The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1902-10-24
THE TALE
OF A KITE

ing.
Zone apiece" answered Halter.
tits not very big" said Diff crit
ically
Il don't know what you'd call it
them" said Halter stiffly, holding it at
arms length.
well, you needn't get your back
up" said Diff. But this story"-Diff
was reading "Copperfield "-"tells about
seven footer, and I'd like to make
one that size"
Gee, wouldn't she pull?" said Dock
enthusiastically.
"Fellers, we can do it," And Diff
rose excitedly, as he did so kicking
over the chair in which he'd had his
feet Lets talk it over"
The upshot of their talk was that
they made one feet high to an inch
and feet 3 inches across. They
had learned from Diff's grandfather
that the width of kite should be
three-quarters its length. The sticks
were of whitewood three-quarters of
an inch square, nailed together with
brads, and the outline was of wire.
Over this wide eXpanse was stretched
shiny scarlet paper muslin upon which
were stitched three black initials, r.
u. G.
The bellyband and falkland were
made of stout grabbing line and three
whole balls of that same stout cord
was wound upon piece of broom
handle about foot and a half long.
The tail itself was thing of beauty.
1t was of white muslin about three
inches wide, and Diff's sisters amused
themselves one rainy morning by tying
inch wide strips of red paper muslin at
intervals down its entire length.
1t was with mingled feelings of pride
and delight that the boys carried it
down from the clubroom where they
haG made the monster 1t took four of
them to carry it, with the ball of tail
and the cord, and Buck came on be-
hind with an extra piece of tail in case
that already attached proved INSULT
cient.
There was a good breeze blowing
from the northwest, SO Diff ordered
them to go to the south end of the
place, and left the kite in Bucks
charge. He and the others then took
the cord and, paying out about 100
feet Of it, stood at distance and or
dered Buck to make ready.
Buck lifted the kite until it stood up
right. Then Diff, throwing the broom
stick on the ground SO the cord could
pay out as he needed it, took the line
firmly in his hand and ran with it.
Buck let go, and, slowly and grace
fully, like huge scarlet bird, the kite
rose and, till the tail cleared the ground,
went up without tremor.
Then first it was seen that more tail
was needed, for it began to dart and
dive In an alarming manner. Diff had
been expecting this, so he stopped run
ming and let the big kite carefully
down.
"Tie on some more tail" he shouted
to Buck.
Buck went over to obey the COM
mand.
Diff's sisters and cousin were inter-
ested in the success Of the kite, for
they had spent a whole morning deco
rating the tail, and they were now
standing a little distance away watch
ing the flying. Helen's small dog Tat
tiers was running about and with a
truly comical air Of curiosity came
running up to the big kite as it aut-
tered to the ground and barking at it
as if it was fallen enemy, began to
worry the tail.
Now, Buck did not mean to be cruel,
but he was always having ideas jump
into his head, and he did not always
stop to think what would be the conse-
quence if he carried them out, and
sometimes, as you know, the result
was disastrous. That, however, did
not seem to make him any more thought
full or less ready to try whatever his
mischievous fancy suggested to him;
so when he saw Helen's little dog Tat
tiers begin to worry the kites tail in true
doggy fashion sudden thought struck
him. Accordingly he stopped over the
little creature, who was friendly with
the boys, and fondled and spoke to it,
while he tied the end of the kites tail
In hard knot to that part of the fan
cy harnesslike collar that went over
Tatters' small back.
At a call from Diff Buck stopped
playing with the dog and, going over
to the big kite, lifted it up with its
base resting upon the ground and held
it upright
"All ready!' shouted Diff. He and
Halter started on a run. Buck let go
and the big kite rose majestically into
the air. The tail was long one, and
it was a little while before Tatters was
lifted from the ground. The wind was
pretty strong and his added weight
was just sufficient to steady the kite.
1t rose higher and higher, and naughty
Buck was chuckling inwardly at the
success of his scheme.
"My, doesn't she pullp said Diff as,
GREATNESS from their run, he and Hal
Ter stopped to rest and turned round to
view their prize and pay out more line
as it Was needed "Gee, what's that
hanging to her tail?" exclaimed he as
he caught sight of Tatters suspended
like shawl in strap. Looks like a
bundle of rags. Wonder why Buck
didn't tie on the right thing"
At that minute the little girls, whose
attention had been riveted to the beau
tiful scarlet kite as 1t rose so superbly