The Washington weekly post., 1900-09-11
JIMMIE SMITHS MAGIC PUMPKIN
A Fairy Story by Dick Sylvester.

All smithville knew Jimmy. Some folks
said that they ''knew no good OF him"
Perhaps they were prejud-ced- Deacon
Smith always said VIXEN he introduced
him 10 the elders at meeting: My son,
James" But then everybody knew he
was just Jimmy.
Jimmy believed in fairies. for hadn't he
had an experience with the dried apple
fairies and the wish apple? Anybody
would believe in them after that
II was q beautiful autumn day. just the
kind of a day when a real BOY feels ripe
enough for any kind of sport or mischief
Jimmy had been enjoying himself out In
the corn field ever since dinner Weren't
there Just hundreds of big. orange yellow
pumpkins out there, and hadn't ne en-
graved u. s.. Jimmy" and j. Smith"
on their shining hides until the whole
corn field was lie an autograph album
on a large scale? That WAS enough 20 fill
10 the brim any boys cup OF happiness.
Just as he was giving the finishing touches
to a mammoth golden pumpkin he heard
his mother calling.
Jimmy! Jimmy. OH, jimmy
He waited a few minutes TO add some
flourishes to his carving and not until the
voice was heard calling him for the third
time, and in a higher key, did he respond:
''Yes'm, I'm a-conin." And come he did,
stopping here and there 10 alter the fres-
co on some of the yellow fruit that SEEM
ed to his artistic eye 10 need retouching.
Now and then he poked AT a hop-tOad
with the great toe of his bare foot Then
he would stop and measure the length OF
the toad's jump.
Mrs. Smith knew boys in general and
her own in particular. so she said nothing
about the taTdy response TO her call, and
noted with satisfaction that the woodbox
filled with surprising rapidity, and that
Jimmy was now developing wonderful
ability 10 find empty water buckets among
row of apparently fun ones.
Better hunt the eggs, she said. And
Jimmy disappeared in the direction OF
the barn, turning handspring and cart
wheel as he went. I'm the hen coop and
under the barn eggs were plenty, and
putting them safely in a box OF bran Oh
the barn floor. he scrambled into the hay
loft 10 look for hidden nests. Eggs were
scarce in the NOW. and he had scarcely a
hatful before he tired of the search: be-
sides this, his new born spirit of industry
was waning He tried "skinning the cat
from the rafters, and tumb!ed in a heau
on the soft hay of the NOV. Then he tun-
neled into the hay and made caves and
forts. II was hot in the NOW, and he
crawled into the cool tunnel IN the nay II
rest, and hatch plans for the next day
Soon he thought he heard soft. mellow
voice calling his name He plnehed him
self TO make sure that he was awake.
then he heard the voice calling again, and
was sure of IT,
What dc you wsnt?' said Jimmy.
Come down here and help me out, -
said the mellow voice
WHO are your" said Jimmy.
Il was raised between two lows OF corn.
Can't you guess"
Pumpkin. for certain. said Jimmy.
Then he looked abont him and saw buried
In the hay at the bosom of the tunnel a
great golden pumpkin. Are you in the
pumpkin said he
Yes" said the mellow voice II am the
fairy Of the mage pumpkin. Help me 0ss.. :,
boy. It's very close In here"
How will ! set you out?'
Cut q hole around the stem" said the
fairy. and Jimmy did as he was bidden.
As sooa as the hole was cut out iumpel
a little man. all dressed I'm yellow. with
great pumpkin seeds on MS clothes in
place or buttons. Thanks" said he
but you needn't have been so long aboat
H. l am sure 10 be late 10 the ball. Won
have been so long finding me- stu.
] bear no malice; you can have the magic
pumpkin, but mind you DON; cut punp-
kins again. Ard the fairy vanished be-
fore Jimmy could ask what ball II was
and what he pumpkin was good for. ana
lots OF other questions lerhaus fhe fairy
was wise in his day and generation ana
knew boys.
Jimmy examined the pumpkin and found
II Just like any other. except that the In
side was smooth and the seeds were an
gone. AS he felt about inside the pump
kin he felt very thirsty snd wished for a
glass OF lemonade. lie no sooner wished
thar he felt something cold slip into his
haf3 inside the pumpkin. Gre wniz!'
said he, as he drew out a sparkling glass