitting straight up. she
soid aloud Can Spottie have followed
usg" Spottie was her fox terrier.
'Yap. yapl zap. yapl"
| Madgs looked all about her hut saw no
| sign of dog.
How funny. I wonder where they can
| be, for | surely hear the dogs barking,
| although they must be a long way OF"
"No; we are not. either. We are right
| here. close beside you"
Madge held her breath and listened in
tentiy.
We'll. I'd like to know what you are
and where YOU are. anyway" she cried
| in hutter of excitement
II supposed everybody knew what we
| were. or rather, what we are, What
| we were I'm about to tell you. IL you
| care to listen. Didn't you ever hear why
| we are called dogwoodg"
| Hear about youy OF course not. DO
| you mean to say you are doing all
this queer. yspping talking? I can't de-
eide whether II sounds like puppies yap-
| ping or the leaves rustling"
'oh. think 1t is both, II you want TO.
| That doesn't matter: only pay atten-
! ton to what I am going to tell you and
| try 10 understand that you are very
| lucky girl 10 he told at ALL" Then the
| blossoms on her head bent down lower
| and lower TN they were close TO her
ears. and tiny voices continued;
Now. sit stili, and pray don't inter
| rupt oftener than once In 1--WE minutes.
| Paula won't bother us, for she has gone
| OF hunting for Amer blossoms than we
| are, but she won't ind them. We are
| as fine "a any. only she can't see it.
| for We shook some OF our pollen In her
| ewes and that has magical powers. Shs
| will keep tro,ting about here. there and
| yonder, and never stop a second unul
| the power Of the pollen is spent, You've
heard ~ the dog trot, haven't your
| Well. she is on one"
| II wish you'd hurry and get on with
| your story" cried Madge.
| patience my dear. You are lucky 10
/ hear II at all. when YOU learn that you
are the only person among the millions
| on this earth who Is privileged 10 do 80
| you may congratulate yourself. You've
/ heard Of the dog star. Of course Every
| body has Sirius. the Erown-ups call n,
| although I could never understand why,
| Tor there Is nothing very serious about n.
| II they could 60 there they would change
| their minds pretty quick. Such romps'
| such fun Nothing like u Is ever known
| down here once a year the dog star
| sends its rays straight 20 this earth. Just
/ to soc II something cannot be done 70
1 stir things up hit The people say then
| that dog days have come ard the dogs
1 go nearly Wild with delight, Tor they IN
serStand the meaning of the messages
cent rs the dog star. The people do net.
! and very often the poor dogs have 10
| suffer"
How can the dogs understand" aues-
! toned Msdgs,
tDogs understand a vast Seal more than
! they are given credit for let me tell YOU.
| TAp dou star n che dogs kingdom. Such
| a bllssfgi place such liberty Such run,
! leading string Is unknown. Tor there
| are not two legged creatures 20 bold tbs
! other era ef a. And uuEsle' II such a
| thinx were mentioned No one would know
| what was meant Would ws were back
I there and IN cur former shapes
! "Iong long aEo \ certain ktug 81 Sirius
/ gave a magnificent fote and All tho king
1 dem was comma nae-f 20 - present Il
! WAS a gathering Days and weeks ~
1 feastinE 'r right royal Siyie. Joints
Z hiras-woY1s faH me- 7 cannot describe
I a. bat evcry;hiuR p dog could want a dcg