Evening star., 1903-11-07
Aunt Dorothy's Corner
Our Secret for Today.


The Children's League emergency call OF
a few weeks ago to help a lady in distress
who has an invalid husband. has brought
hare tn helm us Mrs Jennie S. Glover OF
White Plains, n. Y, to give the opereta'
"Iittle Red Riding Hood" with delightful
music and beautiful fairy scenes, for chll-
dren of all ages. You can all heip'
Some of the money Is to be given loi
the needs of children here in Washington.
You all know that Aunt Dorothy believes
that charity begins at home. Aunt Dorothy
herself hopes to be well enough to meet you
all at the time of the entertainment anu
she wants the address now or every
reader who is interested in our page, SO
she may see at once how to arrange u
have all receive tickets and pleasure as
well by working for those who are not mere
with us to enjoy the fun.
My Dear Children:
/ suppose you have all read one or more
of the many books of animal stories Wnlch
have been published during the last few
years. and undoubtedly most of you nave
some special favorltes among the many
charming and amusing little creatures we
read about and learn to love, even II we
have never known them out of the story
books.
There are dozens of these little animal
friends of ours that 1 remember with pleas
ure and often when have seen some par
ticularly amusing little fellow in the WOODS
or garden or even in some friends house,
as a family pet have wondered whether 1t
was perhaps one of the very animals had
been reading about.
Now. 1 am not going to write an animal
book. but do think will have to tell you
7 lyr,nyr ah
well. because they belong to me, and they
are certainly as charming as any who have
had the honor of having their autobiog-
raphy written so far.
Apart from this Is the fact that l should
feel sorry to hurt their feelings by failing
to let my boy and girl friends know just
how dear and funny they are. You see they
have often heard me speak of you. and l
am quite sure they would like to know you
all much as l should
Their names are Squeak and "Squab-
BILE" and they are two of the most delight
fully soft, silky little guinea pigs you can
imagine
AS sit here writing Squeak is in front
of me on my desk nibbling at piece OF ap-
pie while his friend "Squabble' lies COM
fortably on the edge of my skirt fast asleep.
They are very rarely as quiet as at present,
having a marked inclination for the de-
lights of conversation. This may sound
peculiar in speaking of guinea pigs, but all
/ have to do in order to start the conversa-
ton is to make few squeaks myself, and
Immediately, from wherever they happen to
be hiding, | hear series of SQueaks and
squeals in return. Just as long as | care to
talk with them they will answer back, and
long after i have stopped they will go on
squeaking together and trying to attract
my attention by running right up to me and
making all the noise they can.
One morning, just l was sitting down
to breakfast. my small sister came running
into the room. crying "Oh, come, quick, it's
I int m and found
that ''it was poor Squeak, stretched out
quite stiff but occasionally giving a jump
like a clock work toy when 1t is running
down. When / took him in my hand and
found the poor little thing almost cold l
feared my comical pet was past all aid but
I determined to do my best for him. AS
quickly possible / wrung out piece of
flannel in boiling water and bandaged it
around him, then l put him in box close
up against the big heater in the hail. and
while my sister held his mouth open l man
aged to pour in a few drops of medicine.
Well, in half an hour Mr.. Squeak was run
ming around quite as though nothing had
happened, except that he didn't seem to
have very good control over his legs, and
his flannel bandage, one end of which had
come undone. and was trailing behind him.
gave him such comical appearance | just
sat and laughed at him. When / am read
ing or writing they both delight in cuddling
down beside me in the arm chair and go
Ing to sleep, until / suddenly get up, when
they scamper off like two frightened baby
rabbits. They always eat out of my hand,
and when / have either a lettuce leaf or a
bit of apple for their breakfast. l am sure
from their evident delight they feel just
as small boys and girls do when they have
cake and Ice cream to eat. l regret to say
that their appetite is something fearful and
wonderful. and the range OF things they
seem to fancy Is quite boundess.
Rugs are one article of food they are par
ticularly fond Of They will creep up very
softly. giving quick, anxious glances in my
direction. and then start to Dibbp
the end of of my old Turkish rugs
When | have Indignantly driven them off
they will promptly start an attack upon the