The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-04-24
The Wreck of the Apple Tree Play
 House.
House.
BY ELEANOR MCCARTHY.

Tl.s three little Leas were .passionately fond of an old apple tree that grew In their yard I doubt if there Is a finer apple tree in the worid ts{ a4t .b that tI,,tb ts the apples are not numerous and they nearly always are what MT. Lea calls rusts-small and faulty in shape I.o, and size and had far-reaching branches that turned and broadened in just the right | way to make excellent seats and nooKs | that were almost like rooms Polly could climb that friendly tree without help, and ! Betty sometimes could. but Rosemary | had to be helped up and then had to slt in one of the lowest seats in the tree. IL was a very comfortable one. however and absolutely safe.
 Dan, who was good to them. promised that when spring came ne .. woula o1s annIa nu1le tree. and one nice thing about Dan was that he always kept his word
 Isn't spring here now? Polly asked
 well, I don't know" replied Dan. talk ing off his hat and rubbing his head. 'It hasn't felt much like 1t yet;
 We found some violets In bloom. sSiu
 And I got new straw hat" put in Rosemary. n about
 well then, I ,fssG reckon nsr it must be about
 "You promised playhouse In the apple tree" Betty reminded him.
 'I oughtn't to make promises II ooH ..I l reckon I'll have to make that playho,u1Se if nothing else gets done about tnis place" ,h. +brea
 Two days later they came to Dan again and asked how soon he was going 10 pe- IT don't suppose you've happened to look mp in that apple tree lately he sue- .Ts it thereY' asked Betty. But Pelly ely l A4 was off to the apple tree as fast as s sne could run, and Betty and Rosemary atter her .S-oa little Leas stop and clap their hands TOT joy. Steps led from the ground 10 the nt, lower branches, 90 that even HosemsLs get p pbssn wth naces the here and there among the branches wherever climplnk was hard. so that they could step about and explore the whole tree with ease, .N, | Almost in the center of the tree was the l plavhouse. It was divided into. rooms 1 thnt were just waiting to be furnished ln order to make complete little tree pal ace. Mother Lea climbed up into the tree; and when she saw 1t she said she wished she was a little girl again. so that she could have a playhouse like that As soon as they had all the chairs and the sofa and the ornaments placed in the drawinR-room. the books and the desk in the library. the table and chairs and sidehoard in the dining-rooW. the s,ns beds and the stove and cupboard and refriger- ator and the tables and tubs in the kitch. en. the three little Leas decided that that such lovely palace needed King and queen to live In it. said Rosemary.
 "Theyd have to be dwarfs to live Tn there." said Betty.
 "They might be dolls" suggested Polly.
 That's so." said Betty and Rosemary | at the lime
 "Mr. and Mrs. Tipsy Lea might live in the playhouse: they haven't gone to housekeeping since they got married
 "Oh yes. and. we might give them a deception exclaimed Betty. enthusi- | asticaly.
 "A reception. you mean, Yes, and we could bring them wedding presents. l don't believe they got any when they | were married"
 q forgot all about It." said Rosemary. penitently.
 So 1t was decided that Tipsy sickersell and Serafina. his wife, who had been mar should live in the new playhouse. and that the occasion of their going there to live should be marked by a social func- tion of great splendor. The little Leas | were born to take a conspicuous part in society. and never were so happy as when they were entertaining or being enter tained.
 All the dolls of the Lea household and all the Sickersells had been invited. The three little Leas themselves were dressed fin the best that they could borrow. | Rosemary's f1nery came near to being her ruin. The lace-trimmed petticoat with which her shoulders were artistically draped caught on a branch of the apple tree and caused her to lose her hold. but another piece of her finery saved her. for her sash caught on a limb below and held her until Dan, attracted by their cries, came to the rescue.
 You can't come up again; you're too little" Polly said but at this Rosemary cried so bitterly that Polly relented and | told her that If she would keep real still on the solidest seat there was she might come
 ''I will" agreed Rosemary. humbly, and kept her promise. Polly generously gave | her a place where she could look right into the playhouse and see all that was going on.
 "serafina sat In state in the drawing room.
 Where is Tipsy?" asked Rosemary.
 Standing right beside her." replied Polly, severely.
 Here come the Sickersells." said Betty. 1 How do you do. MT. and Mrs. Sicker- sell and all the other Sickersells?"
 Now we're going to have the pres- ents all spread out" explained Polly