Sunday Washington globe., 1902-05-18
NAE PURPLE WHIsTLE.

For four long weeks the Martin
children had been looking forward to
the first frost when Jack Frost has
been here one week we always go to
the woods and get the nuts he has nip.
ped" any one Of them would have ex'
planned. Now it's time, and we're
going"
So this was the reason why a car
riage as large as a park phaeton stood
before the door of the Martin house.
1t was not long before it was filled to
the brim with baskets and wraps and
children, and here and there an auntie
or a mamma to care for everything
from silver spoons to unexpected snake
bites.
OF course the drive was a long one,
and by the time the Wordens woods
were reached everyone was hungry.
I'VE have to have the baskets for
the nuts anyway" Dick announced,
so let's have dinner and get them
emptied." His plan seemed a reason
able one and it was at once carried
out
Nothing ever tasted so good as those
Frankfurts Clara and Harry toasted
over the fire of twigs and autumn
leaves. "A nutting party dinner is
ever so much better than a summer
one" Louise said, because everything
tastes so much like the hot tamale
man"
But Of course all things could not
run smoothly. Just as dinner was
well over and they began to scatter
for the nut trees little May came run
ming toward them, crying loudly. They
all gathered round while Mrs. Martin
/ took the child on her lap and wiped
away her tears. Then she bound the
little hurt hand in a cool white hand
| kerchief and poured some soothing
cream over it. Already little white
blisters had swollen up, but the pain
was lessening. She sobbed out some
thing about some lovely purple flowers
that she wanted. and how they had un-
gratefully stung her as she gathered
them.
Il call that a shame" Tom said.
'Thistles aren't good for anything,
/ so why 90 Lney grOWE
oh, yes, they are" answered Mrs.
Martin cheerfully as she cuddled her
! little daughter close. Everything has
its own field of usefulness. Let me tell
you a story of an old selfish donkey
my mother told me once when / was
little girl. This old donkey loved
thistles very dearly. Yes, indeed. hQ
ate them; all donkeys do. That is
one thing thistes are good for, my
dear boy. A guinea pig knew this
donkey very we'll and laughed at him
for eating such prickly stuff.
You don't know what's good. said
the donkey When the frost has nip
! ped your cabbage leaves and carrots
my plant still grows. Then its leaves
and blossoms are all my own Nobody
else cares for them and / don't nave
to share them with anyone Indeed
| his little friend said Then why is
that bush yonder so full Of yellow
birds and butterflies? The birds eat
the seeds and make a lining for their
nests out of the down. while the but
terflies Grain the flowers of all their
sweetness DO they ask your leave?
Then the donkey was angry. and he
cried Wait; those thieving rascas
shall pay for this He plunged into
the thistle patch. He tramped and
| thrashed and switched his bury tail
till not a leaf or flower was left. The
birds and butterflies few away, too
clever to be caught. Then the guinea
pig laughed mockingly and said
You've only spoiled your dinner by
trying to harm the birds and butter
flies who meant no harm to you.
Everybody laughed when she finish
ed. even little May, who had almost
forgotten the smarts and stings Of the
purple flowers. Then they all ran
away to gather the nuts hanging on
the branches just waiting for some
climbing boys to shake them to the
ground. nd.-Children's Column