Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-12
BILLY'S FEAST.

Billy the goat, was stretched 1azily on
the grass, looking longingly at Gertrude 8
pink and white sunbonnet, which she
swung over the edge of the hammock. Oh,
how he did want it. He didn't feel like
eating grass; he wanted something else
for a change, and that sunbonnet did look
so good He winked hard, undecided
whether to see if Gertrude was asleep and
take it or to let her drop it and then pick
it up. But his desire for the tempting arti-
Gle overcame him, and, quietly and stealth
lily he arose and walked toward the ham
mock. But, alas, just as he was about to
seize it Gertrude, with hooking laugh,
pulled the bonnet out of his reach. Not
so, my kind sir, for you are kind in want
ing TO relieve me of my burden. but need
this myself, although am extremely sor-
ry to diSappoint you, and, with another
laugh over Billys discontinue, she retired
behind her book.
Billy, grunting with disapproval, regained
his resting place, where he settled down
to watch and wait for a chance to cap
ture the prize But it was a long and weary
waiting, and, before he knew it, he was
sound asleep. Gertrude from over her book
smiled at the patient Billy, and secretly re-
solved within her heart that he Should not
have her sunbonnet if she could help it.
But Gertrude was careless and forgetful,
and ten minutes later, when her chum,
Marie called her from over the fence, she
slipped out of the hammock, dropped her
Billy meanwhile, slept on, quite uncon-
scious that the ionged-tor bonnet was lying
in the hammock, unguarded.
The sun was very near the horizon when
he awoke. Almost his first glance was di-
rected toward the hammock, and what was
his surprise TO string of the sunponnet
dangling from it. Rising hastily to his feet,
he started toward it, seized the string OF
the sunDOnnet and proceeded to make a
meal of it.
Gertrude, talking with her friend across
the fence, was startled by Marie exclaim-
ing, Gertrude, please look at that goat;
he got your sunbonnet! Gertrude turned
hastily. An exclamation of dlSmay escaped
her as she saw her pretty pink and white
sunbonnet in the mouth of the remorseless
Billy. She flew to the rescue, but Billy,
knowing a good thing when he had it, was
too quick for her. He Scampered away with
his prize, Gertrude following closely after.
Several times she almost caught him, but
each time Billy lodged and escaped her.
Gertrudes patience was well-nigh spent, as
she saw that to capture her bonnet was al
most impossible Still she made one more
grab for it, but, as she had not noticed the
brook and mud, she slipped and fell head
long. Billy, meanwhile, had crossed the
brook in safety, and was quietly chewing
the sunbonnet to shreds. Gertrude regained
her feet and stood ruefulIy watching Billy.
You shall pay for this" she said, shaking
her finger at him as she turned to go.
ISABEL A.. 1920 E st. ne.
THE FAMOUS UNDERGROUND PALACE
Though you may not know it, under the
little streams are lovely places in which
the little streams dwell This special one
is in North Kensington, Md.
On one summers day as l sat watching
1t l wondered how nice it would be to
take a trip under it's bed and see how
il was. So / must have fallen asleep, be-
cause 1 dreamed that l was in a famous
underground palace known as The Pal
ace of Ripples Creek" In this palace
lived a famous princess, who was called
Ripples, and who, 1 was told, was seek
ing a husband AS this is leap year she
must find one for herself, so she adver-
tised by sending little fishes to all the
other brooklets in that country. In a
short time there appeared a gallant
young man who said he wanted wife
and that he would like very much to be
the husband of such beautiful maiden
This speech pleased her very much, and
she said she would accept him If he could
perform one difficult task. which was:
That he must go up to earth and then
get back again to her by some other route
than the Isle of Dreams, by which he had
come. Hearing this he became very sad,
as he did not know how he could do it.
He went up. however, and was sitting by a
tree when a kind looking old lady came up
to him and said: why do you look so sad.
my young man?" Then he told her his