River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1900-06-07
PitaWitan's Nightmare

By Katherine Yates.

hATF one apple costs two cents, what
will six apples cost? Let me see;
If one apple costs two cents, six APP
pies will cost six times two. which is
which is-oh. dear! ! always get just
so far, and then | can never do the
rest and very large frown puck
cred Dorothy's forehead until il
looked like the crinkly pink liberty
silk on her own Sunday hat. Then
she tipped back in the big rocking
chair in the bay window, where she
an arithmetic and tablet had been
having a sort of wrestle, and, making
a fine, large paper wad, she threw IL
at Pitawitan, the canary. who hung
in gilt cage in the window
Pitawitan did not even dodge, but
only craned his yellow neck a lit
tie. ewing the bit of paper with beady
black eyes, and then began TO trill
pretty little notes and whistles, final
" breaking into such a volume of
song as threatened to burst his little
throat.
Dorothy looked ashamed and turned
back to her arithmetic. IF one apple
costs two cents
Cheap. cheap" called the canary.
Dorothy laughed. ''Of course they
are cheap Pitawitan."
well, didn't 1 say SOP answered
Pitawitan
Dorothy pursed up her Alps. oh,
YOU needn't expect me to be surprised
to hear you speak, for if Pusskins and
the Guinea pig talk, | suppose that
there is no reason why you should
not. | have been expecting it for
some time
Glad it didn't give you shock,
said Pitawitan, sarcastically.
And it's funny went on Dorothy
in an aggrieved tone. that you furry
and feathery folk arc so good-natured
until you begin to talk, and then YOU
are as cross and snippy and i'll tenn
percd as can be. Here you have been
singing as happy as anything all
morning. and now
Singing! Who said WAS singing
Who said was happy"
''Why. | heard YOU singing my own
self" exclaimed Dorothy, Just as
cheerful and Jolly even after throw
that paper wad at YOU.
'Singin@,' repeated ritavitar
again di,dainfu}y. Singing. %
YOU call that singing, when / was
just sitting here tellir~ You what an
ugly. disagrecablc i,!-natur"d @ir'
YOU are to throw Thugs at me. mere
ly because you couIda't get YOUR les
son? You chi that singing do you?'
Dorothy looked disturbed Were
YOU really talking to me like that
Why, | thought that you were always
happy when you were singing"
1T is not singing. I tell YOU cried
Pitawitau. angriIy; lit is just talk
ing. and lot of good it does to talk
to folk in this house. too"
why" exclaimed Dorothy, indig
nantly; Il think that you have love
lv home. I'm sure Id like to live just
the same way: in beautiful gold
house hung on a spring, so that it
sways all the time just like a ham
mock; no lessons to get, and lovely
things TO eat; there's a big lump OF
sugar in your cage all the time. and
that is just the same as if | had a
chocolate drop twice as big as my
head to nibble whenever | chose
I've seen them az large as that and
always just longed for one. And then
there is your seed: that's just the
same as nutS-walnut5 and pecans-
and then there's cutie fish, and that's
Just the same as-as- well, wei call
that bread; and then there's always
fresh fruit, and water, and lovely
glass bathtub, and swing where you
can swing whenever you wish-oh, I'd
Just love to live in a place like that
and no lessons at ALL she added
again
Pitawitan looked Disguised as well
as he could "Oh, yes. a lovely life!'
he exclaimed. and how would you
feel if folk sometimes forgot TO give
you food all day."
but there's the sugar" said Dor
othy.
We'll how would YOU like to have
rothing but chocolate drops to eat fol-
day at time, and not a drop OF
fresh water. when they made you sc
thirsty that YOU were fairly choked =.
And then suppose that when YOU be
gan calling for some one 10 bring YOU
food because YOU were nearly starved
folks would say: DO just listen "a
that dear little bird sing. Isn't he
quite the happiest little fellow that you
ever save And then when You grow
desperate and screcch 50 loud that YOU
nearly split your throat some one says:
Bless his Jolly little heart; hasn't he
the most JOYOUS song? But it is Just a
trifle too shrll Marie. will YOU please
throw towel over Pitawitan's cage
he is a little too noisy How would YOU
like that -
Dorothy looked grave. But. Pita-
witan. how are we to know what you
arc asking for, when we can't under
stand what YOU say -
Merely by coming TO see what |
need But, anyway. how would YOU
like to be shut up in a prison the whole
time. even If it were a gold one? 1t
isn't much fun. | can tell YOU: and
think that you must see me free in
your IuOlu lbi d lew minutes once IN
awhile, Just to try my wings and get
little exercise
why, never thought of that" cx-
claimed Dorothy.
Never thought OF it! When have
coaxed and begged and pleaded on my
Bonded knees. I'm sure"
But" interrupted Dorothy, Il never
saw You get down on your knees.
didn't know that YOU had any"
NO" sueered Pitawitan We'll, |
have, even If YOU didn't know it. JUST
because they bend backward instead
of forward you didn't give them credit
for being knees. but can assure YOU
thcv are d lot more comfortably ar
ranged that way. and II don't wear oil
the toes of your new shoes when You
kncel down, either"
But you don't wear shoes. objected
Dorothy.
WHO said did" answered Pit
awitan, Il said your shoes, didn't IL
YES" said Dorothy; but YOU
meant yours.
Il did no such thing. How could
mean mine when J haven't any You
are Sreadully - Ipid little girl"
Poor Dorothy felt discouraged with
the conversation and Was about 10 re
turn to her arithmetic. but decided 10
trv once more to turn the talk into
nleasanter channels, 80 She said pres