Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-02

| They set out almost as soon as the sun was
up, and you may be sure they were in high
glee. for they were going to Neustadt fair,
and they were going alone In a little bag,
hung with a cord about his neck, Max car
ried their lunch of black bread and cheese.
And in one corner of the bag, tied up in a
red kerchief, there were a few coins the
| grandfather had given them to buy trinkets
and ribbons.
When they reached Neustadt their eyes
danced with wonder. Much Of the time
help 1t, seeing the dancing bears. the Punch
and Judy shows. the rope walkers, the
acrobats and what not! The stalls. too,
how fascinating they were with trinkets
and pictures and toys, with ribbons and
laces and pretty china!
The pennies they had Max and Margaret
soon spent. The trinkets were put care
fully In the bag to show grandfather Over
and over they wished they had not bought
this or that when they saw something more
attractive. But there was no time for long
regrets. A new wonder soon changed their
thoughts, and SO the day quickly passed
Already the sun was low. Margaret took
a closer hold of Maxs hand, saying, Re
member, Max, grandfather said we must
surely come home before dark"
Yes, yes little Margaret" Max would
say. but we must stop to look at this white
bear first.
They looked at the white bear and then
Margaret pleaded again. But again there
was some new attraction. and Max de-
clared with big voice that he knew the
way home. even II 1t should get dark. Poor
little Max. He had never been In the Black
Forest alone at night.
When at length Max did listen to his
cautious little sister the shadows were
growing deeper. Lights began to twinkle
in the streets Of old Neustadt. and by the
time they reached the woods it was black
night. Even then Max was confident that
ne knew the way, and he whistled cheerily
to let Margaret know he felt bold. But
pretty soon the whistling stopped. Max
or
villages there were several paths, and now
In the darkness 1t was very hard to dis
tinguish one from another. In little while
he knew that they were lost.
"Wait a minute, Margaret" said he in
doubt. Poor little Margaret took closer
hold Of her brothers hand. and perhaps II
it had not been SO dark Max would have
seen the tears in her big blue eyes. They
had barely stopped to listen and think when
a weird and dismal howl was heard off In
the woods.
time at home in the little cabin had she
heard that howl. and grandfather had told
her what 1t meant. 1T is the wolves
Maxi she said timorously.
Max knew II, too, but remembering his
boast that he was almost a man he said.
DO not be frightened dear Margaret. We
will go straight ahead. We may be on the
right road after all and the wolves may not
come this way.
But they were coming, that was plain.
Every howl they seemed nearer. Max
wished for some fairy to change him into a
giant. Margaret thought of all the dread
full tales she had ever heard. Probably
without knowing precisely what they did
they turned their steps, going quickly as
possible In a direction straight away from
the bowling pack. And this no doubt saved
them. For In the darkness they ran into
a tree whose branches came down so low
that Max could reach them.
up here. Margaret. quick!" he cried.
It need not be supposed that the children
had lived In the woods all their lives and
had not learned to climb acknowledgements
no less so than Max. With little boost
she was soon we'll out Of the reach Of
wolves, and her brother was beside her,
holding her tight and fast.
minute the fierce animals, all the more
savage now that their prey seemed so near
were barking beneath them, standing up on
their hind legs against the trunk of the
tree, and even leaping high into the air
But wolf cannot climb. and so the
children were safe. 1t a long tedious
night. Only by the greatest effort could
they keep each other awake. But both
knew that they dare not sleep. for below
them were the ravenous beasts. And
whenever a beam of light from some
glimmering star could find its way through
the dark branches Max and Margaret could
see the CLEAN like a red flame in the
eyes Of the wolves.
At length the night did pass. and when
morning came the wolves went away. Cold