The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-01-24

w 7 HEN his parents named him
NM George they did not think
that when he grew older his
playmates would call him
Gee Whillilkins for short. and that IN
course of time it might become his own
favorite expression; otherwise. they
might have named him Epaminondas. OF
something like that.
He would have been very good look
ing boy were It not that his hair was
brick red, his face freckled, his nose
stubby and turned up. and his ears and
mouth large. Otherwise his features
were all right. There was one thing
about him, though. which distinguished
him from everyone else, and that was
his grin. This was irresistible. and
made its appearance on every possible
occasion. whether sad or merry.
Well. one day it happened that George,
according to his side of it, had only had
two second helps Of plum pudding after
his midday meal. and being refused any
more he thought he would go and sit
for a while under a tree which grew
ct the edge of a steep bank leading
down to the brook. de had not been
there long before he found himself slid
ing, at first gently. then rapidly. down
the bank
Soon he went faster and faster. until
MS grin gave way to g. look OF wonder
at the length Of the slide and the rap
tdity and ease with which he was going
Suddenly he struck something hard
which seemed to be under a big bunch
OF tall black grass; he bounced OF,
gently on a rock by the brook, facing
terrible Ogre, who was sitting on the
ground. leaning against the bank. 1t
was the Ogres head he had struck in
sliding down
Now this ogre looked all and more
than the picture books make Ogres out
TO be- Hts head was as large as
bushel basket; he had long, why black
hair, swirled and twisted like the sedge
grass just after the tide has gone
down; his whiskers matched his hair
for length and ferociOus appearance;
his fierce eyes glowed like two live
Goals In a dark room under his shaggy
eyebrows, and when he spoke his point
ed white teeth looked like a Fiji Is
lancers necklace set around the edge
of a red flannel bag.
His irstf words were spoken very
gently, not sounding louder than a very
faint. distant rumble Of thunder, and
he looked a little sad and reproachful
as he said:
who are you. and do you always
como down this way2"
This somewhat treasured George, so
he drew long breath and said, Gee
whillikinsr' the words coming right out
OF a pretty good sized grin; then he
ped"
well. G. wflikens," sighed the Ogre,
and his sigh was like the rising wind,
don't let IL happen again You startled
me. Have you had your dinner? Cause
/ haven't"
AS he spoke his voice sounded like
separate sharp peals of thunder dying
away in a rumbling groan so that
Georges grin concluded to disappear
for a while. Still he determined TO know
the worst. so he asked little timidly,
do you eat little boys and girls as-as
they say you do?'
mo, Gee growled the Ogre. Some
times / wish ] did but ever since my
ereat-gra ndfather died Of indigestion
from eating a tough little Indian who
told lies and stole things we are not
George did not mind the noise, so he
put three saved up grtns into one as
he asked, What did you have for
breakfast Wasn't IL enoughT'
mol" roared the Ogre Il only had
three pumpkins, a barrel of potatoes,
one hundred ears OF corn, barrel of
apples and six watermelons," adding
sadly, and now 1 must wait until 3
o'clock. for am not allowed to eat be-
tween meals"
AS he finished speaking a few tears
rushed out of his eyes, and some about
as big as marbles fell on George, almost
hitting his grin. so he ducked his he'd
and said to himself, Gee whillikinsi
i wish 1 had brought an umbrella"
After a pause the Ogre went on, in
more gentle rumbles, saying, You seem