Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1902-04-19
MILE LAND.

thoress who has gained for her works
place in line with those of Garborg, Lie.
Hamsun, Kielland and Krag, Is fond OF
painting in gray, with hard contours, and
no regard whatever for the feelings OF those
who expect TO find an idyl in every mover.
This little sketch-a tale for groWn-up cnli-
drcn--proyes that she. like lola, who in
much seems to have been her master can,
at times, dream dreams. that are as pure
| and charming as those of amy tdeahst-ohly
a little more real.l
Little Anita, with her bare arms
crossed in front of her, was sitting on a
footstool in the nursery surrounded by
all the little beds in which her dolls were
resting with dswn-turned eyelids. She.
all by herself, had undressed them, and
washed them, and put nightgowns on.
them, and laid each in her little bed, and
tucked them up in their quilts so that
they were really comfortable. She had
then said to the biggest of them: And
now you must think of the verse which
/ have read to you so many times:
All my children are kind and sweet,
Longing dearly to sit at God Fathers feet;
And tell him when you come 10 bis home,
That the legs of none is pushed out from
Beneath her Quilt.
Finally, she had pulled the bed cur
tains close together so that the light
from the hanging lamp should not hurt
their eyes, and she was now sitting very
still, waiting for them to go to sleep.
Now, dearest, bedtime has come
Anita's mother entered the room quickly.
FLUSH, hush, mamma" whispered
Anita and lifted warning forehnger.
.You wake up my children when you
talk so loud"
"Yes, / always forget" the mother
whispered back. Il can never remember
to keep quiet when your little ones have
gone to bed. They have a terrible grand
mother haven't they?"
Il don't know, for they like her just
the same" Anita nodded confidentially
Not as much as they like me-they told
me that. And that's right, too. isn't it?
Because / am their mamma, and you are
only their grandmother"
The mother kneeled aoHn- in front of
Anita, put her arms around the girl and
said: Have you sung your children TO
sleep this evening alsog
''Oh, no, / don't sing tonight. One
mustn't always do that, for the children
get so tired of all the singing. Isn't it
true, mammal"
"Of course! But what did you do
then to them to get them TO sleepY
II told them about Millie Land
tie Anita looked at her mother with glis-
tening eyes and tossed her head proudly.
"AIillie Land2 What kind of a land IS
that, darlingT'
ION, it's just a land that | have by my
SELF" replied Anita, smiling exultantly.
Its lovely, and there it is never dark
or cold, but the sun is shining every day
and the moon every night. There the
flowers grow as high as folS and they
are beautiful as the little Christ child.
But the sun and moon don't show them
selves; we just see that it is light and
feel that it is warm"
''Oh, tell me more. tell me more about
it," begged the mother, taking Anita up
into her arms. Then she sat down on
the footstool with the little one on her
lap.
''Why do you want so much to hear
about Mile Landg'' asked Anita, as she
hid her face timidly against her mothers
shoulder.
Because / have never been in Mile
| Land. | didn't even know there was
such land. Tell me now, first of ALL
how you manage to reach Mile LandT'
II have only to close my eyes, and I'm
| there. And in the night. when I'm sleep
| ing, then also / go to Millie Land. And
| do you know. mamma. that sometimes
when the sun is throwing gold ON the
| pictures in the sitting room, Mile Land
| is right there all at once|
And what do you do when you are in
Millie Land?'
''But amt you inquisitiye?" retorted
Anita. frowning at her mother. mo one
should be inquisitiye. papa says. and
that's why / don't want 70 tell you.'
| 'sNo, it isn't that" said the mother,
| kissing Anita over and over. only,
want SO badly to know something about
| your Mile Land"
.'It isn't mine at ALL tell you. 1t be-
longs to all, all! l just go there on a
visit, But every time / come there l am
called Princess of Mile Land"
/ NF I IL 4
the mother. holding Anita at arms
| Princess corrected Anita. "Not the
| princess. Just as il there should be only
one, when there are many, oh, so many
lprincessesW
well, and what do all the princesses
have to say to each othery"
Now you are inquisitive again, man.
MA" said Anita fretfully, and yawned.
We'll, Well, its best for us TO get TO
bed then, | think" The mother rose
from the stool, with Anita still in her
arms.
"No. no. no." protested Anita. at
isn't late at all yet, And so She yawned
once more.
The mother carried Anita into the bed.
room where she placed her on a chair
and began TO undress her.
| I'm tell papa about this" Anita
threatened. Papa has said that it must
Anita soon afterward, with only her
little chemise on, was standing ON 4 stool
in front of the wash stand while the
mother cleaned her face and neck, and
arms and hands.
Next comes the turn of the feet"
The mother emptied the wash bowl and
refilled it.
"Ughi ugh. it's so cold" whined Anita.
l"No, in Mile Land, you know, there il
isn't like this, We battle in bath tubs OF
geld. and the water falls straight from
the blue sky into the tub, and it is just so
warm ar we want it"
There, now, darling. you are al
ready It's fine. though. to be clean
when one gets into bed. isn't itTf
Yes, mamma. but in Mile Land We
are clean without having to wash, We
cannot get dirty in Mile Land"
| Anita wriggled into her nightgown aud
was lifted into her little Jed "Good
night. You dearest little darling on the
| earth" said the mother kissing her
And then, suddenly, Anita sat straigh;
up in her bed, crying: ''0h. mamma
| mamma. If YOU only knew how much
fun we have in Millie Land, The King
is standing on his head all day, and the